Project Officer - Biodiversity

Closing date: Friday 20th September 2024 at 1pm

Salary: £30,825 to £36,648 FTE + very generous pension

Hours: 3 days (21 hours) per week

Contract type: 2-year fixed term

About the Council

Henley on Thames Town Council represents the thriving and picturesque Henley-on-Thames, bordered by both the Chilterns and the River Thames. Henley is renowned for its beautiful market town facilities, its sporting achievements, and an ever-growing programme of cultural and recreational events.

The Town Council is the first tier of local government, with 16 councillors and a staff of c.30. We are one of the busiest town councils in the country, providing a wide range of quality services including parks, recreation grounds, open spaces, sports and arts facilities, allotments, cemetery, moorings, car parks, a visitor information service, and community buildings. We also have an extensive property portfolio and significant financial investments.

We are a very ambitious town council, dedicated not only to fulfilling our statutory functions, but leading on a wide range of projects and services to benefit the community. Recent projects have included a new adventure playground and installation of air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points at the riverside park at Mill Meadows. Currently, projects are underway to install solar panels on Council owned buildings, review the decarbonisation options for the Town Hall, construct a new 3G football pitch and provide a new sports pavilion, parks depot, and more affordable housing for the town.

The Council has also declared both climate and nature emergencies and is dedicated to leading on schemes to improve biodiversity, sustainability and reduce emissions throughout the town.

Purpose of the role

This is an exciting opportunity for a community-focussed and experienced project manager to help us create a more biodiverse Henley. The successful candidate will take the lead on the creation of a Biodiversity Action Plan and Policy for the Council and the projects associated with these. They will work with volunteers, other staff, councillors, and principal authorities to identify the needs of the community, create project plans, and deliver the final schemes. Schemes currently include biodiversity audits of the Council’s green spaces, progression of the Council’s Tree Strategy, coordination of actions arising from Henley in Bloom, investigation of options for reducing pesticide use at the Council and community engagement relating to the Council’s actions.

Duties and responsibilities

1. To lead on the creation of a Biodiversity Action Plan for the Council.
2. To lead on the creation of a Biodiversity Policy for the Council.
3. If qualified, to provide assessment and comments on biodiversity /ecological impacts of planning applications received by the Council for consultation
4. To coordinate biodiversity audits of the Council’s green spaces.
5. To initiate and coordinate projects and actions resulting from biodiversity audits of Council green spaces
6. To lead on projects emerging from the Tree Strategy Working Group.
7. To coordinate relevant actions arising from Henley in Bloom.
8. To review the Council’s use of weedkillers.
9. To formulate the Council’s next steps in relation to its acknowledgement of the nature emergency.
10. To liaise with the County and District Council teams responsible for Local Nature Recovery Strategy and consider implications and actions for Henley.
11. To undertake public engagement activities to inform residents about Council biodiversity projects and encourage participation.
12. To provide general advice to officers and councillors on biodiversity matters.
13. To organise and facilitate training for councillors on biodiversity matters.
14. To maintain communication with the public on the above projects in collaboration with the Council’s Communications Manager.
15. To prepare and research information to support the Council’s decision-making.
16. To help in servicing committee and working group meetings, including preparing agendas, papers, and minute-taking.
17. To perform such other duties as the Council may require from time to time.

Person Specification

Essential

1. Experience of successful project management and delivery
2. Interest in biodiversity and nature projects
3. Self-motivated and able to work under own initiative
4. Excellent organisational skills
5. Awareness of the role of the Town Council in the local government
6. Excellent oral and written communication skills
7. Ability to present sound, well-presented advice to a variety of audiences
8. Good IT skills, including word processing, emailing, and the ability to quickly pick-up skills for any project-specific software
9. Willingness to service committee and working group meetings, including report-writing and note-taking
10. Flexibility in order to attend occasional evening meetings
11. The ability to operate with impartiality in a political environment
12. Knowledge of issues surrounding the ongoing nature emergency
13. Educated to A level or above (ideally graduate or postgraduate)

Desirable

1. Experience of biodiversity related project management
2. Experience of dealing with biodiversity issues in relation to planning applications including net gain
3. Experience working with the different tiers of local government
4. Experience of fundraising
5. Experience of servicing committees and minute-taking

Further details

The hours of work are 21 per week, normally during office hours, although with occasional evening commitments.

The Town Council is an equal opportunities employer and committed to good staff welfare. This includes flexible working arrangements and the option to work remotely, duties permitting.

The Town Council also offers a very generous pension scheme.

The position is based at the Town Hall in the centre of Henley, close to all local amenities.

For more details, or to discuss the position, please contact the Deputy Clerk, Cath Adams, on 07801 594121 or email cath.adams@henleytowncouncil.gov.uk.