Local Nature Recovery Officer

Contract: Fixed Term 18 months
Salary: HC08 £33,945 – £38,223
Hours: 37
Location: Plough Lane and/or HARC Hereford. Currently hybrid working in line with council policy.

Located at the heart of the Marches, the historic border countryside where England meets Wales,
Herefordshire is one of the most rural counties in England. Beautiful, unspoilt countryside,
two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, historic parklands, the cathedral city of Hereford and
attractive market towns provide an excellent quality of life.

In 2019 Herefordshire Council declared a climate emergency and committed to minimising our
impact on the environment and aspiring to carbon neutrality by 2030. The scope of this
declaration has now been broadened to encompass an ecological emergency, providing an exciting
opportunity for the Natural Environment team to the lead the way in developing new initiatives
across both the council and the wider county through our work with local nature partnerships.

Herefordshire Council has been appointed the Responsible Authority by Defra for Local Nature
Recovery Strategy in the Council under the Environment Act (2021). The development of the LNRS
is an exciting opportunity and a chance to use your conservation knowledge and other project
management skills to excellent use as part of our collaborative approach to nature’s recovery.

We are looking for an individual who is familiar with the nature recovery agenda and has
excellent project and programme management experience. 

Being able to work collaboratively, engage with a wide range of people and facilitate
conversations is vital.

Your knowledge and experience of nature conservation will ensure that our LNRS delivers the
restoration of nature through innovative ideas and collaborative working.

Acting as Local Nature Recovery Strategy Officer working closely with the Built and Natural
Environment team comprising; Trees, Landscape, Ecology and Public Open Space, with
Herefordshire Biological Records Centre (HBRC), Building Conservation, Archaeology and Historic
Environment Record and with colleagues across the Council and a range of stakeholders.

Your main duties are:

• Establish relationships and communications at an appropriate level with key stakeholders
  including the established steering group
• Convene focussed working groups for development and delivery of key actions
• To project manage the development and production of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy
• Act as a lead point of contact for and manage any appointed contractors delivering
  specialist work associated with the production of the LNRS.
• Take responsibility for the resolution of complex problems, using initiative to find
  appropriate solutions.
• Actively engage with neighbouring Responsible Authorities so that adjacent strategies are
  coherent
• To champion LNRS principles and objectives across the organisation, its stakeholders,
  partners, customers and clients.
• Examine potential funding/investment streams and investment mechanisms for delivery of
  nature recovery. Work with other staff to develop such investment.
• Sourcing and securing land for recovery projects. Working with private and public
  landowners to secure land for tree planting/habitat creation/nutrient mitigation
• Prepare key reports on the work of the LNRS and present data and information at events as
  necessary for audiences including stakeholders, senior managers and elected members
• To develop and implement LNRS data capture and management systems and processes to
  facilitate monitoring and reporting on delivery of LNRS aims and objectives and to support
  partners to adopt and contribute to data capture processes.
• To be responsible for technical advice to Members, partners, customers and stakeholders.
• To work with LNRS delivery partners to support integration of LNRS actions and objectives
  into partners’ own strategies, project development activity and management plans as appropriate

Benefits of working for Herefordshire Council:

• A competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension
  and staff benefits scheme, which includes:
• Pension Scheme Enrolment in the Local Government (LGPS)
• Generous Annual Leave: 31 days’ annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays. You can also
  purchase an additional 10 days per annum
• Flexible working: flexi-time, job-share, part-time hours and, in some instances, home
  working
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling
• Payment of professional membership fees
• Pick your perks – our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and
  health benefits. This includes savings, cash back and discounts.

We welcome applicants whatever their personal characteristics or social identity. All requests
for flexible working arrangements and reasonable adjustments will be considered.

The following candidates will be interviewed if they meet the essential criteria for the post
they are applying for:

• Those who indicate that they have a disability. This is part of our commitment to the
  “Disability Confident” scheme;
• Those who indicate in their supporting statement that they are an Armed Forces Veteran or
  Reservist. This is part of our pledge to support the Armed Forces Covenant;
• Those who indicate in their supporting statement that they are a Herefordshire care leaver.
  This is part of our commitment to supporting young people leaving our care.

We will deliver better support to our most vulnerable children and their families, develop
stronger relationships with partners across the region, and beyond. Therefore, we take our
commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable
adults seriously and expect all of our staff, visitors and volunteers to share in this
commitment.

Herefordshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children &
young people and vulnerable adults. If you are offered this position, it will be subject to a
Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check and further pre-employment checks.

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for more details of this role.

To apply, please submit your CV and complete the supporting statement within the application
form, referring to the job description & person specification, detailing how you meet the
specific requirements of the role.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you would like to obtain
details regarding feedback on your application please contact Hoople Resourcing at: [email protected]