JOB DESCRIPTION WDC Policy Officer (Northern Isles)

JOB DESCRIPTION WDC Policy officer (Northern Isles) Responsible to: Shorewatch manager Responsible for: Shorewatch volunteers in the Northern Isles Location: Northern Isles. Home based with extensive regular travel to Shorewatch sites across Orkney and Shetland and Scottish Dolphin Centre (Moray) Hours: 35 hours p/w including evening and weekend work Salary: £19,800 Duration: 1st March 2020 – December 2022 Job Summary: With training and support from the wider WDC team, the Policy officer will establish WDC’s Shorewatch citizen Science programme in Orkney, Shetland and Fair Isle. Already well-established in other areas of the Scottish coastline, the Shorewatch programme trains volunteers to collect valuable data on whale, dolphin and porpoise presence and absence, which is then used to inform conservation decisions. The applicant should expect extensive travel across the Northern Isles including regular evening and weekend work. Key Responsibilities: • To establish the WDC Shorewatch programme in the Northern Isles. • To develop and promote the appropriate shore-based watching sites (initially 13 sites across Shetland, Orkney and Fair Isle); visit these sites regularly to support volunteers and partners • To recruit, train and support shore-based volunteers from the local community in the watching protocols and all other aspects of the Shorewatch programme • To conduct Shorewatches at each site in the Northern Isles to increase effort and demonstrate WDC presence in the early years of the project • To ensure the appropriate collection of scientific data from the shore-based watching; format and enter data into the WDC Shorewatch database • To manage and enthuse volunteers and to encourage community participation in the conservation of cetacean populations, through the development of interpretive materials, through events, talks and activities with target groups • To work closely with the wider WDC Shorewatch and policy teams to ensure consistency across the programmes • To help document and promote the Shorewatch programme through the production of media materials such as, written newsletters, blogs and articles for WDC’s website and magazine; and regularly use WDC Shorewatch’s closed Facebook group to communicate with volunteers, regularly capturing and utilising photos of the Shorewatch team and individuals in situ • To further cultivate partnerships with relevant local organisations and to chair the project’s steering group • To deliver the project in accordance with grant terms and conditions; and to collect and collate all information necessary for grant reporting, work with the WDC Shorewatch and Trusts and Grants teams to prepare grant claims and reports The post owner will require their own transport. Travel expenses will be reimbursed. Laptop, mobile phone with dongle and home office supplies will be provided for work use only. This post is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. To apply: To request an application form, please email [email protected] using SW19 in the subject line. CVs will not be accepted. Please send completed application forms to [email protected] with reference PO19APPLICATION in the subject line. Closing date: 8th Jan 2020 .

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