Assistant Rights of Way Officer - Milton Keynes City Council

Our Assistant Rights of Way Officer role (based within our wider Landscape and Countryside service) is a brilliant opportunity for an enthusiastic self-starter to develop a career in this interesting area.

There are more than 500km of public footpaths, bridleways and byways throughout rural and urban Milton Keynes. The Public Rights of Way service is responsible for ensuring these routes are correctly recorded, protected, accessible and maintained, enabling local people and visitors to have an enjoyable and positive experience when using them.

The role offers the opportunity to work across all aspects of Rights of Way, from physical improvements, enforcement matters, processing legal orders and encouraging the public to use our plentiful and popular network of paths.

The role will be site-based at our offices in Wolverton and will include visiting locations across Milton Keynes. You’ll have the opportunity to work within a close and supportive team, with significant opportunities for continuous professional development and to improve on existing skillsets.

Main Responsibilities:

• Undertaking inspections of the network and dealing with reports of maintenance issues from the public, user groups, Parish Councils and Councillors. This may often mean visiting remote locations, in areas holding livestock, over difficult terrain or during inclement weather.
• Identify how the network can be improved in terms of its connectivity with other public footpaths and bridleways as well as rural and urban locations, and how we can make the network more inclusive and accessible for the whole community.
• Responsible for procuring materials and stock to be used to make improvements to rights of way and processing the associated purchase orders.
• Encourage public usage of the network by occasionally leading public walks and working with Parish and Town Councils to promote routes locally.
• Assist in undertaking a full review of the Definitive Map, ensuring data is accurate, as well as working on a borough-wide programme to digitally record all features and assets of the network.
• Assist in the running of the Local Access Forum, including minute taking.
• Undertake responsibilities relating to updates to the Definitive Map through the processing and investigation of historic path claims (Definitive Map Modification Orders), applications to amend the route of a path (Public Path Orders), applications to register Village Greens, record Landowner Deposits, provide responses to Planning applications and undertake Land Charge searches.

The Ideal Candidate:

• A Level 4 qualification in a related subject or in-depth knowledge of legislation, regulations, and guidelines relevant to Rights of Way is required.
• Excellent mapping skills, being proficient in the use of GIS.
• Ability to read and interpret a range of map types including historical maps and related documents.
• Excellent communicator, both verbally and written, and be able to build relationships with landowners, customers, elected members, partner organisations and other stakeholders.
• Be able to liaise with landowners and contractors to solve issues and implement solutions, whilst striving to improve access opportunities for all and taking countryside uses and practices into account.
• You’ll see matters through from inspection to completion through the organisation of works and management of contractors.
• Must be able to interpret and apply complex legislation relating to rights of way.
• An enthusiastic and self-motivated individual with the ability to travel independently to remote locations for site visits or meetings is essential.

For this role, the candidate is required to have a full UK driving licence, along with access to a vehicle. Evidence of the driving licence and vehicle insurance with business insurance will be required from the candidate should they be offered this position. Without this documentation the candidate will not be appointable.

Package Description:

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme – low-cost leasing of electric and low emission vehicles.
• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

Why join us? Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you here Working at the Council | Milton Keynes.

Our roles are either designated ‘site based’ or ‘home based’. ‘Site based’ roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst ‘home based’ roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.

About The Organisation:

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.

We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.

We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.

If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.

To view the full job description please click here.

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