Wildlife Warden: Southeast Devon Habitat Regulations Partnership

£27,334 per annum

Blackdown House, Honiton (majority of time will be spent outdoors, onsite)

Fixed term for up to 13 months (maternity cover)

Full Time (37 hours per week, including 2 weekends/month)

About us

The Southeast Devon Habitat Regulations Partnership is a joint approach to Habitat Regulations Mitigation between East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council, Teignbridge District Council and Natural England. The shared vision of this partnership is to protect internationally important wildlife sites from recreational disturbance, including the Exe Estuary, Dawlish Warren and the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths.

About the role

As a Wildlife Warden employed by East Devon District Council on behalf of the Southeast Devon Habitat Regulations Partnership, you will play a key role in helping to prevent recreational pressure from harming the protected wildlife of the Exe Estuary, Dawlish Warren and the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths.

In this interesting role, you will have a varied remit which will include engaging and educating visitors, monitoring and enforcement. You will maintain an on-site presence to engage with and educate users of these protected sites to raise awareness of their nature conservation importance and encourage responsible behaviour. This will include actively initiating conversations with visitors, using polite and assertive conversation skills to prevent disturbing and/or damaging behaviour/activities and taking follow-up action as required.

You will work closely with two part-time Wildlife Wardens as a team of two across the region. Effective public engagement, including written and spoken communication skills, are critical to the success of this role, as you will also need to actively engage with the local community by undertaking walking patrols, visitor events, and working with local school groups and retailers. You will help to gather evidence relating to user activities, effects on wildlife and the effectiveness of mitigation measures. You will also undertake outreach work alongside other relevant organisations including the Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust, Devon Wildlife Trust, RSPB and Exe Estuary Management Partnership.

This is a full-time post and there will be a requirement for the post holder to work 2 weekends per month and some bank holidays throughout the year.

About you

With a good standard of education, you will have a keen interest in wildlife and conservation and a good understanding of nature conservation and countryside issues. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential in this role, and previous experience of engaging with the public and a range of different stakeholders will be extremely beneficial.

Tact, diplomacy and the ability to be assertive when dealing with difficult enforcement issues are also critical to the success of this role. You will be confident around dogs, as working with their owners and cross working with a related project forms a part of the role. Some experience and understanding of business social media posting, writing articles for newsletters and update reports will be beneficial.

You will also need a driving license and be able to travel as required (reasonable adjustments may be possible according to the Equality Act). Operating the Patrol Boat on the Exe Estuary is a key component of the role, and you should be prepared and confident to undertake this activity as part of your duties.

Apply

For more about working for East Devon District Council visit here.

For an informal discussion about the position, please contact Naomi Harnett, Interim Corporate Lead - Major Projects and Programmes, on 07580 297 059 or email NHarnett@eastdevon.gov.uk.

Closing date: Sunday 10th November 2024

Interviews Thursday 21st November 2024

To apply, please click here.