London Wildlife Trust Sydenham Hill Wood Officer Job Description and Person Specification

Responsible to: Great North Wood Project Manager

Located at: Sydenham Hill Wood, Centre for Wildlife Gardening, and other sites in South London

Responsible for: Management of Sydenham Hill Wood and advising on and delivering activities on other sites

Staff Management: Volunteers, contractors, sessional workers and trainees

Report to Oversight Committees: Great North Wood project team, London Wildlife Trust Reserves Management Team, Centre for Wildlife Gardening visitor centre team. London Wildlife Trust Outdoor Learning Working Group

Overview of the Role:

• Continue the development of Sydenham Hill Wood as an outstanding example of urban nature conservation and a woodland Local Nature Reserve. • Undertake practical site management in accordance with the site management plan, to protect, conserve and enhance the existing biodiversity and ecological features of Sydenham Hill Wood, Cox's Walk and other sites in south London; • Conserve and enhance the sites as a valuable and popular community asset which delivers broader environmental and social benefits for residents and workers. • Publicise the work of London Wildlife Trust at Sydenham Hill Wood & Cox's Walk. • Deliver a variety of activities including (but not limited to) volunteer practical conservation, training and education sessions; nature surveying and monitoring; guided walks and talks. • Seek and secure additional resources to further the Trust’s work. • Support the delivery of the Great North Wood Living Landscapes project and Southwark Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide a regular staff presence in Sydenham Hill Wood and Cox's Walk in order to keep the site well maintained and safe to access. This includes being a first point of contact for visitors and the local community on enquiries about the wood. • Deliver a programme of practical conservation volunteering workdays throughout the year. Currently the programme consists of one day a week and two Sundays a month. • Deliver public engagement on and off site through a programme of activities including (but not limited to) education sessions to schools, family learning sessions, guided walks and talks, training, and corporate workdays to raise awareness of wildlife and best practice use of sites; • Act as volunteer manager for Sydenham Hill Wood volunteers. From time to time this will include responsibility for sessional staff, staff and trainees that work on the Sydenham Hill Wood project. • Conserve a range of indicator species including fungi, flora and fauna in the reserve according to biodiversity action plan targets through a programme of surveys and monitoring. Submit biological records to GiGL. • Record, monitor and evaluate sessions, including keeping up to date records on the Trusts ‘Skipper’ database. Prepare evaluation and monitoring reports for circulation to funders, staff and other key stakeholders. • Day-to-day budgetary management including keeping track of project expenditure in line with budgets and submitting invoices and financial claims to funders. • Develop materials and methods for the promotion of the site through social media, newsletters and other relevant media in line with the Trust’s brand guidelines. • Seek and secure additional resources to further the Trust’s work at Sydenham Hill Wood or other sites as appropriate. • Liaise with local authorities, funders and other local partners to build positive and collaborative working relationships. Ensure that work is delivered in a timely manner, to budget and that all Southwark Service Level Agreement deliverables are met. • Work collaboratively with colleagues and local partners to maintain and improve the site and its assets. • Deliver practical conservation related vocational training to, and lead/assist with the development of Trust staff, volunteers and other key individuals who manage Trust sites as required. • Undertake other duties as requested by line manager.

Other areas of responsibility: a) Promotion of the Trust: To work at all times to further the aims of the Trust including promotion of Trust membership and encouraging donations. To market, communicate and promote London Wildlife Trust activities and initiatives at Sydenham Hill Wood and in the local area. b) Health and Safety: All staff are legally responsible for ensuring Health and Safety considerations are taken into account in all working situations. Staff are encouraged to make reports or suggestions to the Health and Safety Officer on any matters of concern. c) Equal opportunities: To work at all times within the Trust’s Equality and Diversity policy and to promote equal opportunities wherever possible especially with regard to volunteer and membership recruitment. d) All staff may, on occasion, contribute to the work of London Wildlife Trust’s trading arm – London Wildlife Limited

Terms and Conditions

Salary: Officer Grade - £25,811 per annum pro rata

Hours of work: 4 days a week, 9.30 am - 5.30pm, including two Sundays a month. Additional weekend and evening work may be required from time to time for which time off in lieu is given.

Holidays: 25 days per annum plus statutory holidays pro rata

Tenure: Fixed term contract to 31 March 2023

Sick pay: Employees are eligible for company sick pay after successful completion of the probation period and if the correct procedures have been followed; employees may still qualify for Statutory Sick Pay.

Pension: Eligible employees will be auto-enrolled into the company pension scheme. Further details on auto-enrolment can be obtained from this website https://www.gov.uk/workplace-pensions. Pension contribution rates for LWT are currently at 3% employer and 5% employee. Even if you are not eligible, you can still join the scheme, but the Trust may not have to make any employer contributions. Further details will be provided on joining the Trust.

Employee Assistance Programme All employees have access to a free and confidential information, support and counselling service available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Childcare Voucher Scheme The Trust operates a salary sacrifice scheme

London Wildlife Trust Sydenham Hill Wood Officer Job Description and Person Specification

The following experience, skills and aptitudes are those that we are looking for in candidates for the post of Sydenham Hill Wood Officer. Those listed as 'Essential' are those that the candidates must have. Candidates who fail to meet these criteria will not be short-listed. 'Desirable' skills and experience are those that it would be advantageous to have, although it is not essential. Lone working is a regular feature of this role. An enhanced DBS (formerly CRB) check is required for this role.

Essential criteria:

• Significant level of relevant experience in the nature conservation and/or ecological sector • Practical conservation experience in relation to woodland management practices and techniques, as well as a good ecological knowledge of woodlands. • Experience of working with a range of partners including local authorities, community groups, developers and environmental NGOs to achieve positive outcomes for biodiversity. • Experience of planning and delivering practical conservation work on nature reserves, accompanied by a good range of practical land management skills. • Experience of delivering public engagement activities for a range of audiences through family learning sessions, guided walks, talks and events • Experience of delivering outdoor education sessions to schools • Experience of producing and implementing conservation management plans and interpretative material for a variety of audiences. • Experience of volunteer recruitment and management. • Independent and self-motivated, with excellent communication skills (written and verbal) • Competent user of Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Power point, Outlook and databases • Commitment to working in accordance with London Wildlife Trust’s policies.

Desirable criteria:

• Expertise in the identification and monitoring of wildlife • Knowledge of urban nature conservation issues, with understanding of some of the problems and solutions unique to this sector. • Experience of writing funding applications and securing funding from a range of sources • Accredited qualification in chainsaw, brushcutter / strimmer, pesticide. • Experience of engaging and working with contractors and landowners • Experience of managing a nature reserve or other protected area • Working knowledge of relevant legislation including planning and designated sites

Protecting London’s wildlife for the future The London Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales no. 1600379 and registered charity no. 283895.