Hedgerow Heroes Project Officer - Gloucester, United Kingdom - CPRE Gloucestershire, the countryside charity

Description

Hedgerow Heroes Project Officer - Fixed term contract, 8 months

• Closing date_: 9am, Wednesday 21st June 202
• Interviews:_ Tuesday 27th June
• Community House, 15 College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LZ
• Salary:_ £23,850 £26,500, depending on experience prorata (plus contributory pension).
• Location:_ You will be based at Community House next to Gloucester Cathedral, with the option to work partially from home on a mutually agreed basis. You will be required to travel around

Gloucestershire as part of the role.

• The post:_ The post is offered on the basis of a fulltime appointment for a 35hour week, but with the possibility of working 4 days per week. Some evening and weekend work may be required.

About the role

This is an exciting time to join CPRE Gloucestershire as we look to develop our work across the county protecting and restoring the county's hedgerows.

You will be the lead in this ambition to plant and restore over 1km of hedgerow in Gloucestershire over an estimated 25 days.

It is a big project funded by a CPRE corporate sponsor, but the Hedgerow Heroes Project Officer
(HHPO) will have excellent allies and advice every step of the way. Knowledge and experience in conservation would be an advantage, but the main attributes which this person will bring to the role will be top quality organisation and communication skills.

CPRE Gloucestershire will be working alongside FWAG (Farming, Wildlife and Advisory Group SW) who have deep knowledge of the county and will offer guidance and support on locations for hedge restoration and planting.

They also have the contacts and relationships with a list of skilled hedgelayers.

Both CPRE Gloucestershire and FWAG work with volunteers and volunteer leaders.

The person in this role will be expected to reach out to bring all the networks and ambition together for the restoration and hedge laying experience, with the reward of being part of the County Hedgelaying Competition at the end of the year.

Good communication will be absolutely key at every stage - with the partners, the participants, the landowners and the funder.

Early plans and discussions need to be pulled together into realistic project delivery through to completion and evaluation.

Similarly, this project will need wide media coverage to recruit participants and celebrate the work.
Both CPRE and FWAG will post social media content. It will be the job of the HHPO to supply that content to both parties.


Responsibilities

The tasks involved are likely to include:

Communications

• Develop a database of volunteers, partnerships and stakeholders to recruit for the planting and restoration of 1km of hedgerows.
• Develop criteria for planting locations for the hedgerows and engage landowners in identifying / agreeing sections of hedgerow for planting, gapping up and laying.
• Use these criteria to develop a best practice guide for hedge planting, aftercare and laying, to support landowners, community groups and others in maintaining their newly laid / planted hedgerows.
• Recruit volunteers and landowners and keep communication flowing and upbeat.
• Communicate with wider supporters/stakeholders such as schools, colleges, parish councils and community groups with an invitation to plant or lay hedges.
• Contribute to the production of a detailed publicity programme aimed at publicising the Hedgerow Heroes project, recruiting support, securing additional plants, acknowledging partners and the funder.
• Provide a monthly report for partners, the funder, trustees and colleagues.

Planning and Delivery

• Timetable and map the 25 days where hedgerows will be planted and/or restored.
• Keep to the project budget and record expenditure.
• Secure the equipment from the project budget.
• Working with FWAG and CPRE ensure plants, equipment materials (i.e. stakes and binders) and risk assessments are all in place for each day.
• Liaise directly with the various parties involved in this project, including professional hedgelayers instructing courses, volunteers, landowners, community groups and other relevant organisations.
• Oversee and attend each planting and restoring day roughly five days each month.
• Coordinate stakeholder activity for delivery of the hedgelaying competition, to utilise the relationships developed via core project delivery of hedgerow focussed courses and training.

Personal profile

• You must share our mission to promote, enhance and protect Gloucestershire countryside with a passion for hedgerows.
• You will be an enthusiastic selfstarter, keen to work in a small team in a flexible and adaptable way.
• You will need to have good IT skills and some office experience will be an advantage.
• You must be able to selfstart tasks and work independently with occasional out of hours working.
• You must have good oral and written communication skills.
• You must have a full driving licence.

To apply

Job Type:
Fixed term contract

Contract length: 8