Vacancy pack

Important information for overseas applicants

Applications from candidates who require a certificate of sponsorship under the UK ‘Points Based’ system of entry may not be considered if there are a sufficient number of other suitable candidates. This is because employers need to demonstrate that they are unable to recruit a resident worker, before they recruit an individual from overseas. For further information, please visit the Home Office (UK Border Agency) website.

This pack contains all the information you need to apply, including:

Useful Information Details on our Diversity Policy statement, how we use CV’s, shortlisting and pre-employment checks and UK Identification requirements

Applicant letter Details on how to apply plus closing date and interview date(s)

Job description A breakdown of the vacancy, including the purpose of the job, requirements, duties and responsibilities

Person specification A list of criteria that potential candidates should aim to meet

Department information* Details of the department advertising the post

Application Form PDF version Please print out, complete and return to the address on the Applicant letter Word version Applicants are encouraged to complete electronically and return by e-mail

* This information will only be provided if it is relevant to this post

Application Form April 2009 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and No. 207076 Scotland No. SC037654

Useful Information

Diversity Policy Statement The RSPB is part of a global network that incorporates a diversity of traditions and cultures, and which represents different inheritances, backgrounds, influences, perspectives and experiences. A better understanding of people’s differences will help us to appreciate and value everyone’s contribution, and recognise that we are all an integral and invaluable part of the Society.

Everyone has the right to be treated with consideration and respect. The Society is committed to achieving a truly inclusive environment for all, by developing better working relationships that release the full potential, creativity and productivity of each individual, and an atmosphere where everyone can learn, work and live free from prejudice, discrimination, harassment and violence.

The Society aims to ensure that all staff, volunteers, partners, clients, contractors, members and the general public are treated fairly. Unless it can be shown to be justified, this will be regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender re-assignment, marital or civil partnership status, race (including colour, nationality, ethnicity, or national origin), disability, medical status, age, religion or belief, political opinion, social or economic status, or ex-offender status.

Use of Curriculum Vitae (CV’s) Our policy is to recruit and employ our employees on the basis of their suitability for the work to be done. An application form allows us to compare individuals based on like for like information and as such we do not accept a CV unless accompanied by a fully completed application.

Shortlisting The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to ensuring all applications are treated fairly. Applications are sought only from those eligible to work in the UK in the first instance.

All applications are subject to our shortlisting process where we only assess information provided against the Person Specification. If you are shortlisted we will contact you and invite you to attend an interview. You will also be advised at this point if there will be any skills test, presentations etc.

As a charity, we lack the resources to advise all candidates if their application is unsuccessful. If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, we will have decided not to take your application any further. However, if you are able to supply us with an e-mail address, we will endeavour to advise you if you have not been shortlisted. If this is the case, please do not be discouraged from re-applying as your skills and experience may be just what we need for our next vacancy. We also have a number of volunteering opportunities across the organisation.

Pre- employment Checks All offers of employment are made subject to the following criteria:

Proof of eligibility to work in the UK, Proof of UK Residency, Satisfactory Pre Employment Health Check, Two references satisfactory to the Society and where required a Satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau Check

Application Form April 2009 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales No. 207076 Scotland No. SC037654

Dear Applicant

People Engagement Assistants – Salary £13,500 - £15,000 per annum

Thank you for your enquiry regarding our advertised vacancy. An application form is enclosed, together with a job description, person specification and other background information about the RSPB.

If you require any further information about this post please contact Dave Bateson, South Stack Site Manager Tel 01407 764973 email [email protected].

Please can you complete the enclosed application form in blue or black ink. Please refer to the person specification when completing the form. Your completed application form should clearly describe how you meet each of the criteria that have been identified as being necessary for this post as this will form the basis of shortlisting candidates. If you enclose a CV, it may be referred to for supplementary information, however, please ensure that all the questions asked on the application form are fully answered.

We take all practicable steps to safeguard the safety and welfare of children or vulnerable adults while they are in contact with the RSPB and have a Child Safety and Welfare Policy that supports this. As the post you have applied for may involve contact with children additional checks at the interview and offer stage of the recruitment process, will be carried out. These can include checking id, requesting a disclosure and taking up references.

Completed forms should be returned to Natalie Thomas, Office Manager, RSPB North Wales Office, Unit 14 Llys Castan, Ffordd y Parc, Parc Menai, Bangor, Gwynedd. LL57 4FD. If you require an acknowledgement of receipt of your application, please enclose a stamped, addressed envelope. Alternatively you can email your application to [email protected]

The closing date for receipt of completed application forms is Friday 4th February 2010 Interviews will be held 24th February 2010 at our N Wales office in Bangor.

If you are an external candidate, may we take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in employment with the RSPB. As a charity, we try to keep our administrative costs to a minimum and therefore you will only be contacted if we wish to progress your application. If you have not heard from us within six weeks of the closing date, you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. However, if you are able to supply us with an e-mail address, we will endeavour to advise you if you have not been shortlisted.

We look forward to receiving your application in due course.

Application Form April 2009 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales No. 207076 Scotland No. SC037654

Job Description

Job Title: Site-based Seasonal People Engagement Assistant

Dept/Section/Region/Reserve: Wales Reserves

Location Of Job: South Stack Reserve

Post holder reports to: South Stack People Engagement Officer

Reporting To Post holder: Volunteers

Overall Purpose Of The Job:

To personally make face-to-face sales of RSPB membership. To meet agreed targets for membership sales/recruitment and name gathering through team working. To deliver the very highest standards of customer care. To enthuse visitors about birds, wildlife, the South Stack reserve and the work of and relevance of the RSPB to them.

Main Duties:

• To achieve an agreed personal recruitment target following the Society’s best practice. • To work as an integral member of the People Engagement Team to: o engage face-to-face with visitors o maximise face-to-face sales of RSPB membership o gather names o meet agreed targets which for the 2011 summer season are: membership sales/recruitment 450 name gathering 6000 o deliver highest quality visitor experience o enthuse visitors about birds and wildlife o deliver exemplary customer care • To deliver RSPB ‘Quality Assurance’ standards and implement measures to rectify any shortcomings. • To plan and deliver events to: generate customers for the retail and catering operations; maximise membership recruitment • To maintain full financial and membership recruitment records including cash handling.

Other Duties: Application Form April 2009 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales No. 207076 Scotland No. SC037654

• To answer telephone, email, face-to-face and written enquiries as required • To, as part of the wider South Stack team, assist with all aspects of the of the retail and catering operations at South Stack. • To assist with routine day-to-day operation of the site, including opening and closing, general cleaning duties, and the supervision and organisation of volunteers • To attend relevant RSPB events, workshops, seminars and training courses as required

Other relevant factors of the job

The post holder (along with the remainder of the People Engagement Team) will be required to work all key periods for people engagement (including weekends School & Bank Holidays) and some evenings. Two days off each week and Bank Holiday days in lieu are taken on weekdays as soon as appropriate after they become due. Normal working hours are 5 days per week 09:30 to 17:45.

We expect you to carry out your job responsibilities in an environmentally aware manner, ensuring as little damage to the environment as possible. Our aim is to ensure all resources are utilised effectively and efficiently. You will be expected to apply ‘sound value for money’ principles in undertaking purchasing or supply of goods and services.

In the RSPB, volunteers are a major resource and make a vital contribution to the RSPB’s aim to take action for the conservation of wild birds and the environment. You will be expected to encourage, develop and support volunteer involvement in our work.

Application Form April 2009 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales No. 207076 Scotland No. SC037654 Background Information for South Stack

Introduction Ecologically, South Stack is an internationally important reserve. The majority of this site (c. 300ha) is Heathland with coastal cliffs, all of which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The Heathland is also designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) reflecting the international importance of the site’s chough population. Management of the Heathland is undertaken in accordance with the reserve management plan which is agreed in advance with the Countryside Council for Wales. This management is a combination of low intensity close shepherded sheep grazing, small scale cutting and removal of heath vegetation and burning of small patches of standing heather. The remainder of the South Stack Reserve comprises semi-improved pasture which is managed as a foraging habitat for chough by year round grazing (mostly by cattle).

Visitor Operations South Stack is an important RSPB reserve for active visitor engagement being in the RSPB’s North Wales Coast Important People Area and part of a popular tourist magnet which attracts circa 180,000 visitors per year. The site is accessed by minor road from , but is only 10 minutes drive from the A55 expressway, which runs along the North Wales Coast and across . The main attractions at South Stack include: scenery, , visitor centre with café & shop, walking, rock climbing, geology and wildlife. The wildlife spectacles are the flowering plants in April and May, the breeding seabirds, chough and peregrine in May and June and the flowering heather in August. The main visitor season at South Stack is April to September. The busiest times being the spring and May bank holiday weekends and school holidays. The majority of visitors to the site spend most of their around the ‘honey pot’ area comprising the RSPB visitor centre (with cafe and shop) South Stack Lighthouse (which is NOT part of the RSPB reserve) and the RSPB information centre at Ellins Tower.

Site Visitors The site provides an excellent opportunity to continue to reach a large new prospect audience and to raise the awareness of wildlife and the role of the RSPB. The majority of visits to the site are concentrated in the core area at the head of the road close to the RSPB visitor Centre and access points to South Stack Lighthouse and Ellins Tower.

Reserve Visitors: South Stack Reserve has a year round open access policy and has no single ‘entrance’ through which all visitors to the reserve must pass to gain access. As a result, there is no easy way to count visitors to the reserve, but it is felt that in the region of 20% of visitors to ‘The Site’ visit the reserve.

Visitor Centre Visitors: The majority of the RSPB face-to-face visitor contact is at the RSPB visitor centre with cafe and shop. This centre is an exciting new venture for the RSPB, the premises previous to 2010 having been operated as a privately owned cafe. The visitor centre shop and cafe are open year round 10 till 5:30 with hot food being served in the cafe from 11am until 3pm.

Ellins Tower: In the summer season, Ellins Tower RSPB information centre provides fantastic views over the breeding seabird colony and the Irish sea. Ellins Tower is the on reserve and opens daily 10am to 5:30pm from Easter until late September. Perched on the cliff top at the head of the road, it provides breathtaking views of the seabird colony, sea cliffs, lighthouse and seascape. Access to Ellins Tower can be gained from the RSPB visitor centre or via a level track from the Ellins Tower car park. In addition to providing information to visitors to the reserve staff and volunteers

Application Form April 2009 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales No. 207076 Scotland No. SC037654 operating in and from Ellins Tower, show people birds, enthuse them about birds & wildlife and recruit them as members of the RSPB.

South Stack Lighthouse: South Stack Lighthouse is the off reserve visitor operation run by the Isle of Anglesey County Council. This centre is operated by The Isle of Anglesey Council who provide tours up to the to of the lighthouse tower to view the workings etc. The lighthouse is open 11am to 5pm from Easter until October RSPB have been involved with the Lighthouse since it was reopened to the public in 1997. Since the purchase of the cafe in 2010, RSPB have only been physically present at the lighthouse when staff/volunteer resource allows.

Additional Visitor Capacity There is additional capacity for increased visitor numbers to South Stack. At key times, essentially bank holiday weekends, the site and RSPB visitor centres are close to or at capacity. Outside these periods and especially outside the traditional summer season (April to September) there is potential for increasing both the number of people who visit the site and the RSPB visitor centre with it’s cafe and shop.

Staffing: The staff team at South Stack comprises: A Site manager who is in post year round. Reporting the Area Reserves Manager is responsible for delivery of all the agreed objectives on this high profile site which extends to 360ha. Assistant Warden who is in post year round. Reporting to the Site Manager, the postholder is responsible for delivery of the ecological and estate management and for undertaking the biological recording on the reserve. A Catering manager who is in post year round. Reporting to the Site Manager is responsible for all aspects of the catering operation including design and delivery of the menu, catering staff and volunteer management, preparation and serving food, compliance with RSPB food policy and HACCP. An Assistant Catering manager who is in post year round. Reports to and deputises for the Catering Manager to cover days off and annual leave. Catering Assistants who operate in the front of house, taking orders, operating the till, taking food to customers and clearing tables. Retail manager who is in post year round. Reports to the Site Manager and is responsible for all aspects of running the retail operation, including the selection management and display of stock to maximise retail income, management of retail staff and volunteers, financial reporting. Retail Assistants who operate from the retail till, advise customers on the product range and replenish displays etc A People Engagement Officer who is in post during the summer season. Reporting to the Site Manager the post holder is responsible for management of the People Engagement Team and for day to day running of the people engagement operation in addition the post holder performs a central role in making sales of RSPB membership, delivering exemplary standards of customer care and enthusing and inspiring visitors. People Engagement Assistants who are in post during the summer season. Reporting to the People Engagement Officer, the post holders are responsible for making sales of RSPB membership, delivering exemplary standards of customer care and enthusing and inspiring visitors. A part-time Administrator who is in post during the summer season. Reporting to the People Engagement Officer the post holder provides administrative support for the people engagement operation. Residential volunteers. We operate the Voluntary Wardening scheme at South Stack and have capacity for up to 5 volunteers each week with a minimum stay of two weeks. The volunteers primary role is to support the people engagement team meeting, greeting & signposting visitors to Ellins Tower. Those volunteers with an aptitude for membership recruitment play an important role in helping achieve the recruitment target. Local volunteers. We have a small number of local volunteers who provide additional support to the catering, retail and people engagement teams.

Application Form April 2009 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales No. 207076 Scotland No. SC037654

Job Title: Site-based People Engagement Assistant - South Stack Person Specification Region /Dept: Wales Reserves

How criteria will be tested : A = Application Form, T = Test, I = Interview, P = Personality test, O = Other

Essential Desirable Qualifications A T I P O Qualifications A T I P O 1 a English Language and Maths GCSE or equivalent, at grade C or above Experience Experience 2 Demonstrable experience of working with the public face-to- b Direct experience of working in a face-to-face sales- face orientated environment 3 Direct experience of working in a sales-orientated c Working with, motivating and managing volunteers environment d Experience of recruiting members or supporters for a charity or organisation e Working as a member of a team f Working with, motivating and managing volunteers g Experience of organizing and running events

Skills/Abilities Skills/Abilities 4 Excellent and persuasive verbal communicator showing a h Excellent and persuasive verbal communicator showing a real aptitude for communicating confidently and real aptitude for communicating confidently and inspirationally with a wide range of audiences through the inspirationally with a wide range of audiences through the medium of English. medium of Welsh. 5 Organised, with an ability to prioritise time and resources, i Sales skills and to work to agreed targets 6 Self-motivated, ability to work on own initiative, as well as j Customer care skills part of a wider team

Application Form April 2009 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales No. 207076 Scotland No. SC037654 7 Ability to keep accurate and detailed records and write k Wildlife identification skills reports 8 Computer literate with experience of Microsoft Word, Excel, l Proven ability to manage social situations Outlook and Internet explorer. Knowledge Knowledge 9 Knowledge of birds and wildlife – sufficient to hold m Working knowledge of RSPB membership conservations with the general public 10 Importance of Membership to the RSPB n Knowledge of current conservation/environmental issues 11 What constitutes good customer care o Knowledge of the RSPB and it's work Disposition/Circumstances Disposition/Circumstances 12 Friendly and smiley, outgoing and confident, with p Able to work calmly under pressure considerable enthusiasm and drive 13 Flexible approach – able to adapt to changing q Ability to travel to off-site events and activities as required circumstances 14 Target driven – able to respond well to targets, r Fit with existing team resilient and determined to succeed 15 Ability to work at weekends, Bank Holidays and School holidays and some evenings.

Application Form April 2009 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales No. 207076 Scotland No. SC037654 1

For RSPB Use Only

Acknowledge:

APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

PLEASE REFER TO VACANCY DETAILS FOR RETURN ADDRESS

Job Ref. No. 3150111

Position applied for

Location

How did you first learn of this vacancy?

Identification details (BLOCK CAPITALS PLEASE)

Surname Dr/Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Other

Forenames

Address

Postcode

Email address

May we, with discretion, phone you at work? Yes No

Home tel no Business tel no

Do you hold a current, valid driving licence? Yes No If yes, what type? Full Provisional If yes, do you have any current endorsements? Yes No If yes, please give details of any current endorsements.

Qualifications relevant to this application (including technical and/or professional). Please provide details (note that these may be verified on appointment)

Application Form March 2009 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales No. 207076 Scotland No. SC037654 Current membership of any professional or technical organisations. Please provide details (note that these may be verified on appointment)

Employment history Please give details of all jobs held, including part-time and unpaid work, starting with your current or most recent employer. Continue on a separate sheet if necessary.

Employer’s full name & Job title/ Length of time in job/ address Key achievements & areas Reasons for leaving/ of responsibility Final salary in role

Relevant skills/knowledge/experience You should outline below how your skills/knowledge/experience meet the requirements of the Person Specification. You may draw on past employment and/or out of work activities. Please include details of any scientific papers you have had published. Continue on a separate sheet if necessary.

Application Form March 2009 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales No. 207076 Scotland No. SC037654 Why are you interested in applying for this post? Continue on a separate sheet if necessary.

Length of notice

Declaration

The information on this form will be used for recruitment and selection purposes only and if your application is successful it will form part of your employment record. All unsuccessful applications will be destroyed twelve months after the closing date for positions advertised in Scotland, England and Wales and three years after the closing date for positions advertised in Northern Ireland.

Are you eligible to work in the UK ? Yes No

For Internal applicants only: In the event of my application being successful give my permission for the Personnel Department to approach my line manager for an internal reference.

If it is discovered that you have given any information, which you know to be false, or withhold any relevant information your application may be rejected or any subsequent employment terminated.

I confirm that the information contained in this application form is correct.

Signature ...... ……………………………………….

Date ...... ……………………………………….

Application Form March 2009 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales No. 207076 Scotland No. SC037654