Wild Strathfillan Project Officer
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Countryside Trust
Work base: Blended home and office-based working with desk space at National Park Authority offices in Balloch. Expectation of regular time spent in Strathfillan (Site visits will be focussed around the villages of Crianlarich, Tyndrum or Kilin).
Background
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Countryside Trust’s purpose is to create connections in the outdoors and with each other. Based in the National Park we are working to address the biodiversity and climate emergencies and enabling more sustainable, healthy and active communities. To achieve this we deliver projects, encourage participation and collaborate with others to create more sustainable, healthy and active communities, places and partnerships. Our flagship projects are Wild Strathfillan - an ambitious nature restoration initiative, Active Travel - supporting National Park Communities and our health walk programme - Walk in the Park.
Wild Strathfillan is a landscape-scale nature restoration initiative located in the north of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The initiative is led by Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Countryside Trust and involves over 30 land managers, community groups, NGOs and statutory bodies. Recently, the initiative has been successful in securing funding from NatureScot’s Nature Restoration Fund and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to deliver nature restoration, skills development and community focused projects.
The Strathfillan landscape features a diverse range of important habitats and supports an outstanding assemblage of arctic-alpine flora. The area’s rich biological diversity is recognised through designated sites, including SSSIs, SACs and the Breadalbane Important Plant Area.
Wild Strathfillan also places local people at the heart of the plan for this landscape and we are supporting local communities to gain new skills and knowledge so that can become involved.
Job purpose
This role will join the Wild Strathfillan delivery team.
The purpose of this role is to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of the 60+ projects which make up the current Wild Strathfillan Programme. These projects are separated into workstreams and a number of these projects are led by our external delivery partners but a large number are delivered by the Wild Strathfillan delivery team including the post holder. The post holder will work closely with our key delivery partners, supervise contract delivery and support the commissioning and procurement of contracts as required.
The role is required to monitor, report on and have complete oversight of the progress of projects and the overall delivery workstreams. Overall responsibility and management sits with the Programme Manager, who line manages this role but day-to-day management the work programme is the responsibility of this role.
Candidates will have a background in nature conservation and a proven track record of the delivery and wider coordination of multifaceted projects, along with experience of working with external delivery partners and contractors. Candidates would benefit from a working knowledge of nature restoration, land management principles and knowledge of Scottish wildlife and habitats, particularly in an upland setting.
Key responsibilities and tasks
- Day-to-day oversight and management of Wild Strathfillan Work Programme. Record and monitor project progress, provide summary and oversight to the delivery team and report results to the Programme Manager.
- Plan, coordinate and deliver a series of nature restoration projects as part of our Wild Strathfillan Work Programme.
- Support Wild Strathfillan delivery partners to deliver their nature restoration projects through regular engagement, clear communications, project monitoring and coordination. Provide input as required to ensure planned works meeting funding and project specifications.
- Write briefs for work to support the procurement and commissioning of contractors. Oversee the safe and successful delivery of site-based works by contractors (supported by our Project Support Officer).
- Coordinate Wild Strathfillan Work Programme evaluation, outputs and outcomes for our projects.
- Provide regular update reports to the Programme Manager to support our funding and stakeholder reporting requirements.
- Identify, collate and report on project risks and issues to the Programme Manager.
- Liaise regularly with stakeholders to identify and develop new delivery new restoration projects for future delivery programmes and maintain energy and momentum.
- Produce input to support communications for the Trust’s website, social media, project updates and e-newsletter.
- Collate and utilise project stories, outputs and outcomes to engage and inform stakeholders and interested organisations.
- Maintain the Wild Strathfillan contact sheet.
- Support the Wild Strathfillan delivery team and wider Initiative including supporting undergraduate students undertaking projects or placements and assist with the Scientific Working Group as required. Provide support to the establishment of our specialist plant nurseries, as directed by the Programme Manager.
- Be an ambassador for Wild Strathfillan and the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Countryside Trust
Reporting Arrangements
The postholder will part of the Wild Strathfillan Delivery Team, reporting to the Programme Manager.
Person Specification
Essential Relevant experience:
- Project delivery and day to day project oversight. ability to deliver large and complex nature restoration projects.
- Experience of project monitoring and evaluation and reporting on project progress against pre-agreed targets or outcomes.
- Experience of contract supervision including experience of site supervision and liaison with contractors.
- Experience of working with a wide range of stakeholders, including land managers. Sensitive and respectful of the wide-ranging views and interests of stakeholders.
- Working knowledge of nature conservation, ecology and land management principles and practices.
- Experience in evaluation projects and activities.
- Experience of writing reports for funders and other key partners.
- Experience of stakeholder engagement and partnership working.
Desirable Relevant experience:
- Contractor experience involves on-site supervision of habitat works.
- Experience of delivering nature restoration projects in Scotland.
- Experience of working with land managers in Scotland. Knowledge of Highland estates.
- Administration of a large and complex project.
- Experience of working in a remote rural setting.
- Procurement experience.
- Experience of working in the Third Sector.
Essential Skills:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to speak passionately and authoritatively to a variety of audiences and writing reports for Boards, funders and other key partners.
- Good numeracy skills, able to understand, and communicate information.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with a wide variety of people.
- Excellent organisational and administrative skills in a project and team based setting and the ability to work on a range of projects in tandem.
- Excellent problem solving and relationship building skills.
- Computer literate- M365, office suite and virtual technologies e.g. WhatsApp, Teams.
Desirable Skills:
- Training in project management systems
- Project evaluation
Essential qualifications:
- Evidence of a high standard of written and spoken English.
- Current full clean drivers’ licence with access to a vehicle.
- Right to work in the UK for next two years.
Desirable qualifications:
- A degree or equivalent in a relevant subject area (ecology, wildlife conservation, natural sciences etc.).
Essential Personal attributes & qualities:
- Committed to the purpose, values, and aims of the Countryside Trust and Wild Strathfillan Initiative.
- Confident, enthusiastic, and able to contribute as part of a team.
- Tactful and sensitive to the needs of individuals and stakeholders. Active listener with strong empathy and compassion.
- Highly professional with high standards of work.
- A strong interest in wildlife and nature restoration.
- Ability to think creatively with foresight.
- Flexible and adaptable approach to work with a positive, can-do attitude to meet the needs of the role.
- Team worker, committed to delivering shared objectives and contributing to team spirit.
- Comfortable with lone working in remote, rural locations, which may occasionally be required.
- Able and willing to work weekends and evenings on infrequent occasion.
About Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Countryside Trust
Established in 2012, The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Countryside Trust is a registered Scottish Charity and a company limited by guarantee. The Trust is an environmental, and health and wellbeing charity, which aims to support and enhance the wellbeing and resilience in landscapes, communities and people. Working predominantly within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, we work with a wide range of partners to deliver projects, encourage participation, and collaborate with others to address the biodiversity and climate emergencies, and to create more sustainable, healthy and active communities, places and partnerships.
Our vision is for our landscapes and communities to be connected and thriving.
Our 2023-20230 strategy has a strong nature focus to deliver our purpose of creating connections in nature, with nature and each other. It builds on our specialisms of landscape scale nature restoration partnerships, health and wellbeing walks, active travel and targeted community empowerment and support.
Established in 2012, The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Countryside Trust is a registered Scottish Charity and a company limited by guarantee. The Trust is an environmental, and health and wellbeing charity, which aims to support and enhance the wellbeing and resilience in landscapes, communities and people. Working predominantly within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, we work with a wide range of partners to deliver projects, encourage participation, and collaborate with others to address the biodiversity and climate emergencies, and to create more sustainable, healthy and active communities, places and partnerships. Our vision is for our landscapes and communities to be connected and thriving. Our 2023-20230 strategy has a strong nature focus to deliver our purpose of creating connections in nature, with nature and each other. It builds on our specialisms of landscape scale nature restoration partnerships, health and wellbeing walks, active travel and targeted community empowerment and support.
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