3087 - Monitoring Officer - Dynamic Dunescapes DuneLIFE

1
East Midlands, East of England, London, North East, North West, South East, South West, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, National
Bridgwater , Bristol , Cambridge , Crewe , Exeter , Kendal , Leeds , Lincoln , London, National , Newcastle-upon-Tyne , Norwich , Nottingham , Peterborough , Reading , Telford , Truro , Worcester , York
HEO
Lead Adviser
Fixed Term
Up to the end of September 2023
Full Time
Analytical
£26,224

This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of a large partnership project to restore sand dunes across England and Wales. The project is delivering a range of conservation and engagement activities focused on nine dune systems across England and Wales. This is a Fixed Term Appointment to the end of September 2023.

Role description

The Dynamic Dunescapes Monitoring Officer is a new full-time role that will work with the site leads and specialists to lead on the project monitoring and evaluation of biological data across the project. The role will also lead on the coordination of the project’s two SNAPs (Site Nitrogen Action Plans) working closely with the site leads, air quality specialists and contractors.

The objective of the Dynamic Dunescapes project is to improve the condition of coastal sand dunes through dune management and the application of innovative techniques; and to develop a programme of public engagement and citizen science activities to monitor the health of sand dune systems, in particular in relation to stability and the impacts of nitrogen deposition. Detailed monitoring of the project sites is required in order to assess the response of the Annex I habitats to the project’s restoration works.

This post will involve coordinating a range of physical, vegetation, fauna, hydrological and photographic monitoring, and link in with the long-term monitoring already occurring on some of the sites. The post will be responsible for supporting research, surveys and monitoring by volunteers (including the citizen science programme of work) working closely with the People Engagement team and will be responsible for supporting academic involvement related to the project.

The Monitoring Officer will work with the core team, site leads and specialists to ensure that the sites follow the Biodiversity and Natural Heritage Monitoring Plan. This document sets out the biological monitoring programme, timetable, rationale and scope of the work and the methods that will be employed. The plan looks at the following key monitoring areas (not inclusive) that will be crucial in helping the project assess the impact of its conservation actions:

  • Number of sites moving towards or in favourable condition.
  • Condition of features on sites (% of dune habitat features in favourable conservation status).
  • Areas of habitat 2110, 2120, 2130*, 2150*, 2170 and 2190 progressing towards improvement or restoration or favourable conservation status.
  • Number of threatened species in improved or secured status (including Annex II, IV).
  • Ecological condition of ‘Little Sea’ lake (Annex I habitat 3110) at Studland Dunes, Dorset.
  • Hydrological condition and extent (hectares) of dune slacks and dune wetlands.
  • Percentage reduction of scrub and IAS on targeted areas.
  • Measure of dynamics within the dune system (wind, sand blow) where notches have been created.
  • Produce two Shared Nitrogen Action Plans (SNAP) on Ainsdale Dunes and Braunton Burrows.
  • Critical loads calculated on stable dune grassland habitats of 2130* calcareous dune grassland and 2150* acid dune grassland.
  • Number of hectares of dune habitats 2130*, 2150*, 2170 and 2190 brought into sustainable management.
  • Assessment of contribution to ecosystem functions restoration
  • Assessment of the socio-economic impacts in coordination with the People Engagement team (e.g. economic indicators, relevant to the local economy and employment and social indicators such as volunteering, local community, and life satisfaction).

As the project progresses an increasingly important element of the role will be the collation, analysis, evaluation and interpretation of the data and information collected. This will lead on to dissemination of the findings through project reports, face-to-face interactions and other media.

The post holder will need to adopt a flexible approach and work as part of the team. They will be expected to help support and deliver other elements of the project as requested by the Project Manager.

The project

Dynamic Dunescapes is restoring the natural processes of our most important sand dune sites. Through our engagement with local communities and visitors we will explain, demonstrate and create opportunities for them to actively contribute towards the conservation of these iconic sites. We will extend this learning beyond the project to ensure a legacy of improved sand dune management and interpretation across England and Wales.

There are nine key project areas: Lincolnshire Sand Hills; Studland Dunes; North Cornwall Dunes; Braunton Burrows; Swansea Neath Port Talbot; Carmarthen; Anglesey - Gwynedd; Sefton Coast; and Cumbria. These are some of the most important dune complexes in England and Wales. The project will deliver exciting and innovative capital works and introduce effective sustainable habitat management integrated with large scale public engagement work, including citizen science.

Collectively this project will have a big impact both for conservation and local communities and will provide transferable learning across all dune sites. The project will:

  • Inspire and engage people - working with communities, specialist groups, schools, universities, tourism organisations, local authorities, museums and the media to engage with up to 600,000 people nationally through a programme of engagement, publicity, volunteering and citizen science
  • Re-energise the dunes – undertaking capital works to enable dunes to become more dynamic, remove invasive native and alien vegetation and reintroduce sustainable management to restore currently degraded habitats
  • Rejuvenate and create dune slacks and ponds to benefit the sites’ unique and threatened insects, amphibians, birds and plants

Natural England is leading the project, working together with Plantlife, National Trust, Natural Resources Wales and the Wildlife Trusts. The project has funding from EU LIFE and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Key tasks/ accountabilities

To ensure the successful delivery of the project the following key tasks will need to be undertaken by the Monitoring Officer under the direction of the Project Manager:

  • Coordinate the project monitoring and be responsible for the project’s data management.
  • Where relevant, preparation of specifications, tendering and coordinating monitoring contracts e.g. for SNAPs, eco-system services, monitoring surveys.
  • Lead on the coordination of the project’s two SNAPs (Site Nitrogen Action Plans):
    • Oversee baseline evidence gathering – air pollution effects, sources of emissions, key stakeholders, baseline information to ensure the production of an evidence document for what we know already for each SNAP site.
    • Oversee the SNAP baseline monitoring data collection.
    • Help coordinate a scoping document for each SNAP site with objectives and agreeing this with key partners.
    • Help arrange workshops with stakeholders (two at each site) to discuss the scoping document and to flesh it out. Collate and disseminate the findings.
    • Facilitate the SNAP Steering Group and consultative group at each SNAP site.
    • Work with the Communications Officer and national specialists to draw up a communications plan for the SNAPs.
    • Develop with stakeholders, national specialists and partners an action plan and seek where possible to advance this.
  • Contribute to the project evaluation through data collation, analysis and production of reports and ensure site dossiers kept up to date.
  • Coordinate Ecosystem Services and Socio-Economic projects.
  • Support research, surveys and monitoring by volunteers, working closely with the People Engagement Officers and the Citizen Science programme of work.
  • Support academic involvement related to the project and contribute to peer reviewed reports and reviews related to the project.
  • Support the replication and transfer of knowledge gained from the project with others.

Additional information

  • A driving licence is desirable for the role but not essential.
  • National travel will be required, which may involve some overnight stays and anti-social hours. Natural England encourages staff to travel by public transport wherever this is feasible.
  • Your employment shall, unless terminated earlier by either you or the Employer giving no less than five weeks’ notice continue for a fixed period until 30/09/23 upon which date it shall automatically terminate without the need for notice by either party to the other.
  • On taking up this post, the post holder will be required to sign a letter allowing Natural England to use their payroll information and request copies of payslips for project claims and audits.

Dynamic Dunescapes (DuneLIFE) is an ambitious project rejuvenating some of England & Wales' most important sand dunes for people, communities and wildlife. The project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the EU LIFE Programme (HG-16-08643; LIFE 17 NAT/UK/000570) and is a partnership between Natural England, Plantlife, National Trust, Natural Resources Wales and the Wildlife Trusts.

The Monitoring Officer will work closely with the Project Manager and be part of the national Dynamic Dunescapes project team, working closely with NE and NRW specialists and all the project partners. As a national post you will be able to work from any Natural England office, or from home.

Verity Pitts, Project Manager Dynamic Dunescapes (DuneLIFE)
verity.pitts@naturalengland.org.uk
07876411703

09/02/2021, 23:55 hours

Expected week commencing 22 February 2021
Basic Check (BPSS)
Professional competency
Technical/specialist knowledge
• Knowledge of issues affecting favourable condition on Natura 2000 sites and the mechanisms to address issues (particularly sand dune habitats: H2110, H2120, H2130*, H2150*, H2160, H2170, H2190, H3110)
• Knowledge of data collection, data inputting, monitoring and analysis methods
• Excellent IT skills (Excel, Word)
• Good Geographical Information skills (e.g. use of ArcView / ArcGIS)
• Good terrestrial vegetation species identification skills
• Good organisational skills
• Good communication skills at a range of levels
• Competent at record-keeping and filing
• Very strong written communication skills and ability to produce reports to a high standard
Professional competency
Collecting, monitoring and analysing data and evidence - Practitioner
• Apply the relevant methodologies for collecting and collating data / evidence
• Interrogate, process and present data / evidence to enable further analysis
• Use relevant data / evidence to analyse and interpret trends, outcomes and issues
Professional competency
Personal effectiveness - Practitioner
• Develop and share clear messages about your data / evidence using language appropriate to the audience
• Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience.
• Synthesise existing knowledge to provide and communicate evidence summaries, reviews and digests and ensure the overall robustness, quality and impact of our evidence and analysis within your scientific discipline(s)
Professional competency
Work Delivery – Basic/Practitioner
• Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines.
• Handle data responsibly, understand your role in good governance, and comply with delegations, policies and procedures.
Natural England

This Vacancy is closed to applications.