Partnership Support Officer

We are inviting candidates for this new and exciting role to help our nature restoration team
deliver partnership projects as part of our Wild Strathfillan programme of activity.

Working in close partnership with local land managers, local communities, Loch Lomond and The
Trossachs National Park Authority and a range of public, private, and voluntary sector
organisations, the successful candidate will be involved in supporting the delivery of a range
of projects across the Wild Strathfillan initiative area.

The candidate is likely to have a background/ interest in nature conservation and experience
with of supporting project delivery and working with partners. A working knowledge of
horticulture, nature restoration or land management principles would be beneficial.

This role is Fixed term until 31st March 2026. The work pattern for this role
is flexible and we are open to receiving applications from applicants who would be interested
in a job share for this role.

• Hours: 21 hours per week
• Pension: Employer contributes 7% of salary
• Annual leave: Pro rata based on full time 28 days plus 10 days public holidays
• Reporting to: People Engagement Manager
• Location: Blended home and office-based working with desk space at National
  Park Authority offices in Balloch. Expectation of regular time spent in Strathfillan and across
  the National Park.
• Start date: The successful candidate would ideally be able to start in October
  2024.

Application process:

Please complete our online application form and Diversity
and Monitoring form available from our website and
forward to [email protected]. Please note
CV’s alone will not be accepted.

We welcome a conversation about the role with interested candidates. Please email us by the
26th September to [email protected].

• Closing date for applications: Monday 30th September 2024 at 9am
• Interviews will be held: Week commencing 7th October 2024.

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. 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 initiative aims to place 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.
We will also support local land managers to develop skills to support the restoration and
stewardship of nature on their land. This will involve formal and informal learning and
practical activities, centred on habitat restoration, herbivore management, control of
non-native invasive species (INNS) and the creation of wildlife friendly spaces in local
gardens and community spaces.

The Strathfillan landscape features a diverse range of important habitats, including temperate
rainforest, Caledonian pinewoods, and montane woodland. It also 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. All of this
is set within a patchwork of traditional land uses, including hill farming, sporting, and
forestry.

Key responsibilities and tasks

• Work with the Wild Strathfillan team to establish a local provenance native plant and tree
  nursery. Support day to day nursery operations by working with students, volunteers and on own
  as required.
• Work with Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority Rangers and volunteers to
  undertake target species baseline surveys across the landscape and collect seeds and cuttings.
• Coordinate a volunteer group to enable the delivery of nature restoration activities, in
  particular nursery operations.
• Work with project partners to identify opportunities for volunteer days.
• Support Wild Strathfillan partners to deliver nature restoration projects across a range of
  habitats.
• Work with Ecology & Monitoring Officer and project partners to identify suitable
  translocation sites for Phase one target species.
• Assist with the delivery of trials and research into new nature restoration techniques.
• Support the Specialist Plant Working Group as required.
• Support the wider project team and partnership as required, including the Steering Group
  and working groups.

Person Specification

Skills Essential

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; and report writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to develop good working relationships with a wide
  range of partners.
• Excellent organisational skills, including time and workload management.
• Efficient, with the ability to work independently and able to manage workload effectively.
• Excellent administrative skills.

Skills Desirable

• Working knowledge of horticulture, nature conservation, wildlife species and land
  management principles and techniques.
• Scottish wildlife identification skills, particularly plants and upland habitats

Knowledge, Qualifications and Experience Essential

• Proven ability to assist with the delivery of projects.
• Experience of working on a range of tasks in tandem.
• Computer literate, confident in the use of Microsoft Office software.
• Experience of stakeholder engagement.
• Experience of coordinating volunteers and leading volunteer group activities.
• Experience of working with partners.
• Experience of working in a remote rural setting.
• Full UK driving license and access to a vehicle.
• Ability to work in the UK
• Evidence of a high standard of written and spoken English

Knowledge, Qualifications and Experience Desirable

• Experience of working with contractors, including on-site supervision of habitat works.
• Experience of working with a National Park Authority, local authorities, private and
  voluntary sector organisations, and local communities.
• Experience of working on grant funded projects.
• Experience of supporting/ delivering nature restoration projects in Scotland.
• Experience of working with a wide range of stakeholders, including land managers.
• Qualification in horticulture/ silviculture or relevant subject area (ecology, wildlife
  conservation, natural sciences etc.).

Personal Attributes  Essential

• Committed to the purpose, values and aims of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Countryside
  Trust, Wild Strathfillan Initiative and its partners.
• A strong interest in wildlife, horticulture and nature restoration.
• Enthusiastic to engage, recruit and build a volunteer team.
• Confident self-starter, happy to work alone and as part of a team.
• Tactful and sensitive to the needs of individuals and stakeholders.
• Highly motivated and professional with high standards of work.
• Flexible and adaptable approach to work with a positive, can-do attitude.
• Team worker, committed to delivering shared objectives and contributing to team spirit.
• Happy to travel to rural locations (will require the use of a suitable vehicle and Full
  Driving License, or available public transport).
• Able and willing to work weekends and evenings on occasion.

Working with the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Countryside Trust

Great news, we’re proud to have joined over 15,000 other organisations within the UK who have
made the pledge and commitment to pay their staff a real Living Wage. To find out more what
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