Purpose of the Post.
To assist the Climate Change and Environmental Team with implementing the requirements of Welsh Government (WG) policy and environmental legislation such as Wildlife and Countryside Act 1980 and Section 6 of Environment (Wales) Act 2016.
To provide professional ecological advice and support to NMWTRA and our partners regarding the assessment, impact and mitigation of our operations on ecology and biodiversity, ensuring NMWTRA is both compliant with legislation and is maximising biodiversity opportunities.
To provide direct ecological support and technical advice to NMWTRA Capital delivery and maintenance teams including review of internal and external documents, surveys and reporting, technical advice, attendance of meetings and site supervison.
Work with Ecologist, and the Climate Change and Environment Team to manage projects related to ecological enhancement and mitigation works.
Work within the Climate Change and Environment Team to manage the soft estate inventory including the identification of the location and condition of ecological assets.
Propose, design and manage a programme of ecological enhancement projects developed from routine and reactive maintenance activities associated with the soft estate and environmental management.
To assist the NMWTRA Ecologists, the Climate Change and Environment Team and other NMWTRA staff with obtaining NRW licences where required and discharging any conditions and requirements such as surveys, monitoring and reporting to ensure compliance.
To work with the NMWTRA Ecologists to obtain protected species licences and protected site assents and progress with developing Programme of Works Licences for Protected species to the satisfaction of Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
To work with the NMWTRA Ecologists and NRW to develop a reporting system for compliance with licences.
To work with the NMWTRA Ecologists to further develop the Trunk Road Environmental Checking System for all scales of works to ensure NMWTRA remains legally compliant.
To work with NMWTRA and WG and partners to develop and contribute to Biodiversity and Nature Recovery Action Plans.
Undertake site surveys and monitoring visits as required to ensure that NMWTRA staff/ partners/ consultants and WG Transport Major Projects are operating in compliance with legislation, policy, best practice guidelines and related documents eg CEMP, HEMP, EIA and NRW licence commitments.
Specify, programme and undertake or procure specialist ecological surveys and monitoring visits and report on these.
Develop recording systems and databases to capture information about ecological management and surveys.
Responsibility for functions. e.g. staff, budgets, equipment
Thermal Camera and monocular– arrange periodic servicing and callibration
Bat detectors – arrange periodic servicing and calibration
Trail cameras
Endoscopes for bat surveys
Binoculars
Tablet / laptop
Mobile phone
Welsh Government and NMWTRA environmental asset management and recording databases.
Main Duties.
Management
To provide direct ecological support to NMWTRA staff including Capital Delivery, Maintenance, and Inspection teams including review of internal and external documents, surveys and reporting, technical advice, attendance of meetings and site supervision.
To act as a roving ‘Ecological Clerk of Works’ on NMWTRA projects to ensure works carried out to specification and according to licence requirements.
To deputise for the Senior Ecologist or other members of the Climate Change and Environment Team when required.
To manage external service providers (specialist contractors and consultants / designers as a Project Sponsor).
To manage relationships and liaison with NMWTRA, environmental partners and stakeholders.
To assist and advise the Climate Change and Environment Team and Welsh Government regarding improvements to biodiversity, landscape or environmental management.
Ecological & Environmental Survey Function
To undertake specialist ecological surveys of the soft estate on the trunk road network in accordance with Good Industry practice and appropriate licences held.
To arrange surveys and manage records for protected species, pollinators and liaise with external bodies and specialists.
Where additional specialist surveys required, but expertise for the species or group or habitat is not available from NMWTRA staff, draw up briefs and procure expert specialists to undertake ecological surveys or sampling and advice.
Identify, risk assess and prioritise ecological asset and habitat defects.
To assist the Climate Change and Environment Team in the survey and management of the soft estate including trees when required.
To assist with the management of ecological surveys on trunk road network in accordance with the requirements of the Welsh Government Trunk Road Maintenance Manual (WGTRMM) and Welsh Government asset management systems.
Where high priority defects are observed inform the NMWTRA Climate Change and Environment Team, Operations Team and Route Management Teams (as appropriate) as soon as practicable to enable these to be rectified.
Liaise with landowners or stakeholders (e.g. NRW, conservation organisations or Local Authorities) regarding environmental issues located adjacent to the trunk road.
To assist the Police, enforcement bodies and Third Party Claims team by investigating pollution claims, damage or disturbance to ecosystems or protected species.
Maintenance & Improvement Function
Manage the procurement, commissioning and implementation of programmed, routine and reactive maintenance functions associated with the soft estate, for example:
Annual programme for managing ecological assets eg bat lights, wildlife fencing, specialist wildlife mitigation measures
To assist and provide emergency incident management support to the emergency services and NMWTRA in the event of a pollution or wildlife crime incident.
Manage defect repairs and routine maintenance functions within available budgets and roadspace constraints.
To provide support to NMWTRA teams and supply chain to manage the risks of damaging or disturbing ecosystems.
To support the Climate Change and Environment Team in the delivery of Welsh Government biodiversity objectives and Ministerial initiatives (e.g. Green Corridors) and the Nature Recovery Plan to meet Environment (Wales) Act 2016 requirements.
Assist in the management of the NMWTRA Environmental Risk Database.
Inventory Function
Working with others in the Climate Change and Environment Team to develop systems to record an inventory of ecological assets, findings of surveys and management data within the WG asset management systems and Geographic Information Systems.
Working with others in the Climate Change and Environment Team to undertake inspections and surveys of the soft estate with particular emphasis on the biodiversity assets such as bat boxes, wildlife fencing, badger tunnels, hibernacula in accordance with WGTRMM and other commitments.
General
To supervise and provide guidance on work undertaken by service providers.
To communicate effectively and courteously with elected members, the public, members and Welsh Government officers and other external organisations and bodies.
To deal with complaints and enquiries in a courteous and professional manner whilst out on site and in the office.
To co-operate and liaise with staff from other Departments of NMWTRA, and Partner Authorities in order to promote the effective management of NMWTRA.
To be responsible for self-development.
Undertake any other proportionate and reasonable duties that correspond with the salary level and responsibility level of the post as required by the line manager.
Operate within NMWTRA and Gwynedd Council’s policy and procedures in relation to equal opportunities and equality.
Health & Safety and Environmental
To comply with health & safety aspects of the inspection team including implementing risk management through compliance with for example established safe systems of work and operational risk assessments.
To ensure that health, safety, environmental risk assessment processes are fully considered in all aspects of the work of the environmental service such as traffic management.
It is the responsibility of every employee within the Agency to comply with the Health and Safety; environmental and quality policies as defined within the Agency Integrated Business Management System.
Ensure that Health and Safety at Work and environmental legislation and policies are strictly adhered to.
Undertake personal Health and Safety responsibility at all times.
The post holder is expected to be aware of the requirements e.g. the Health and Safety legislation and to cooperate with NMWTRA and Gwynedd Council’s Health and Safety Manager to ensure compliance with the relevant requirements.
Responsibility for self-development.
Ensure compliance with Health and Safety rules in the workplace in accordance with the responsibilities noted in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and NMWTRA and Gwynedd Council’s Health and Safety Policy.
Operate within NMWTRA and Gwynedd Council’s policies in relation to equal opportunities and equality.
Responsible for managing information in accordance with NMWTRA and Gwynedd Council’s information management guidelines. Ensure that personal information is treated in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
Commitment to reducing NMWTRAs carbon emissions in accordance with the Carbon Management Plan, and to encourage others to act positively towards reducing NMWTRAs Carbon Footprint.
Undertake any other reasonable duty which corresponds to the salary level and responsibility level of the job.
Special Circumstances. e.g. the need to work unsociable hours, special working arrangements etc.
Requirement to work hours which are outside normal working hours (bandwidth 07:00hrs to 18:00hrs in accordance with the flexi hours scheme) as requested for example evening work to undertake bat surveys and / or weekend inspections within traffic management.
Requirement that the post holder will undertake training as and when required. Work towards obtaining protected species licences if required.
Attend occasional meetings in other parts of the UK (e.g. Llandrindod, Cardiff).