Job Description
NATURE RESERVE & FARM ASSISTANT
We are looking for someone with a passion for nature and the outdoors to carry out nature conservation work, site maintenance and livestock husbandry and assist with projects at a nature reserve near Woodbridge.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for this post, send your CV and covering letter detailing your experience, relevant qualifications, and reasons for applying via the link. Please note we cannot consider applications which do not include both your CV and covering letter.
WORKING HOURS AND SALARY
Part-time (18 hours per week) on a permanent contract.
Normal working hours: 9.30 am to 5.00 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and a short shift on Thursday morning (9.30 to 11.00 am) and Sunday morning (9.30 to 11.30 am). A half hour lunch break is deducted when working more than 6 hours giving the total of 18 hours part time.
Salary: £9360 to £9828 depending on experience.
About The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust and White House Farm Nature Reserve
The Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust is a registered charity, established in 1994 to advance the conservation of wildlife and wild places. It owns a 105 acre nature reserve at Hasketon near Woodbridge which includes an award winning glamping site.
The nature reserve is a hidden haven for wildlife. Varied habitats include meadows and rough grassland, natural regeneration, woodland, scrub, and ponds. One of the main attractions at the site is the species-rich wildflower meadows, managed using traditional practices of hay-making and grazing by the Trust's cattle.
The site is registered organic with the Soil Association. It is bordered by ancient woodland and surrounded by over 20 acres of wide hedgerows and tree corridors. The site supports over 50 bird species.
JOB DETAILS & RESPONSIBILITIES
The most important aspect of this role is the practical, land-based work. Most of the working hours will be spent on outdoor tasks such as fencing, maintaining habitats and livestock husbandry (including cattle) so applicants need to have some relevant practical experience and to have used at least some of the relevant tools listed in the job description below.
Practical conservation work: You will support the Nature Reserve Warden/Site Manager to undertake conservation management work set out in the management plan to protect and enhance the nature reserve. You will have practical skills in machine and power tool use and maintenance. Chainsaw experience with at least CS30 certification is essential and brushcutter and tractor experience is an advantage. The role will also involve nature trail checks and maintenance. Some tasks require lifting heavy items (e.g. farm gates) and you will need a good level of fitness and be able to work through the day in all weathers!
Animal husbandry: You will assist the Site Manager to care for the conservation cattle and other animals. Duties will include feeding, bedding and mucking out of animal housing and prioritising animal welfare. In the event of an animal emergency or welfare issue you would need to be prepared to be flexible with working hours, especially during periods of holiday cover.
Visitor infrastructure: You will carry out fencing checks and repair and maintain existing stock proofing and you will help with general infrastructure projects.
Meeting visitors and volunteers: You will be a welcoming member of the team and engage visitors and volunteers at the reserve, ensuring they are well informed about the site and the Trust.
Safety at work: You will ensure that you comply with procedures to manage risk to the public, staff and volunteers. You will carry out risk assessments when necessary to ensure that all works by volunteers, staff and contractors conform to Health & Safety Best Practice.
Teamwork: You will be an excellent team player, supporting a positive working environment for staff and a welcoming public environment for volunteers and visitors. You will be a supportive and proactive member of the team, working under instruction from the Nature Reserve Warden/Site Manager but able to work on your own initiative and to an excellent standard. You will be open to feedback and ongoing training to ensure work is carried out to the site’s standards.
Planning: When working without supervision or on a delegated task you will have the ability to effectively prioritise, organise, plan and schedule activities and resources to a high standard.
Presentation: You will ensure each task is completed to a high standard, maintaining a presentable site for visitors and you will carry out safety checking and litter collection.
Glamping site assistance: Secret Meadows is a trading arm of the charity and runs a glamping site at the nature reserve to raise funds for the charity. Your role will include some aspects of the glamping site work from March to November on short shift days (Thursdays and Sundays). This will include hot tub safety checks, re-stocking the onsite wood store and potentially responding to maintenance issues. This part of the job may also involve assisting guests so you will be well informed about how the glamping site works and have excellent customer service skills.
Responsibility: You will report to the Site Manager, assisting him with general site management tasks. You will have responsibility for delegated tasks and projects while working on your own to a high standard and you will ensure best practice across the site. There will be times when cover is required for the Site Manager and you will be responsible for looking after the site at these times.
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
· At least one year’s practical experience in relevant land and conservation management and/or groundskeeping including skills in hedge cutting, general chainsaw use, strimming/brushcutting.
· Practical skills in some relevant machine and power tools is important with certification for chainsaw preferred.
· Physical fitness and an enthusiasm for outdoor work through the seasons.
· High self-motivation.
· Experience of working with livestock and driving a tractor is preferred.
· A strong commitment to nature conservation.
· An excellent team player willing to learn and adapt.
· Ability to self-manage on set tasks, maintaining high standards.
· Ability to assist with project development.
· Ability to store, maintain and ensure correct use of tools and equipment, keeping tools in good order.
· Experience of working with volunteers or members of the public.
· Full clean driving licence.
· IT literacy.
· Applicants must demonstrate a mature, professional approach and effective communication skills to interact with colleagues, the public and volunteers, while promoting the importance of nature conservation.
· There is potential to develop the role if you have skills in relevant areas for the charity such as hosting outdoor events or taking wildlife images and providing social media content.
NOTES
Appointment is subject to a two-day paid trial period and if successful this is followed by a one-month paid probationary period.
Some flexibility with working hours is required to allow for activities and animal welfare needs. If some periods within a year are busier than others, you will be able to work less at quieter times of the year to balance your overall working time. You will therefore need to keep timesheets up to date and submit them each month. The holiday allowance is calculated as a total number of hours as the lengths of the contracted working days vary. Based on working 18 hours per week, holiday allowance is 101 hours (14 days). This is the equivalent of 5.6 weeks holiday with 18 hours holiday per week.
The company uses NEST work pension scheme for eligible employees.
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Part-time hours: 18 per week
Salary: £10.00 per hour
COVID-19 considerations:
PPE is available if working indoors, and hand sanitiser is provided.
Application question(s):
- Do you live within a half hour drive of Woodbridge?
- Please email us directly with your CV and covering letter / email to [email protected] with your reasons for applying for this particular role and a summary of your relevant experience. We cannot consider applications without a specific covering letter / email.
Experience:
- practical land mangement skills/groundskeeping: 1 year (preferred)
Work Location: One location
Expected start date: 01/03/2023
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