Peatland Action Development Officer in Balloch

The post holder will be part of the Peatland team within the Nature and Land Use Team in the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, working to develop and scale up the peatland restoration programme within the National Park. This will include working with colleagues and land managers to develop a firmer understanding of further peatland restoration needs in the National Park. This will require building relationships with landowners who are not currently engaged in discussions with us about peatland restoration, and improving our understanding of peatland extent and condition. This will include investigation of new methods and data such as LiDAR or remote sensing for analysis to augment existing field work and improve scale and efficiency. The post holder will develop and deliver peatland restoration projects and contribute to ensuring integration of peatland management considerations into our Future Nature programme in relation to wider nature restoration and integrated land management. The post holder will also work closely with other Peatland ACTION partners to ensure that the improved understanding of the peatland resource in the National Park contributes to information and research needs in relation to the Scottish peatland restoration programme.

Responsibilities

• Develop the necessary partnerships and engagement with landowners about the peat resource on their land and the scope for peatland restoration and sustainable management, negotiate access for peat surveys and develop options for its sustainable management and restoration.
• Develop new options for scaling up resources for delivery, including use of Peatland Code and novel funding sources and new approaches for commissioning project design and delivery.
• Improve our understanding of the extent and condition of the peatland resource in the National Park by developing and delivering a survey programme.
• Develop and deliver a programme of further ground‑truthing surveys including contracts for peat depth, condition, HIA and other monitoring and research to identify further restoration priorities and improve information on the multiple benefits delivered by peatland restoration.
• Develop and deliver peatland restoration projects to scale up immediate delivery, including the supervision of specialist contractors.
• Contribute peatland advice to other areas including Nature Restoration Fund projects, Resilient Farm Network and the Landscape Connections programme to help them maximise their benefits for peatland in the National Park.
• Undertake financial management of projects including approving completion, checking payment claims and reporting and contributing to programme budget planning and management.
• Monitor project delivery, setting milestones and producing regular reports for the National Park Authority and NatureScot which will include data on peat habitat improved, restored or positively managed as a part of project work.
• Run demonstration and training events, open days, and awareness raising activities to raise awareness of the value of our peatland resource as part of the broader climate change agenda.
• Undertake any line management or other duties appropriate to the grade as required.

Who we are looking for

Your skills, abilities and experience should include:

• Experience of developing and maintaining positive working relationships with land managers, agencies, organisations, contractors and suppliers to deliver land management projects.
• Proven experience of project management and successful delivery.
• Experience of managing contractors.
• Experience in successfully delivering projects to budget.
• Good knowledge of upland management and land use.
• Knowledge and experience of securing project funding including novel sources such as green investment, biodiversity enhancement, carbon accounting and funding.
• Proven ability to achieve targets, manage workloads and projects to set deadlines.
• Ability to work in remote locations and navigate across challenging upland terrain in all weathers.
• A full UK driving licence or access to a driver if disability prevents this.

Ideally, but not essentially, you’ll also have:

• Direct experience of peatland survey, management and restoration projects and techniques.
• Experience of working with funding streams for land management such as Peatland Code, Peatland Action, AECS & FGS.
• Experience in procuring and in analysing land use information associated with GIS and other information systems.
• Practical experience of producing plans, specifications and costs for peatland and/or habitat restoration schemes.
• Experience of working with CDM 2015 Regulations.
• Working knowledge of one or more of the following themes: upland farming, management of wild deer, woodland and forestry, natural flood management, habitat restoration and/or moorland management for sporting interests.
• Experience of utilising complex data and emerging techniques such as LiDAR and remote sensing for interrogating habitat extent and condition.
• Licensed UAV pilot.
• Botanical expertise at the NVC survey level.
• Off‑road driving experience.

Benefits

We offer flexible and remote working, with a generous pension scheme and annual leave allowance. Staff have access to wellbeing services and there is a strong focus on wellbeing throughout the organisation. Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority are proud to celebrate difference. Diversity of experience is vital in our success we want our business to be representative to the communities we work alongside. As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applicants from a wide range of individuals, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, gender identity and expression, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.