Conservation Officer (maternity cover)
Salary iro 21-23k, 3 days/week pro-rata, days by negotiation
Fixed term contract, I year maximum from April 2013
Closing date for applications: Monday 25 February 2013 Interviews: towards end of w/b 4 March 2013 tbc Application by application form only
Purpose of Role
The Conservation Officer is Bath Preservation Trust’s senior specialist in conservation and planning matters. Reporting to the Chief Executive and to the Trustees’ Architecture and Planning Committee the post holder will concentrate on a wide number of issues in relation to listed buildings, conservation areas, and Bath’s rural environment, and take the lead role in formulating responses to planning policy and planning and listed buildings applications. The postholder may offer informal advice to householders and developers, and represent the Trust at consultation meetings, with colleague support where necessary.
Individual ad-hoc projects may come into the remit of the post from time to time.
The post is essentially self-supporting but benefits from a paid intern working 1 day/week.
In detail the role involves:
General
1. Together with Chief Executive, manage and co-ordinate campaigning on behalf of the Trust for the conservation of the Historic Environment of Bath and its Environs in line with established objectives and policy. 2. Monitor new development proposals and new building / restoration work in Bath and its immediate environs. Carry out site inspections when necessary (with photographic / sketch records if needed). 3. Maintain and develop contact with officers from B&NES Council, English Heritage, parish councils and national and local amenity bodies. 4. Keep all records and working files up to date, including organization of existing archives. 5. Draft reports relating to ongoing objectives and projects of Bath Preservation Trust.
Architecture & Planning 6. Organise and attend Architecture & Planning Committee meetings (monthly) and implement decisions.
Conservation Officer Feb 2013 7. Regularly monitor planning applications for the City and its Environs and listed building consent applications submitted to B&NES Council. Prepare update reports and present same at Architecture & Planning Committee meeting. 8. Draft submissions in response to applications. 9. Provide administration support to the Architecture & Planning Committee in terms of producing minutes, agendas, and monthly update reports sending out all papers to Committee members and sending out correspondence, etc. 10. Co-ordinate the inputs of the committee members into responses to planning applications and planning policy consultations. 11. Maintain and update databases and spreadsheets on the work of the Architecture & Planning Committee. 12. Engage in pre-application consultation and establish early dialogue with developers and Council Officers. 13. Ensure that the BPT response to planning and associated applications is updated on the BPT website each month. 14. Prepare for and attend B&NES Committee Meetings and Public Inquiries, when required. 15. Deal with miscellaneous enquiries from Trustees and members of the general public, in conjunction with the Chairman of the Architecture & Planning Committee and Trust Chief Executive. 16. Monitor national and regional and local changes in legislation, policy and guidance with regard to planning, listed buildings and World Heritage coordinate and respond to consultations accordingly. 17. Monitor and keep abreast of publications produced by heritage and built environment organizations (e.g. English Heritage) and respond to consultations accordingly.
Environs Sub Committee 18. Organise and attend bi-monthly Environs of Bath Sub- Committee meetings and implement decisions. 19. Provide administration support to the Environs of Bath Sub- Committee in terms of producing minutes and agendas, sending out all papers to Committee members and sending out correspondence, etc.
Campaigning & Education 20. Keep abreast of media attention to built/historic environment issues and assist in the preparation of and press releases and statements on BPT position, for circulation to national and local newspapers, publications and journals. 21. Contribute to sections of the BPT website in relation to campaigning agenda and to planning, conservation and renovations (In particular information under News and Campaigns and Concerns). 22. Distribute information in relation to BPT activity and other relevant matters, using social media BPT Twitter.
Conservation Officer Feb 2013 23. Contribute to the organisation of lectures, seminars and workshops on conservation, architecture, planning and the historic built environment as part of a continued education programme.
24.Project Management & Coordination Produce publications and guidance in relation to BPT objectives on the practical conservation and management of the built environment Manage and co-ordinate projects in line with BPT objectives; work in partnership with other organizations and in consultation with the Bath community; liaise with other professionals and manage volunteers, meet target dates, and deliver and evaluate outcomes. Attract project funding and manage project budgets.
Person Specification Essential Graduate Qualification in planning and/or conservation architecture Self-supporting in Microsoft Office Personable and approachable style for engaging with the public Desirable Experience of committee work Experience of public sector or third sector and working with the public
Skills and attributes The post will be self-supporting in a small organisation. Flexibility, ability to communicate at all levels and a ‘can-do’ attitude will be necessary. Occasionally, meetings will be held outside normal office hours.
Conservation Officer Feb 2013