ABOUT SHEFFIELD & ROTHERHAM WILDLIFE TRUST

Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust is an independent, local, environmental charity
governed by a Board of Trustees drawn from our local community.  We are one of 46
Wildlife Trusts working across the UK for nature and people.

We are working towards an exciting and ambitious Strategy2030 which is summarised
below:

Our Vision
Throughout Sheffield & Rotherham, from our streets & neighbourhoods to the wider
countryside, there will be an abundance of nature that is protected, cared for and
experienced by everyone.

Our Ambitions

●  30% of land and water is great for nature by 2030 and an abundance of wildlife

everywhere

●  1 in 4 people taking action for nature
●  5 minutes to nature for everyone

Our teams protect important wildlife, habitats and green spaces that matter to local
people. We directly manage 15 Nature Reserves, thanks to our many volunteers and
dedicated staff, including the internationally important moorland at Blacka Moor, the
much-loved Wyming Brook, the beautiful woodlands at Greno Woods and the locally
important ‘space to breathe’ at Sunnybank.

Recent projects to support nature recovery include the delivery of natural flood risk
management schemes with the Environment Agency on the Rother, recording the
return of the otter along the River Don and producing the first ever State of Nature
report for Sheffield. We are the lead partner for the successful Sheffield Lakeland £4
million Heritage Fund landscape partnership.  We are working with others to ensure that
tree planting and woodland creation is coordinated through the South Yorkshire
Woodland Partnership.

Every year we engage with thousands of people of all ages, and have over 6,000
subscribing members and a rapidly growing social media following. We support our
local community to take action for nature, campaigning on local issues that threaten

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our natural environment and wildlife.  Recent campaigns include saving Owlthorpe
Fields, which faced the threat of development but has now been partly designated as
a Local Wildlife Site. We also support the Sheffield Swift Network helping to address the
decline in swift populations and we set up and support the Sheffield Street Tree
Partnership.

Working with our local communities is central to what we do, helping people to better
connect with nature. Projects such as Nextdoor Nature empowers people to take
action in their local green spaces. Our Outdoor Learning team provides opportunities
for children and young people of all ages and abilities to enjoy and appreciate nature.
For older, vulnerable, and isolated adults, our Wild@Heart nature programme provides
dedicated activities to enjoy nature and nature’s benefits.

Wildscapes Consultancy (both a CIC and part of the Trust) works to improve places for
people and wildlife by providing a range of land management and ecology services.
Profit generated by the social enterprise is reinvested back into the Trust’s charitable
activities - into our Nature Reserves, wildlife and habitat conservation, community
engagement and campaign work.

To find out more about our work please take a look at our website here:
https://www.wildsheffield.com

ABOUT WILDSCAPES

Wildscapes is a successful social enterprise delivering professional ecological
consultancy, land management and nature-based solutions that work for
businesses, people and wildlife both nationally and regionally. Wildscapes is a
CIEEM registered practice which prides itself on delivering a high standard of
service to its clients and partners.

Services include:

● Ecology: biodiversity net gain, protected species and habitat surveys, licensing,
mitigation, management plans, planning and architect support.
●Conservation Land Management: habitat creation, pond creation, moorland
restoration, fencing, tree planting, site maintenance, soft landscaping etc.

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Profits from the consultancy are returned to Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust,
the parent company, to help fund our charitable work conserving the natural
environment and connecting people with nature.

The consultancy's turnover and profitability has considerably grown in recent
years and there is the exciting potential to build on this success through the
existing pipeline and framework agreements as well as some new opportunities
in development.

The consultancy works across the country with a regional focus, delivering
contracts both through Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust and the
subsidiary 'Wildscapes Community Interest Company' (CIC). All staff are
employed by the Trust.

Further information about Wildscapes can be made available for candidates
shortlisted for interview. Please also visit: https://wildscapes.co.uk/

ABOUT THE ROLE

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JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Wildscapes Senior Ecologist

JOB NUMBER: WSSE-25

RESPONSIBLE TO: TBC

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Ecology Team, casual ecologists, trainees, volunteers

SALARY: £36,733.82 FT

HOURS: 37.5 hours a week

CONTRACT: Permanent subject to business performance

LOCATION: Flexible and blended working from office, home and on site

OVERALL PURPOSE

To deliver ecological surveys and related contract work for Wildscapes CIC, primarily

working across South Yorkshire and the surrounding counties.

The successful candidate will provide technical ecological advice to clients and staff

to ensure the delivery of high-quality ecological services.

Wildscapes CIC delivers a range of ecological services which includes but is not
exclusive to:

● Protected Species Surveys – bats, GCN, birds, water vole, otters, badgers)

● Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, which will include Phase 1 Habitat

Surveys or UK Habitat Classification Survey (UKHab)

● Biodiversity Net Gain Assessments

● Ecological Impact Assessments

● Ecological Management Plans

● Mitigation and Protected Species Licencing

● Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW)

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The successful candidate will have a good level of knowledge and skill in general

ecological assessment (i.e. Preliminary Ecological Appraisal, including Phase 1

Habitat and UKHab, and Ecological Impact Assessment) and will specialise in one or

two protected species, specifically including bats.

The  successful  candidate  will  support  the  Wildscapes  Ecology  Manager  and  the

broader team in ensuring that Wildscapes CIC is an innovative social enterprise with

an  excellent reputation, delivering for people, wildlife, the natural environment, and

Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust.

MAIN DUTIES

● Design and carry out ecological surveys and assessments

● Write and review ecological assessments, reports and other deliverables to a high

standard

● Managing and mentoring of junior staff

● Provide detailed ecological advice and recommendations to clients and the

Trust

● Produce tenders and submit proposals for ecology contracts as required

● Manage the finances of ecological projects

● Coordinate field and office-based work

● Liaising with clients, project managers and other project stakeholders, including

statutory bodies

● Provide or coordinate GIS input to the consultancy

● Ensure an excellent level of health and safety while carrying out their role

GENERAL DUTIES

● Present a professional image of the Trust and Consultancy at all times

● Any other relevant duties required of the post holder appropriate to this

grade.

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PERSON SPECIFICATION

CRITERIA

EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL (E) or

STAGE CRITERIA

DESIRABLE (D)

IS

ASSESSED

At least three to five years’ experience delivering ecology

E

services for a variety of clients in public, private and third

sectors

Leading  and  assisting  on  protected  species  surveys,

E

experience  considered  across  a  range  of  surveys  for;  bats,

badgers,  great  crested  newts,  water  voles,  birds  and  other

specialist floral or faunal groups

Experience drafting and applying for mitigation licences as a

named ecologist

Good level botanical identification skills.

Experience undertaking habitat surveys e.g. UKHab

Experience undertaking Preliminary Ecological Appraisals on

a range of sites and habitats

Experience in the Biodiversity Net Gain metric and

undertaking assessments

Writing  accurate  fee  quotes,  survey  briefs,  contract bids and

ecological  reports  for  clients  using  quote  templates,  project

specifications and survey

E

E

E

E

E

Strong  experience  in  project  management,  scheduling  and

D

coordinating  other ecologists on site, meeting deadlines, and

working to contract specifications & budget

A,I

A,I

A,I

A,I

A,I

A,I

A,I

A,I

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KNOWLEDGE & QUALIFICATIONS

Excellent understanding of nature conservation and ecology

(including survey techniques)

Excellent  understanding  and  working  knowledge  of  any

specialist software or analysis techniques required to support

advanced  survey  techniques  (for  example,  kaleidoscope,

Analook, Batexplorer, UKHab field keys, MAVIS etc.)

Strong knowledge of project management processes

Excellent working knowledge of Health and Safety in relation

to ecology contract delivery

Degree qualification in Ecology or a related subject or

substantial work experience

Full driving licence

Relevant  qualifications  in  specialisms,  e.g.  FISC  Level  4  or

above,  protected  species  survey  licenses,  CIEEM  Biodiversity

Net Gain Metric Training

Good understanding of the sector, with the ability to

price services and ensure competitiveness and

cost-effectiveness

A full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology

andEnvironmental Management (MCIEEM) or equivalent.

GIS (ideally QGIS)

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

E

D

D

A,I

A

A,I

A,I

A,I

A,I

A,I

A,I

A

A

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PERSON SPECIFICATION CONTINUED

CRITERIA

SKILLS

ESSENTIAL (E) or

STAGE CRITERIA

DESIRABLE (D)

IS

ASSESSED

Excellent level of proficiency in field ecology skills

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to work with

clients, casual staff and volunteers

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Ability to manage a budget of £100k+

PERSONAL QUALITIES

E

E

E

E

Ability  to  organise,  manage  and  prioritise  work,  without

E

supervision,

in  order

to  meet  deadlines  and  deliver

well-planned work schedules

Can work cooperatively as part of a team and independently

with minimal supervision

Reliable, pragmatic, professional and business-like

Able to work unsociable hours as required by the needs of

the business (e.g. to support bat surveys)

Ability to liaise effectively and build good working

relationships with a wide variety of individuals and

organisations

A commitment to the work of Wildscapes and the

contribution this makes to SRWT

* A = Application     I = Interview   T = Task

E

E

E

E

E

A,I

A,I

A

A, I

I

A,I

A,I

I

I

I

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DETAILS OF EMPLOYMENT (September 25)

Salary: £ 36,733.82 FT per annum (PM Grade )

Pension:
All  staff  who  earn  over £192 per week (£833 per month) are   over 22 and under pensionable age,
are automatically enrolled on the SRWT pension scheme.   Following a 3-month postponement, the
pension contribution is based on a total of 8% minimum level, 3% by SRWT and 5% by employee.
After 6 month’s service (subject to successful probationary period), the employee will be entitled to
a  9%  contribution  which  need not be matched.    Anyone who does not meet eligibility criteria will
have  the opportunity to join the scheme should they wish, although they will not qualify for SRWT
contributions.

Working Hours:
The working week for this post is 37.5 hours, exclusive of lunch breaks.  The post may involve some
evening and weekend work for which time off in lieu can be taken.  Flexi-time arrangements can be
made at the line manager’s discretion.

Location:
The  post  will  be  based  at  the  Trust’s  main  office  on  Stafford  Road.  Staff  have  the  opportunity to
blended working combining home and office working.   However it is expected that the post holder
will  be  required to visit other project sites and will work throughout Sheffield and Rotherham and
further afield.

Probationary Period:
6 months, in which they will be expected to establish their suitability for the post.

All new employees are required to undertake a period of probation for

Annual Leave: 31 days holiday, (including 3 days to be taken between Christmas and New Year, 8
bank  holidays)  pro  rata.  Staff  will  also  receive  a  holiday  bonus  of  1  day  per  year for the first five
years of full time service up to a maximum of 36 days per year.  Annual leave entitlement is pro rata
for all part time staff.

 Length of Contract: Permanent, subject to business performance

Transport provision: Trust staff are required to use public transport wherever practical.  However
the post holder will have use of a pool of Trust vehicles when needed.

Sheffield  &  Rotherham  Wildlife  Trust  is  striving  to  be  an  equal
Equal Opportunities:
opportunities employer and selection of applicants is based on merit.  Please request the full policy
document for further details.

Safeguarding: In line with Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust’s commitment to safeguarding the
postholder for this role will be subject to reference checks.

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WORKING FOR SRWT

The Trust has a suite of policies and procedures that are designed to provide a framework for how
we  work  and  support  our  staff.   The  following  are  particular  areas  that  we  have  given  focus   to
under our current strategy.

CARBON REDUCTION
The reality and threat of climate change is sadly increasing year on year. Alongside our work to
tackle the nature emergency in Sheffield & Rotherham, we are also working to help tackle the
climate emergency.
We are doing this through our strategic work, by delivering nature-based solutions that can help
lock up carbon and manage flood risk for example.  But in addition to that, we are reviewing our
day to day operations to seek opportunities to reduce our own carbon footprint wherever we can.
Our strategic ambition is to be zero carbon by 2030 and are currently working to an action plan to
help us identify and prioritise where we can reduce our carbon emissions before then turning our
focus on how we can offset emissions and use our extensive knowledge & experience of working to
protect nature, to implement nature-based solutions that lead to carbon sequestration.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
We  believe  that  equality,  diversity  and  inclusion  is  an  essential  part  of  what  we  do  and  how  we
achieve  our  vision  for  wildlife.   Our  workforce,  volunteers,  and  the  communities  we  work  with
deserve  equality  of  opportunity,  benefit  from  embracing  diversity  and  thrive  in  an  inclusive
environment.

The  Trust  is  committed  to  providing  equality  of  opportunity,  addressing  lack  of  diversity  and
creating an environment that promotes inclusivity.   We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment
and  bullying  and  aim  to  provide  a  working  environment  where  opportunities  for  recruitment  or
progression are based solely on merit.

SAFEGUARDING
Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust is deeply  committed to safeguarding and promoting the
welfare of all children, young people and adults involved in our work across the Trust.
The Trust delivers a range of activities for children, young people  and adults that includes some
risk of harm.  We come into contact with many people as we undertake our day to day work right
across the Trust - from responding to customer enquiries, recruiting members, helping the public
on site, delivering activities or supporting a placement student or volunteer.  In view of this our
safeguarding policy & procedures form a thread across all staff and teams from recruitment to the
day to day work we carry out.
Our  Safeguarding  Group  plays  an  important  role  in  leading  our  safeguarding activity and all staff
carry  responsibility in their work.   We apply to the Disclosure & Barring Service for an appropriate
level  of  disclosure,  and  also  seek  references  for  successful  candidates.   All  staff  take  part  in  a
safeguarding induction and identified roles undertake more specific safeguarding training.

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