Overview
Peatland Restoration Officer – Flow Country Green Finance Initiative, North Highland Initiative
Part Time, 28 hours per week, Fixed Term contract for 18 months
Proposed Start Date: November 2023
Salary: £31,000 to £36,000 per annum for 28 hours per week
The Flow Country Green Finance Initiative (FCGFI) is hiring a Peatland Restoration Officer, who will lead on project development and implementation of large-scale peatland restoration within the Flow Country. This is a part-time (0.8 FTE), fixed-term contract for 18 months. The role is intended to continue beyond this subject to funding. The officer will be initially employed by the North Highland Initiative (NHI) on behalf of FCGFI, though this may in future transfer to the Flow Country Partnership.
BACKGROUND
The Flow Country Partnership, through the FCGFI, is raising a blend of public and private finance to help restore peat bogs across the Flow Country. The Flow Country Green Finance Initiative aims to develop a replicable model that can, at scale, restore peatlands, whilst offering socio-economic opportunities. FCGFI is led by a steering group comprising: Highland Council, Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE), Landscape Finance Lab (LFL), NatureScot, RSPB, UHI North Highland’s Environmental Research Institute (ERI), and North Highland Initiative (NHI).
FCGFI is a vehicle through which funds for peat restoration can be raised and which will develop into a central resource in the north of Scotland for advice, management and financing of peat restoration. Alongside this, the FCGFI will help support community development goals, create high quality jobs, support local businesses, and grow green jobs across the area.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Peatland Restoration Officer will lead on project development and implementation of pilot projects within the Flow Country. The candidate will also be responsible for supporting the FCGFI Project Manager in administrative running of the FCGFI.
This role is based within the Flow Country. Regular site visits will be required during some project phases, but some working from home will be possible at other times. This post is responsible for on the ground contracts and physical delivery of the project. The role will be based out of NHI’s Wick office or potential in one of FCGFI partner’s offices in Golspie.
Please note that, as some of this work will take place in remote moorland terrain and at times in harsh weather conditions, it will at times be physically demanding. Robust health and safety procedures for such work are in place.
The successful applicant will work with landowners, crofters, fundraising colleagues to prepare and submit Peatland ACTION and Peatland Code funding applications, reports and financial claims and will provide information/paperwork pertinent to Peatland Code validation and verification.
The successful candidate will be required to contribute to the tendering process – including posting on Public Contracts Scotland – and issuing contracts to successful restoration contractors. The post holder will engage with and supervise contractors on the ground to ensure projects are completed to the required standard and within a demanding timeframe.
The successful candidate will need to ensure that all required planning and other statutory consents are in place and that Construction Design Management (CDM) regulations are complied with.
The successful candidate will liaise with Peatland Action Officers and carry out field work and GIS mapping to prepare detailed restoration plans which will inform contractors of the peatland restoration techniques to be adopted across the identified project compartments. Peatland Code assessments will also be required as part of the preparatory work on restoration compartments.
FCGFI is committed to monitoring the effects of peatland restoration as an internal data record as well as for Peatland ACTION. This post will be tasked with ensuring monitoring is implemented before and after restoration and reported on within strict time parameters. Datasets, including peat depths, Peatland Code habitat condition assessments and records of restoration features must be kept organised, up to date and accessible.
The post holder will also be required to help raise awareness and understanding of the peatland restoration work being undertaken by helping to liaise with the local community and with site visits by interested parties.
The candidate will also be responsible for supporting the FCGFI Project Manager in the running of the FCGFI. This work will be varied and include compiling reports including for the CGFI board, coordinating with the FCGFI partners of communications, finance, and community consultations.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- Excellent project management skills and proven project management experience
- Proven experience of managing contractors, ideally including land management contractors.
- Ability to manage budgets, meet project and reporting deadlines, keep records, and write reports
- Knowledge of peatland ecosystems, peatland-based science, and peatland restoration techniques
- A high level of fitness and ability to confidently and safely access and work in remote upland areas, which can be inaccessible to vehicles, in challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions
- Experience of working in a team
- Problem solving skills
- GIS Mapping skills
DESIRABLE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- Understanding of Construction Design Management (CDM) regulations and consenting and planning procedures
- Experience of stakeholder engagement and partnership working
- Drone operation experience
This is a part-time (0.8 FTE), fixed-term contract for 18 months. The FCGFI reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please submit a current CV containing the following information:
Employment history
Qualifications
Two references
And supporting statement on 2 sides of A4 describing how you meet the skills, knowledge and experience listed above.
We are open to applications from a range of backgrounds and experience levels. If you are uncertain about whether you meet the job requirements please get in contact to discuss.
Applications must be submitted by the 2nd of October 2023 to Info @ NHI Group info@north-highlands.co.uk
For further information on this vacancy contact:
Graham Neville
Email: Graham.Neville@nature.scot
Interview Date: Interviews are likely to be held in mid October
