Dear Applicant Livestock Manager, Ouse Washes Reserve Salary Range £24,000 - £28,000 per annum Thank you for your enquiry regarding our advertised vacancy. An application form is enclosed, together with a job description, person specification and other background information about the RSPB. If you have seen this vacancy advertised on our website, please refer to ‘Working for the RSPB’ which contains information about our benefits, and terms and conditions. This document can be downloaded if required. Please can you complete the enclosed application form in blue or black ink. Please refer to the person specification when completing the form. Your completed application form should clearly describe how you meet each of the criteria that have been identified as being necessary for this post as this will form the basis of shortlisting candidates. If you enclose a CV, it may be referred to for supplementary information, however, please ensure that all the questions asked on the application form are fully answered. We take all practicable steps to safeguard the safety and welfare of children or vulnerable adults while they are in contact with the RSPB and have a Child Safety and Welfare Policy that supports this. If the post you have applied for involves unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults further checks will be carried out. We will also confirm your eligibility to work in the UK prior to appointment. Completed forms should be returned to Kate Milne, Cambs & The Fens Area Administrator, Cambs & The Fens Area Office, RSPB, The Grange, 20 Market Street, Swavesey, Cambs, CB24 4QG. Please check the postage required on your application as incorrect postage may lead to your application being delayed and missing the closing date. If you require an acknowledgement of receipt of your application, please enclose a stamped, addressed envelope. Alternatively, you can email your application to [email protected] The closing date for receipt of completed application forms is Friday 5
th December 2014. Interviews will be
held Tuesday 16th
December 2014. If you are an external candidate, may we take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in employment with the RSPB. As a charity, we try to keep our administrative costs to a minimum and therefore you will only be contacted if we wish to progress your application. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. However, if you are able to supply us with an e-mail address, we will endeavour to advise you if you have not been shortlisted. We look forward to receiving your application in due course. Charlie Kitchin Site Manager
Vacancy pack
mailto:[email protected]
This pack contains all the information you need to apply, including: Useful Information Details on our Diversity Policy statement, how we use CVs, shortlisting and employment checks and UK Identification requirements Applicant letter Details on how to apply plus closing date and interview date(s) Job description A breakdown of the vacancy, including the purpose of the job, requirements, duties and responsibilities Person specification A list of criteria that potential candidates should aim to meet Department information* Details of the department advertising the post Application Form PDF version
Please print out, complete and return to the address on the Applicant letter Word version
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recruit a non-resident worker*.
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Useful Information The RSPB is currently going through a job evaluation review. We just wanted to let you know that all jobs are subject to this review, including our current job vacancies. The results of the job evaluation review and the new payband structure will be implemented across the RSPB later in 2015 and you will be kept fully informed of the outcomes. Diversity Policy Statement The RSPB is part of a global network that incorporates a diversity of traditions and cultures, and which represents different inheritances, backgrounds, influences, perspectives and experiences. A better understanding of people’s differences will help us to appreciate and value everyone’s contribution, and recognise that we are all an integral and invaluable part of the Society. Everyone has the right to be treated with consideration and respect. The Society is committed to achieving a truly inclusive environment for all, by developing better working relationships that release the full potential, creativity and productivity of each individual, and an atmosphere where everyone can learn, work and live free from prejudice, discrimination, harassment and violence. The Society aims to ensure that all staff, volunteers, partners, clients, contractors, members and the general public are treated fairly. Unless it can be shown to be justified, this will be regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender re-assignment, marital or civil partnership status, race (including colour, nationality, ethnicity, or national origin), disability, medical status, age, religion or belief, political opinion, social or economic status, or ex-offender status. Use of Curriculum Vitae (CVs) Our policy is to recruit and employ our employees on the basis of their suitability for the work to be done. An application form allows us to compare individuals based on like for like information and as such we do not accept a CV unless accompanied by a fully completed application. Shortlisting The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to ensuring all applications are treated fairly. Applications are sought only from those eligible to work in the UK in the first instance. All applications are subject to our shortlisting process where we only assess information provided against the Person Specification. If you are shortlisted we will contact you and invite you to attend an interview. You will also be advised at this point if there will be any skills test, presentations etc. As a charity, we lack the resources to advise all candidates if their application is unsuccessful. If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, we will have decided not to take your application any further. However, if you are able to supply us with an e-mail address, we will endeavour to advise you if you have not been shortlisted. If this is the case, please do not be discouraged from re-applying as your skills and experience may be just what we need for our next vacancy. We also have a number of volunteering opportunities across the organisation. Employment Checks All offers of employment are made subject to the following criteria: Proof of eligibility to work in the UK, Proof of Residency, Satisfactory Employment Health Check, Two references satisfactory to the Society and where required a Satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau Check.
Ouse Washes Livestock Manager
Thank you for your interest in the Ouse Washes Livestock Manager role. This additional information has
been prepared to give applicants a greater insight into the RSPB’s nature reserves in the Great Ouse
Wetland, Cambridgeshire, the area as a whole and what it is like working as part of the RSPB’s Eastern
England regional team.
The Great Ouse Wetland
From the heart of Cambridgeshire along the river Great Ouse and across the Fens into Norfolk lies a network
of wetland sites that form one of the largest and most important wetlands in the UK. The Great Ouse
Wetland extends over 3,000 hectares, that’s nearly the same size as the city of Cambridge. In length, it
stretches for a distance of 40km, that’s all the way from Fen Drayton Lakes to Denver Sluice.
The network includes the RSPB nature reserves being developed at Fen Drayton Lakes, Ouse Fen and the
long established Ouse Washes. The Ouse Washes are nearly 400 years old with more than three quarters
owned by the RSPB, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and the Wildlife Trust, with the flood management
operated by the Environment Agency.
Challenges and opportunities
Much of the site is washland or seasonally flooded grassland which we manage for the benefit of breeding
and wintering birds. The main management tool is seasonal cattle grazing with up to 2,000 animals on site
at the peak of the season. All are sourced from local graziers, some of whom manage their own animals but
many choose to take advantage of the RSPB’s shepherding service delivering adequate grazing, daily
checking and administration of standard veterinary medicines.
Ouse Washes habitat deterioration
The internationally important Ouse Washes have become progressively worse for birds since the 1970s with
late spring floods leading to a steady decline in breeding waders. Waterfowl numbers are declining due to
longer, deeper floods in winter. This deterioration was recognised by the UK Government in 2000 with the
site added to the ‘Montreaux Record’ of Ramsar sites undergoing ecological change – one of only two sites
in this record in the UK. The engineering solutions needed to maintain the designated wildlife interest,
alongside the flood storage function of the Ouse Washes would be incredibly expensive (over £100m).
A more cost effective solution is to create new damp grassland areas for the affected bird populations
outside of the Ouse Washes. The Environment Agency is working in partnership with conservation
organisations to create 500ha of new replacement meadowland grasslands, within areas adjacent to the
Washes at Coveney and Sutton. These new areas will allow Government to meet its obligations while
continuing to optimise the use of the Ouse Washes for flood storage. The RSPB is advising the Agency on
the design and future management of this land and we are hopeful that we will become the managers of this
new habitat and associated grazing.
Restoration of new areas of sand and gravel extraction
There are some exciting opportunities to add to the Great Ouse Wetland through the Cambridgeshire and
Peterborough Minerals and Waste Plan. New aggregate working planned to support economic growth will
need to be beneficially restored. New reedbeds are being created on a 700ha site at Ouse Fen with grass
banks and grazing between wet areas that will be grazed . At Block Fen/Langwood Fen a large multi-
functional area is proposed to provide much needed wildlife habitat in the form of damp grassland along with
areas capable of storage of flood water for future irrigation use. These new restored areas will need to be
managed and will also provide opportunities for public access to be developed.
Fen Drayton is around 400ha of disused mineral workings and riverside meadows where much of the grazing
is let to tenants. Liaison with our tenants will be essential if we are to deliver benefits for conservation while
at the same time sustaining local farming businesses.
Promotion and public access
The different sites within the Great Ouse Wetland offer a variety of experiences; the WWT Welney Wetlands
Centre has its spectacular floodlit winter swan feeding, high quality catering and all year events programme,
whilst RSPB facilities offer a wider experience for the enthusiast. Fen Drayton Lakes is being developed as
a family friendly nature reserve accessible by the Cambridge Guided Bus with direct links into the city.
As a result of the positive partnerships within the Great Ouse Wetland, there is an opportunity to coordinate
signage, promotion and develop better public access links across the area.
The Job
The main purpose of the Livestock Manager role is to organise and deliver grazing through leadership of our
experienced and motivated team of staff and volunteers. Based at Welches Dam close to Manea the
Livestock Manager will work closely with the Site Manager to ensure suitable grazing is delivered across the
site in the right place at the right time. A substantial amount of liaison with graziers will be required
throughout the year to ensure the RSPB’s high reputation for managing livestock is maintained. The
Livestock Manager will be responsible for ensuring that all DEFRA/RPA requirements are met, high
standards of animal welfare are maintained and that all associated paperwork and records are kept in order
and ready for inspection. The Livestock Manager will also be responsible for ensuring that all livestock
related infrastructure is maintained to a high standard.
The Livestock Manager will support Fens Area team colleagues in all matters relating to grazing livestock
and cross compliance. Close liaison will be required with the Project Manager of the Hanson RSPB Wetland
Project at Ouse Fen and site manager at Fen Drayton. The Great Ouse Wetland will also play an important
role in our Futurescapes vision for the Fens. Futurescapes is the RSPB’s contribution to landscape scale
conservation and aims not only make the countryside better for wildlife but also better for people. The
Livestock Manager may be called on from time to time to provide advice to non-RSPB sites and farms across
the Fens.
The Area Team
The RSPB’s Eastern England Region is divided into six Area Teams. The Cambridgeshire and the Fens
Area Team is responsible for the delivery of RSPB objectives within Cambridgeshire and the fenland areas
of adjacent Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk through its own staff resource and working with colleagues
based at the regional office in Norwich.
Within the area team we have five major nature reserves – Fen Drayton, Ouse Fen, Ouse Washes, Nene
Washes and Lakenheath. We also have the Fens Futurescape initiative which extends over most of our
area.
There are currently around 30 members of paid staff in the area team, supported by numerous volunteers.
We have offices at the Ouse and Nene Washes, Lakenheath and Swavesey close to Fen Drayton and Ouse
Fen.
What sort of person are we looking for?
Ideally we’re looking for someone with an interest in the RSPB’s conservation mission who has first hand
experience of livestock management at a large scale and who has the focus and drive to achieve high
standards. To do this, experience in motivating and managing a team of stock persons will be a key attribute.
Hands on experience of working in nature conservation isn’t essential as we have an experienced team of
wardens but you will have to have an open mind to the use of grazing as a conservation tool and be willing
on occasion to muck in and help out on the reserves where needed.
You will need good interpersonal skills and the ability to work with graziers and the farming community as
well as partner organisations, local community groups, decision makers and local businesses.
Living and working in the Cambridgeshire Fens
Cambridgeshire is a good and developing area within which to live and work. Although very rural and open,
the small market towns are well connected by road and rail and Cambridge City offers much as a cultural
and commercial centre.
Although house prices close to Cambridge can be steep, property is more affordable in the market towns. Ely
is a growing and popular location but good rail links tend to keep prices on the high side. Towns like March
and Chatteris offer cheaper alternatives and there are many small villages offering a quieter way of life.
Cambridge is less than an hour’s drive away from anywhere within the County and has all the amenities of
any major city.
Subject to criteria, the RSPB is able to offer a relocation package to assist with the costs of moving home.
Hopefully you will now have a greater insight into the Great Ouse Wetland Livestock Manager role, the
reserves and the team and will be tempted into applying! If you have any further questions, please don’t
hesitate to get in touch.
Job Description
Job Title: Livestock Manager, Ouse Washes Dept/Section/Region/Reserve: Cambridgeshire & the Fens Area Team Location Of Job: RSPB Ouse Washes, Welches Dam, Manea, Cambs. Post holder reports to: Site Manager, Ouse Washes Reporting To Post holder: Livestock team (2 permanent + 2 summer contract posts) Overall Purpose Of The Job: Manage the RSPB’s grazing operation on the Ouse Washes: organising and leading the livestock team, ensuring welfare of cattle (up to 2000 animals), meeting cross compliance and health & safety requirements and achieving good relationships with farmers. Main Duties: Livestock management Receive all livestock onto the Ouse Washes in accordance with DEFRA regulations, including: On and Off movements with BCMS, receiving and holding cattle passports for the duration of grazing and keeping accurate records in accordance with regulations. Provide an effective shepherding service to ensure all animals are in good condition and that any ailments or problems are identified and dealt with quickly and efficiently. Deliver a program of preventative worming and treat livestock ailments in liaison with the owner and the RSPB’s vet. Work with the Site Manager and wardening team to meet conservation management objectives, through grazing and cutting (haying and topping). Support area team colleagues in all matters relating to grazing livestock and cross compliance. Liaise with other landowners, which include wildlife trust and private owners and wildfowling clubs to deliver grazing management on their land. Staff management Organise the livestock team to provide 7 days/week livestock care throughout the grazing season, to include daily work plan meetings, one to ones and annual appraisals of staff. This will involve setting team and individual objectives, managing performance against these objectives and ensuring the team are working safely and in accordance with organisation and site policies. Ensure that all staff working with farmed animals are competent to do so, have received appropriate training and are aware of all current legislation regarding the health and welfare of farmed animals. Livestock Procurement Liaise with c.30 farmers to supply up to 2,000 cattle to summer graze on the Ouse Washes. In conjunction with the Regional Land Agent, ensure that appropriate grazing licences, tenancies and holding links are in place, with all cattle movements reported to BCMS as appropriate. Risk Management Ensure all livestock entering RSPB land are compliant in accordance with DEFRA regulations and that RSPB policies are adhered to. Oversee these obligations with graziers on adjoining RSPB land. Work with the Ouse Washes Warden to ensure that NVZ reporting is undertaken.
Budgets and cost control In consultation with the Site Manager, prepare and monitor budgets for the grazing operation, oversee the procurement of machinery and infrastructure and the hiring of staff as required. In conjunction with RSPB land agency colleagues, issue annual grazing licences and take the lead in producing annual invoicing for all graziers and annual internal reporting. Record keeping Keep all farm and livestock records, in accordance with DEFRA regulations, up to date and available for inspection. Grazing infrastructure Ensure all livestock infrastructure is maintained as fit for purpose, including fencing, gateways, ditches (wet fences) and cattle handling pens. Other Duties: Reserve management Assist the wardening team with habitat and estate management, research, survey and monitoring. Relevant Factors: Salaried position based on 37.5 hours per week. Rotational weekend, bank holiday cover and occasional evening working will be required. May be disturbed at home during anti-social hours. The RSPB works for a healthy environment for all and we therefore expect you to take action in accordance with our Environmental Policy and objectives. Together we can make a positive difference for our world. You will be expected to apply ‘sound value for money’ principles in undertaking purchasing or supply of goods and services. In the RSPB volunteers are a major resource and make a vital contribution to the RSPB’s aim to take action for the conservation of wild birds and the environment. You will be expected to encourage, develop and support volunteer involvement in our work.
Person Specification
Job Title: Livestock Manager, Ouse Washes
Region /Dept: Eastern England Reserves
How criteria will be tested : A = Application Form, T = Test, I = Interview, P = Personality test, O = Other
Essential Desirable
Qualifications A T I P O Qualifications A T I P O
1 Agricultural Diploma a Higher National Diploma
b Management and implementation of veterinary medicines
c ATV, 4x4 and Tractor trained
Experience Experience
2 5 years experience of practical livestock husbandry d Managing 500+ cattle
3 3 years experience of leading and organizing teams e Extensive grazing on lowland wet grassland
4 Combining farming management with environmental goals
5 Budget management and best value procurement
Skills/Abilities Skills/Abilities
6
Excellent organizational and planning skills
f Influencing others
7
Well-developed interpersonal and leadership skills
8 Record keeping and managing data using a PC
Knowledge Knowledge
9 Cattle related ailments, preventions and treatments g Best agricultural and environmental practice
10 Cross compliance and health & safety requirements h Natural history, including bird identification
Disposition/Circumstances Disposition/Circumstances
11 Flexible, solutions-focussed
12 Attention to detail
13 Willingness to help others
14 Weekend, BH and evening working
PLEASE REFER TO VACANCY DETAILS FOR RETURN ADDRESS
Job Ref. No. A3071114
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APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Application Pack July 2012 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales No. 207076 Scotland No. SC037654
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