Test and Itchen River Restoration Project Officer - 24800

1
South East
Romsey
Romsey Office
Staff Grade 5
Permanent
Full Time, Part Time/Job Share
Environment & Sustainability
£36,389
Iconic chalk streams, strong communicator and project management - If your excitement grew when reading this than you might be the right candidate for a rare and exciting opportunity to join our Fisheries, Biodiversity and Geomorphology Team. We are looking for a River Restoration Officer to take on the delivery of our award-winning Test and Itchen River Restoration Strategy, bringing these iconic rivers towards the national and international standards of health they should meet.

Working both in an outdoor and desk-based setting, the successful candidate will have a sound knowledge of the function and pressures on chalks streams, as well as the ecology and angling interests. You will have a high level of oversight in planning and implementing the catchment's river restoration programme.

Tasks will include:
• Assessment and design of river and floodplain restoration schemes
• Project management
• Planning and permitting work
• Monitoring and reporting on the success of schemes
• Raising the profile of the Test and Itchen River Restoration Strategy
• Influencing the future direction of the Test and Itchen River Restoration Strategy

You will build and foster relationships with stakeholders including riparian owners/managers, charities and anglers. You will also work closely with the Test and Itchen River Restoration Strategy partners, such as Natural England, and internal colleagues working on the Test and Itchen catchment.
You will work closely with our team of experienced, dedicated and welcoming ecologists and fisheries experts that support the continued development of skills. We work together and learn from one another to help conserve and enhance rivers, still-waters, wetlands, estuaries, and coastal habitats. The Team has won awards for their work and achieved long-lasting environmental improvements as a result of their efforts.
You'll have experience as an ecologist with practical conservation or river management and restoration techniques, with a relevant degree (or equivalent).

You’ll be able to demonstrate the following:

• Experience working with stakeholders and partners, it's crucial you're a confident communicator with strong negotiation and influencing skills
• Thorough understanding of ecological requirements of chalk stream and wetland habitats, species, natural processes, nature-based solutions, fisheries management and angling
• Working knowledge of environmental and fisheries legislation, policy and strategy
• Project management skills with a proven track record in project delivery, working with Construction Design and Management Regulations (2015), procurement process and contractors
• Experience surveying for chalk stream species
• Expertise in Geographic Information System (GIS) and computer-aided design (CAD). The ability to process and interpret data, (e.g. Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), topographic and historic maps) is desirable
• Knowledge of the Test and Itchen catchment is desirable
We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities and our environment.
We support flexible working hours and practices.
We also encourage you to keep developing your skills and professional knowledge throughout your career.

The Environment Agency is a Category 1 Responder, responding to serious flood and pollution incidents, protecting the environment, lives, and livelihoods of the communities that we serve. Everyone has a role to play and we’ll help you to identify an incident role that fits with your skills, experience and personal circumstances.

If you'd like more information please get in touch with amir.fogel@environment-agency.gov.uk

Interviews will be held remotely by video conference date to be confirmed.

12/12/2022, 23:55 hours

Basic Check
Achieves Results
Please note we do not assess CVs. Your answer to this question will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your response. Using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action and Result) can help when formulating your answers.

As a Project Officer, you will be closely involved in the practical project works (e.g. concept to completion, post-project monitoring and reporting), as well as keeping the bigger picture of the Test and Itchen River Restoration Strategy in mind and on track. The successful candidate will be able to work efficiently and effectively under pressure and within tight deadlines, whilst ensuring their work is of the highest standard; an impressive track record as a completer-finisher is therefore essential.

Please describe a time when you delivered a project, start to finish, with a positive environmental or ecological outcome or result. Please provide details of how you achieved your success.
Builds and Sustains Relationships
Please note we do not assess CVs. Your answer to this question will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your response. Using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action and Result) can help when formulating your answers.

Developing, managing and sustaining effective working relationships is very important in helping us achieve our Test and Itchen River Restoration Strategy. Leading delivery of the projects requires working with people from a range of backgrounds, all with different expectations, time constraints and attitudes. As Project Officer you will bridge the whole range of project delivery which requires navigating situations, such as managing concerns over lengthy, time-consuming processes, liaising between project stakeholders and partners, broaching delicate subject matter, identifying and approaching potential new partners.

Please tell us your approach to developing and maintaining strong professional relationships, how you get the best from others to optimise mutual wins. Please provide an example of a time you have done this successfully.
Influences and Persuades Others
Please note we do not assess CVs. Your answer to this question will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your response. Using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action and Result) can help when formulating your answers.

In this role you'll work alongside a range of Environment Agency colleagues, partners, stakeholders and members of the public who will hold different views, experiences, motivations, needs, knowledge, capabilities and ambitions. Working in collaboration is a key approach, and as such reconciling differing ambitions and winning funding contributions from river owners requires well-honed influencing and persuasion skills.

Please tell us about a time when you have successfully convinced someone with a different viewpoint than your own to come around to your way of thinking. How did you influence them and how did you approach this challenge?
Full UK Driving License
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.

This Vacancy is closed to applications.