Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust

Chalk Rivers and Farm Advisory Officer

Reports to: Conservation Manager
Responsible for: Volunteers
Work base: The Trust’s activities cover Hertfordshire and the London Boroughs of Barnet, Enfield, Harrow and Hillingdon. The Trust’s offices are at Grebe House, St Albans, AL3 4SN. The Trust supports flexible and hybrid working.
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £28,057 with potential progression to £31,889 (SCP 24-28), plus contribution to pension auto-enrolment.
Contract: Fixed-term for three years (with possibility of extension).

Job purpose: The Chalk Rivers and Farm Advisory Officer will support and facilitate the Trust’s ambition to achieve our vision of seeing 30% of land in recovery for nature by 2030. The postholder will work collaboratively with landowners, partner organisations and key stakeholders to identify, develop and secure support for projects and programmes which will promote nature’s recovery, focusing on the River Mimram Catchment and across the River Lea Catchment.

The key skills that the postholder will require are:-
Knowledge of British lowland farming practices.
Experience of providing advice on the management of British habitats/species.
Experience of establishing, leading and supporting partnerships.

This role is hosted by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and funded by the Environment Agency.

The postholder is expected to support and embrace a positive team culture, and to uphold the Trust’s values and expected behaviours at all times. They should act as a positive role model for staff, volunteers and external stakeholders through a professional, collaborative and engaging approach.

About the Trust

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is a local nature conservation charity. Our office is based in the beautiful Verulamium Park in St Albans.

We believe that wildlife should have space to thrive alongside our everyday lives and that everyone benefits from having access to nature.

Our staff team is enthusiastic, friendly and committed to making a difference.

About the role

This is a new role, hosted by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and funded by the Environment Agency.

We are looking for someone to help farmers and landholders to make their land better for nature. You will need to be someone who is determined to make a difference for wildlife with a knowledge of lowland farming and the experience to provide sound advice on habitat management thereby inspiring action which will benefit the River Mimram, one of only 220 chalk rivers in the world.

The postholder will work with private landowners and collaboratively with partner organisations and key stakeholders to identify, develop and secure support for projects and programmes which will bring about nature’s recovery, with particular focus on improving the rare chalk stream habitat found within the Mimram Valley and across the River Lea Catchment.

Main responsibilities

• Explore, evolve and employ participatory approaches to engage stakeholders in, and foster support for nature recovery in the Mimram Catchment.
• With support from the Conservation Manager, lead on the provision of land management advice and information to farmers, landholders, land managers, and external organisations to achieve positive action for nature.
• To work with farmers, landholders and land managers to identify opportunities to facilitate nature’s recovery in the Mimram Catchment, including the potential opportunities provided by Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), Environmental Land Management schemes, future nutrient mitigation and carbon credit schemes, private investment and other emerging funding mechanisms.
• To develop projects, plans and programmes collaboratively with partnership organisations and key stakeholders which would contribute to landscape-scale conservation, restoration and enhancement, ensuring joint initiatives are informed by the best technical advice and that there is sufficient liaison and reporting to partners and stakeholders.
• Coordinate and administer Hertfordshire's Revitalising Chalk Rivers partnership comprising Environment Agency, Affinity Water and Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust (and other partners as appropriate), ensuring a joined-up approach to chalk river restoration and management in the county.
• In line with the Environment Agency’s Chalk Stream Restoration Strategy, support the delivery of Environment Agency's restoration projects.
• In liaison with catchment partners and stakeholders, to review the River Mimram catchment management plan - updating it and developing its content.
• To contribute to the development of relevant citizen science initiatives in the Mimram Catchment as appropriate.
• Plan and undertake monitoring and evaluation across all project activities and evaluate project impact.

Other responsibilities

• Carry out all duties with regard to relevant legislation and the Trust’s policies and procedures.
• Carry out all other such duties as may from time to time be determined by the Conservation Manager, Director of Nature Recovery or Chief Executive of Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust.

The Trust retains the right to amend the job description in consultation with the post holder to reflect changes in or to the job.

How do we support you?

We offer a great benefits package with a range of employee schemes, including generous annual leave, flexible working, excellent learning and development opportunities, wellbeing support and much more!

You can find out more about this here

If you would like an informal conversation about the role please get in touch with Tim Hill, Conservation Manager (Tim.Hill@hmwt.org) to arrange a convenient time to talk.

When you’re ready, please complete the Application Form and send it to recruitment@hmwt.org. The application deadline is 9am on Monday 2nd October 2023.

Closing Date: 02/10/2023  Location: Hertfordshire