Countryside Officer

Staffordshire County Council; Hednesford; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Staffordshire County Council is seeking a Countryside Officer to lead on projects and stewardship activities at Cannock Chase, ensuring the site remains safe for visitors and moves toward favourable condition. You will oversee volunteers and contractors, while managing practical site operations across 1,300ha of heath and woodland.

The role is full-time, with early starts and some flexible hours; a degree in countryside management or related discipline is required, along with relevant NPTC

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in countryside management or appropriate discipline.
• Sound understanding and experience of countryside management policy and practice and managing public sites.
• Significant experience of practical site management and safe use of tools and equipment.

Responsibilities

• Lead on projects and Stewardship Scheme delivery to move the site back into Favourable condition.
• Ensure the site is in safe condition for visitors through site checks and overseeing remedial work.
• Manage volunteers and contractors to deliver on-site activities.

Skills

Countryside management

Site safety

Volunteer supervision

Contractor management

Education

Degree in countryside management

Job description

The Countryside Officer role is responsible for a wide variety of tasks to manage the site. Countryside Officers lead on projects, including parts of the Stewardship Scheme delivery to move the site back into Favourable condition. Ensuring the site is in safe condition for visitors through site checks and ensuring remedial work is completed. Achieving these work areas is carried out by a mixture of hands-on work, leading volunteers and contractor management.

• Degree or equivalent in countryside management or appropriate discipline
• At least two (four desirable) of the following and knowledge of others (essential): NPTC Level 2 qualifications in chainsaw use & maintenance; strimming; mowing (pedestrian); brush cutters and trimmers; pesticides / spraying; off road driving; winching; tree safety management; ATV handling; digger driving; use of trailers; tractor driving and related operations; tractor mounted mowers; topper (rotary and flail); firearms licence; protected species licences; level 1 deer management qualification.
• Sound understanding and experience of countryside management policy and practice and managing public sites.
• Significant experience of practical site management and safe use of tools and equipment.
• Knowledge and experience of surveys and conservation requirements of key species and habitats and general management of historic features.
• Current driving licence (Manual) and ability to drive off-road vehicles
• Physical fitness including ability to walk reasonable distances and undertake physical work outdoors in all weathers
• Knowledge and experience of health and safety management, inspection procedures, emergency procedures and risk assessment.

  Staffordshire County Council look after 1,300ha of heath and woodland on Cannock Chase. Most of this land is designated SSSI and SAC and is in a Higher-Level Stewardship Agreement. A wealth of wildlife lives here including nightjars, small pearl bordered fritillaries, Welsh clearwing, adders, woodlarks and 8 bat species to name a few.

  This role is full time, 8am-4pm, Tuesday - Saturday. Occasional flexibility to work outside of these hours is required and will be arranged in advance., The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy: We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future. We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.

Our benefits: We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance. In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire