Conservation Officer Salary - £29,093 - £32,654 (Grade 5) Hours - 37 weeks Contract type - Full Time, Fixed Term Contract (14 months) The award-winning City of Wolverhampton Council is seeking an enthusiastic Conservation Officer to join our dynamic and hardworking Environmental Services, Parks and Green Spaces team. This fixed-term position is an ideal opportunity for an individual who is looking to advance their career and join a thriving and supportive organisation. There's never been a better time to join award winning City of Wolverhampton Council when we are at an exciting stage of transformation for the organisation and the city. We offer a wide range of benefits including competitive salaries, generous annual leave entitlement, excellent pension scheme amongst many more. Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve (SVLNR) is a unique natural and historical site in the West side of Wolverhampton which forms part of the UNESCO Black Country Geopark. It follows the natural valley of Smestow Brook which it shares with the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal forming a wildlife corridor nearly 4.5km long connecting the National Cycle Route 81 which runs to Aberystwyth to the canal network providing a high-quality environment for pedestrians, cyclists and offering excellent opportunities for leisure, wellbeing and tourism. Working within the Environmental Services, Parks and Green Spaces department, you will: Assist in the day-to day operational management of all aspects of SVLNR, including the monitoring of maintenance programmes, external contractors and the undertaking of daily maintenance activity as required Assist in the development and operation of the adopted management plans and other relevant site-specific guidance Deliver biodiversity creation and enhancement projects, through employing the services of contractors and working with community groups and volunteers Engage with and work in collaboration with government agencies, other local authority departments, landowners, businesses, schools, community groups, volunteers, and other organisations to deliver the objectives of the management plan and The National Lottery Heritage Fund project Help set operational standards and services at an exceptional level, ensuring effective and efficient performance at all times; working with the Friends Group to deliver site and ecological improvement projects; plan and deliver weekly practical volunteer days; deliver Wild Experience days with local businesses; engage with local communities whilst promoting the site; carry out site specific routine maintenance with the support of the Friends Group and the supervision of any staff allocated The successful candidate will have: A minimum of 3 GCSEs or equivalent including English and Maths HNC in Environmental Studies or Countryside Management or similar or demonstrable relevant experience in the sector Current full driving licence. (Minimum Cat B) Experience of: - Habitat creation techniques and applications Identifying and designing ecological improvement projects Preparing and managing work programmes and budgets Carrying out ecological surveys (species and habitat surveys) Working with volunteers Knowledge or Skills in: Biodiversity and nature conservation in the UK and the concept of landscape-scale conservation The habitats, wildlife and wild places found in and around the Black Country Habitat management skills in a range of habitat types Good species and habitat identification skills Good organisational and time management skills; accurate and methodical; able to prioritise workloads effectively and meet deadlines Ability to engage and work with corporate partners, landowners, local authority officers and community groups Ability to motivate, organise and manage groups of volunteers in undertaking a range of tasks Ability to take initiative and work independently but cooperatively For full details of the responsibilities and requirements of this role please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification. If you are interested in applying and require further information on this position, please contact Tanzil Awal on 07870 363 007 or email tanzil.awalwolverhampton.gov.uk Interviews and site walk are scheduled to take place on week commencing 9th December 2024. Acknowledgement of Funder The Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve Project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to; enhance and protect the industrial and natural heritage of SVLNR and explore and promote SVLNR to a wider audience. Our working arrangements All council roles are allocated to either a fixed, field or flexible work style. Some roles are agile which enable and empower employees to maximise their performance and productivity, whilst maintaining a healthy work life balance. Roles with a fixed workstyle work in a fixed permanent council location. Roles with a field workstyle are usually allocated where employees are required to be out working in the community with a minimum requirement for 'touch down' space at any council location. Roles with a flexible workstyle have a flexible base location to meet the needs of the business and employees can work from a mixture of home or any council office, partner/client, or external location, as required to meet service requirements. Please refer to the Job Description for further information on the workstyle assigned to the role you are applying for. For more information about working for our organisation including the culture of the Council, the Council plan and vision, staff equality forums, core HR policies and much more please click here. Diversity We are committed to building a workforce that is reflective of the diverse community we serve. We want to attract the best applications from people of all backgrounds and underrepresented groups because we strongly believe in adding value through diversity, inclusion, and equality. Our employees enable us to deliver services that are accessible, inclusive, and reflective of Wolverhampton residents. Our status as a Disability Confident Employer showcases our commitment to people with disabilities or health conditions, advocating for their opportunities and potential. We've received the Stonewall Gold Award, emphasising our dedication to the LGBT community by nurturing an inspiring, inclusive, and equal workplace. As of March 2023, the RACE Code Quality Mark signifies our active engagement with racial equality. These recognitions validate our continuous efforts towards fostering an inclusive work environment that respects and values our diverse employees. As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the essential criteria for the post. We encourage, inspire and value an inclusive culture here at the council where employees can flourish, thrive and be themselves. We have four staff equality forums for employees to join. These help to ensure our employees have a voice, they feel empowered to speak up and where everyone is treated with respect - Learn more about the staff equality forums here Recruitment of Ex-Offenders We are committed to the fair treatment of all our employees, potential employees, or users of our service regardless of offending background. The Council uses the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for any vacancies that require a DBS check to obtain information about applicants to assess their suitability for employment in positions of trust. We do not discriminate unfairly against any individual on the basis of a conviction or any other information revealed as a result of a DBS disclosure - Learn more here Employment Information & Support If you are considering applying for an apprenticeship or a role where the salary is (Grade 2-5), and would like to visit us to learn about the application, interview process and what it is like to work for the council, please click on this link to find out more - Learn more here Attached documents Job Description and Person Specification