Project Officer – Surrey and South London

A fixed-term post is available for a period of two years, with working hours ranging from three days per week to full-time, depending on the successful candidate’s location and preference. The post is funded and employed by the Waterlife Recovery Trust. Subject to the expected securing of follow-on funding, the position may be renewable. The purpose of the project is the removal of invasive American mink from Surrey and South London, to protect endangered water voles and other native wildlife and allow their populations to recover. The post-holder will maintain and extend a mink trapping network across ‘their area’ using ‘smart’ mink traps monitored by volunteers. The project will use adaptive management techniques to maximise efficiency and effectiveness; the ‘best practice’ for humane mink trapping is detailed on the WRT website (www.waterliferecoverytrust.org.uk).

The post will be home-based in Surrey outside of Greater London. The ideal candidate will be located in near Mid Surrey to East Surrey, or be willing to move there. The Project Officer (PO) will be expected to use their own vehicle for travel and moving trapping equipment but receive a mileage rate for doing so. Flexibility in working hours will be essential; this is not a 9-5 weekday office job. Although POs will not be expected to exceed their agreed weekly working hours on average, some weeks will be busier than others. At least a few minutes of work will be needed every day, including at weekends, to support volunteers, ensure that our work is always carried out to the highest animal welfare standards and keep our database fully up to date. The post holder will work in close collaboration with other WRT Project Officers.

All necessary training and PPE will be provided.

Responsibilities and duties

• Maintain and extend an existing smart trapping network across ‘your area’.
• Seek, recruit and inspire new volunteers who wish to protect water voles and other wildlife by managing smart traps in their local area.
• Distribute mink rafts, cage traps and automated trap monitors and support volunteers in their safe and humane use.
• Use an air rifle to dispatch cage trapped mink humanely.
• Collect mink carcases, take measurements and tissue samples for DNA analysis.
• Accurately record data about trap locations and details of trapped mink and promptly upload those data to the project’s database.
• Travel throughout the area to deliver equipment and liaise with volunteers.
• Keep in contact with volunteers by telephone, email and in person.
• Provide advice to help volunteers operate safely.
• Provide written reports and feedback as requested.
• Liaise with other POs to ensure seamless coverage through the project area.
• Build awareness of the damage caused by American mink to native wildlife.
• Be an ambassador for the humane control and eradication of mink.

Personal specification

Essential criteria:

• Own transport, with business use insurance and full driving licence.
• Physically fit.
• Good attention to detail.
• An appropriate home location to deliver the project effectively.
• A good ‘team player’ with the ability to communicate and build good relationships with a wide range of partners, volunteers and landowners.
• Flexible, enthusiastic and self-motivated: able to work unsupervised, reliably delivering the requirements of a project.
• Desire to foster continual improvement within the project.
• Prepared to work out of doors, alone in the countryside and at weekends and outside standard office hours.
• Willing to humanely dispatch trapped mink.
• Degree in environmental subject or good wildlife knowledge and passion for conservation.
• Comfortable with the daily use of IT.
• Post will be available from the beginning of April.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience in the safe use of air weapons.
• Practical experience of the control of mink or other invasive species.
• A knowledge of wildlife, farming and country pursuits.

Salary:

The salary is £30,500 per annum at a full-time rate (inclusive of London Weighting). Both salary and annual leave entitlement of 20 days will be calculated on a pro rata basis. The post includes pension provision. Time off in lieu for additional hours worked may be taken subject to prior approval and will be calculated over a rolling 17-week period. Mileage expenses will be reimbursed.

Probationary period: 3 months

There is no application deadline. WRT will interview excellent candidates soon after they apply, so please do not delay in sending in your application.