Senior Wildlife Officer Job Description

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SENIOR WILDLIFE OFFICER JOB DESCRIPTION

Job title: Senior Wildlife Officer Based: St James’s Park, The Storeyard, Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2BJ. Salary: £27,801- £33,727 per annum, depending on experience. Terms: Permanent contract on a full-time basis (36 hours per week) 26 days annual leave pro rata plus public holidays. A pension scheme is available.

Reporting to: Assistant Park Manager, St James’s Park.

Responsible for: The management of captive bird collections, natural habitats, working with volunteer groups, managing lake water quality, wildlife management and pest control within the Inner Parks (St James’s Park, The Green Park, Victoria Tower Gardens, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Brompton Cemetery, The Regent’s Park & Primrose Hill). Participate in a 24-hour callout rota, to deal with emergencies involving wildlife. Management of firearms. Internal relationships: St James’s Park Manager; Head of Ecology, other Park Managers; Assistant Park Managers; Wildlife Officers; Development and Learning. External relationships: Members of interest groups and other organisations involved in the parks; Swan Sanctuary, RSPCA, Parks Friends Groups, Government Agencies e.g. DEFRA, Park Wildlife Groups; Metropolitan Police; local authorities; members of the public; Zoological Society of London.

BACKGROUND

The Royal Parks is a charity created in March 2017. We manage over 5,000 acres of diverse parkland, rare habitats and historic buildings and monuments in eight Royal Parks across London. These are: Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, The Green Park, St James’s Park, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, Greenwich Park, Richmond Park and Bushy Park. We also manage other important public spaces including Brompton Cemetery and Victoria Tower Gardens.

JOB PURPOSE

To carry out the management of captive bird collections, natural habitats, and associated wildlife and pest control within the Inner Parks (St James’s Park, The Green Park, Victoria Tower Gardens, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Brompton Cemetery The Regent’s Park & Primrose Hill). Participate in a 24-hour callout rota on a one week in four basis, for the Inner Royal Parks to deal with emergencies involving wildlife. Assist with wildlife duties in other Parks, including any emergency cover for all 8 Royal Parks if required. (This also includes cover for Bushy Park and Richmond Park if required during Wildlife Officer`s leave).

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provide care for waterfowl collection including daily feeding at St James’s Park. • To manage the health and welfare of wildlife including the feeding of the Pelicans and other captive birds as required. • Carry out weekend wildfowl and pelican feeding duties when on the rota at St James’s Park and The Regents Park. • To work closely with, and oversee the works carried out by Regent’s Park Wildlife Officer, and give advice, and cover for periods of absence.

2. Pest management, animal welfare and water bodies

• Identify sick and injured wildlife, seeking and facilitating advice and support from wildlife charities and veterinary experts where necessary. Be the primary contact for these external organisations on The Royal Parks behalf. Making decisions regarding humane despatch where appropriate, ensuring adherence to current legislation. Removing and disposing of carcasses in the correct manner. • Carry out routine quality monitoring of water bodies, ensuring that water levels are maintained and check for outbreaks of algae or pollution and keep records. • Monitor and survey for plant and animal pest species and work with staff, consultants, volunteers and contractors engaged in the management and control of pest and diseases such as Oak Processionary Moth. • Carry out control of identified pest and vermin species as necessary to ensure balanced populations of wildlife within all parks worked. This may necessitate working in public areas and buildings and out of normal hours. Maintain computer records of control carried out and adhere to any Statutory Regulations applicable to the use of poisons and trapping and stay current with necessary training.

The Royal Parks is registered in England and Wales: Company Registration No: 10016100 Registered Charity No: 1172042. Registered Offices: The Old Police House, Hyde Park, London. W2 2UH. t: :0300 061 2000 e: [email protected]. w: royalparks.org.uk 3. Park Management • Monitor and protect the Park's wildlife through habitat enhancement, with assistance from others when necessary, with special reference to local Biodiversity Action Plans and park objectives. • Assist with the management and monitoring of events in St James’s and other Royal Parks including the supervision and specification of protection of habitats and wildlife during major sporting, music, and ceremonial events. • Assist with the supervision of volunteer groups carrying out environmental and habitat management tasks. • Assist with Metropolitan Police Service in access to wildlife areas of the park with no public access such as Duck Island or West Island when necessary for event security. • Supervise the work of Park contractors and concessionaires and assess any impacts to wildlife or pests and to advise, as necessary.

• Provide advice and information to other parks on FOI and wildlife queries, enquiries, and correspondence as required.

4. Emergency planning and procedures • Review and implement contingency plans for HN51 (Avian Influenza) and other contingency plans annually. • Assist Inner Parks teams with other emergency procedures as required. Remain familiar with the park’s emergency, and environmental emergency plans and procedures. • Assist the Royal Parks Metropolitan Police OCU in the implementation of the Royal Parks Regulations where applicable to wildlife and liaise directly on wildlife crime. 5. Stakeholder liaison and public information • Assist the parks teams to determine the need for and display of wildlife related public information boards around relevant locations within the parks worked. • To supervise the work of Park contractors and concessionaires in respect of potential impacts to wildlife or pests and to advise, as necessary. • Carry out presentations regarding the Park’s wildlife to the public, schools, media and on- line virtual presentations to other interested groups, through talks, open days, guided walks, lectures, displays, etc. as may be agreed with the Park Manager from time to time. • Provide support and mentoring to apprentices, contractors and staff to develop formal training and competencies in the role of Wildlife Officer. • Attend and contribute to Central Royal Parks Wildlife Group meetings as required and provide reports.

The Royal Parks is registered in England and Wales: Company Registration No: 10016100 Registered Charity No: 1172042. Registered Offices: The Old Police House, Hyde Park, London. W2 2UH. t: :0300 061 2000 e: [email protected]. w: royalparks.org.uk 7. Health and Safety, and Environmental • To be aware of his/her responsibilities as described in The Royal Parks H&S Procedures Policies, procedures and operate in such a manner to ensure compliance with Health and Safety at Work Act and other relevant legislation. • To be aware of his/her responsibilities in environmental accreditation especially ISO 14001. 8. Management, administration and housekeeping • In liaison with the Park Management Teams and Head of Ecology carry out species surveys, maintaining and updating species records in paper digital IT formats. • Maintain records of personal training and competency achieved in professional accreditation.

Essential / Selection Criteria Desirable Qualifications A. Essential Qualification and Location Requirements

• Live within 30 minutes travelling time from St James’s Park, or in a Royal E • ParksLive withi Lodnge 30 (rent minutes = 8.5% travelling of sala timery, offer from of St Lodge James’s subject Park, orto inavailability) a Royal Parks Lodge (rent = 8.5% of salary, offer of Lodge subject to availability) • Valid full driving licence E

• AnMu stappropri possessate a valid qualification full driving such licen case NVQ Level 2 Gamekeeping and Wildlife Management or equivalent E • An appropriate qualification such as NVQ Level 2 Gamekeeping and Wildlife • TheManagement possession or equivalent of a current firearms certificate for rifles and a current shotgun certificate, and the competency to use them accurately and safely D • inCertification a range of inen thevironments. management of pests, such as the RSPH Level 2 or BASIS • Certification inin Rtheoden managementticides of pests, such as the RSPH Level 2 or BASIS Certification in Rodenticides D • The possession of a current firearms certificate for rifles and a current shotgun certificate, and the competency to use them accurately and safely in a range of Experience environments • Demonstrates extensive experience of wildlife conservation and the E management and improvement of habitats

• Demonstrate in a similar role, the management of wildlife and pest control E • especially in urban environments.

• Lifting and handling large wildfowl E

• Presentations and leading guided walks D

• Good bird, animal, fish and wildlife knowledge and species identification E skills

• Experience of working with volunteers D

Skills, knowledge and ability

• Competent to manage correspondence and actively participate in social E media campaigns, press and media interviews

• Excellent mentoring skills, and the ability to train apprentices and contractors in techniques such as bird handling habitat management, and E pest control

• The ability to work from boats, and confident to wade and work safely in E water. • Competent to manage correspondence and actively participate in social D media campaigns, press and media interviews • Other

• Commitment to The Royal Parks’ values of being accountable, excellent, E inclusive, open, and respectful.

• Demonstrate interest and awareness of the roles of allied organisations such as ZSL, DEFRA, RSPCA, Natural England, and National D Gamekeepers Organisation.