AONB Project Support Assistant (FIPL)
Fixed term until March 2025
37 hours per week, Dorchester
Salary £21,968 - £23,194
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) team to help deliver the Farming in Protected Landscape grant programme. This programme supports the farming and forestry community (and others working with them) to conserve and enhance this special landscape.
The successful grant programme is entering its third year and has already supported over 100 farmers to deliver more for:
- Climate – supporting the delivery of net zero targets through nature-based solutions that help communities mitigate and adapt to climate change
- Nature – supporting farmers’ leading role in the delivery of the Nature Recovery Network and achieving the Government’s commitment to protect 30% of land by 2030
- People – supplying a natural health service that will improve the nation’s public health and wellbeing through increased access to nature across all parts of society
- Place – supporting the Dorset AONB to become a centre of excellence and green innovation that is a flourishing place to live, work and visit.
Through the programme, you will be playing an important role helping to look after this nationally important landscape.
The post is full time (37 hours per week) until 31st March 2025. You’ll be based within the small, friendly and dynamic Dorset AONB team, hosted by Dorset Council. The office base will be County Hall, Dorchester alongside flexible home working.
To discuss this post, please contact Ian Rees, Dorset AONB Countryside Officer, on 01305 228235 or
[email protected].
Application deadline: 8am on 8thth March. Interviews 23rd March.
What you will be doing
You will be managing the finances and reporting of the project. The key areas of work are:
- Efficient administration of the grant programme, including reports to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), liaison with farmers during project delivery and processing grant claims.
- Helping in the grant evaluation and award process, including support to the Local Assessment Panel.
- Provide accurate reports on financial progress
- To support the running of the Farming in Protected Landscape Programme.
This post and a Project Officer make up the Dorset AONB Farming in Protected Landscapes team, managed by the AONB Countryside Officer. Help will also be available from existing members of the Dorset AONB team.
There will be opportunities for professional development in protected landscape management and countryside management.
Outgoing Support Officer Emma says “it’s been a brilliant project to work on. I’ve learnt so much about protected landscapes and the role farming plays in looking after it, and the job has provided me with the experience needed to help further my career”
About you
You will have a sound understanding financial management, local authority systems and have experience of similar programme delivery. It’d be helpful, but not essential, if you have experience and knowledge of the conservation, farming and forestry sectors. You will be able to communicate effectively. You’ll be self-motivated and able to work on your own initiative to tight deadlines. You’ll be an effective part of a small team.
Additional information
Farming in Protected Landscapes is a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) supported grant programme, delivered by protected landscapes in England. It will run until March 2025. It aims to help farmers and foresters address the climate and biodiversity crisis, improve people’s engagement with the landscape, and support sustainable farm businesses and communities. Grant applications will be made by farmers and foresters to the Dorset AONB team. Applications will then be assessed for viability and eligibility before being put before a Local Assessment Panel to decide.
The Dorset AONB was designated in 1959 and covers 40% of the county of Dorset, from Lyme Regis in the west to Poole Harbour in the east and Blandford Forum in the north. Established in 2000, the Dorset AONB Partnership is responsible for coordinating preparation and delivery of the Dorset AONB Management Plan. It sets out the objectives, policies and action priorities required by the Partnership and others to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the AONB (the primary purpose of AONB designation), and to encourage sustainable economic and social land use and development which in itself provides a reason for conserving and enhancing natural beauty. The Dorset AONB team, based within the Environment & Wellbeing Directorate at Dorset Council, deliver much of the action needed to conserve and enhance this special place.
Dorset Council: A great place to work
We’re passionate about making Dorset a great place to live, work and visit. Working for us should be no exception.
At Dorset Council we:
- provide more than 450 services to over 300,000 residents
- have ambitious aspirations
- are excited about our future
- care about Dorset and all the people who live here
- know that all roles make a difference and that our employees are key to our success
You will:
- have access to a range of employee benefits
- be part of an organisation that supports each other to grow and succeed
- have access to range of training opportunities which will help with your personal development and career progression
We are challenging ourselves to become a more diverse and inclusive organisation. We recognise that recruitment and inclusion of individuals with diverse skills, perspectives and backgrounds will bring real strength to the council and our communities. We have a commitment to equality and welcome applications from everyone.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We offer an interview to everyone who declares a disability and meets the essential criteria for the role.
We are keen to make our interviews accessible. Let us know on your job application if you have a disability and need any reasonable adjustments.
We also look for applicants who share our commitment to our behaviours. We will ask you to evidence when you have demonstrated them as part of the selection process.
If appointed, the personal information we collect from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found at https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.
This role is UK based and we will need to establish your Right to Work as part of the appointment process.
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Find out more about how to apply.