Project Officer – Landscape Recovery North Norfolk

Purpose: To work alongside our current Landscape Recovery Project Officer to develop land management plans, design restoration projects, undertake ecological surveys and liaise with landowners throughout North Norfolk.

Reports to: North Norfolk Catchments Team Leader.

Location: Office at Bayfield near Holt. Visits across Norfolk, Cam and Ely Ouse (CamEO) and potentially further afield.

Job term: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, 1-year fixed term with potential for extension if funding becomes available.

Annual Leave Entitlement: 25 days plus 8 days bank holidays pro rata.

Salary details: Grade 2 £28,000 – £32,000 (9% Employer Pension Contribution).

Norfolk Rivers Trust’s ambition is to deliver catchment-scale change to our water environment, protecting our watercourses from pollution, improving habitat and ecological functioning of streams and rivers and enhancing resilience to climate change.

It’s an exciting time in for the Trust, having grown to a team of 30 since it began in 2011, and we are delivering major projects such as river re-meandering and flood plain connections, farming and land management advice, new constructed wetlands, species re-introductions and community engagement.

Norfolk Rivers Trust (NRT) are currently looking for a committed individual to join us as the Project Officer for Landscape Recovery. In collaboration with Norfolk County Council, Natural England, and Holkham Estate, we’re part way through a pilot project under Defra’s Landscape Recovery program, spanning an initial two-year period. The applicant would be joining us 1 year into the project.

As part of the role, you’ll collaborate and assist the NRT senior landscape recovery officer to engage with and visit landowners across the North Norfolk catchments of the Hun, Burn, Stiffkey, Glaven and Weybourne Beck. You’ll also work closely with the NRT team, as well as the Landscape Recovery Team from Natural England, Norfolk County Councils, and other partners. Together, you’ll analyse findings and develop comprehensive plans for a 20-year implementation phase, advancing the Landscape Recovery initiative.

Candidates with knowledge of habitats, land use management, aquatic species, landowner engagement, and river hydrology and morphology are highly encouraged to apply.

Job description

In this role, the successful candidate will be devising restoration projects, drafting landscape management plans, and conducting ecological surveys. This involves assessing habitats and surveying for key species such as water voles and white-clawed crayfish, and fish employing methods like electrofishing. There will also be a strong admin side to the role, maintaining databases and liaising with landowners.

The successful candidate will also contribute to the broader efforts of the NRT team, assisting with communication outputs and undertaking any other duties as required. Given the nature of the role, regular travel across Norfolk for visits and meetings will be necessary, with travel expenses reimbursed at 0.45p per mile when not traveling to the NRT Head Office.

Principle responsibilities

• Maintain and update databases.
• Liaise with landowners and farmers to collect data and organise surveys.
• Assist in restoration designs.
• Assist in producing landscape management plans.
• Assist in ecological surveys including but not limited to; fish, water vole and white-clawed crayfish.
• Produce consenting permits.
• The above list should not be regarded as exhaustive, from time-to-time staff may be required to carry out other such duties as determined by the Trust.

Essential criteria

• Experience in Ecological surveying.
• Proficient in Office suite.
• Clear commitment to vision and values of Norfolk Rivers Trust.
• Exceptional listening and communication skills, with a proven ability to influence multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with partners and stakeholders.
• Good organisational and reporting skills.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary organisation.
• Awareness of the need for confidentiality and sensitivity.
• UK driving licence and vehicle available for work use with business insurance.

Desirable criteria

• Experience in surveying for Water Voles.
• Experience writing habitat management plans.
• Ability to use GIS.
• Experience in designing restoration/habitat creation projects.

Education

• Minimum HND/BSc in Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Geography or Land Management related subject.

Applications:

To apply, please send your completed Job Application Form, Equal Opportunities Monitoring Information Form and a covering email to [email protected] by Wednesday 26th June at 5pm. 

If you have any questions regarding this role, please contact: Ant Gagen, [email protected]