Coastal Project Development Officer

37 hours/week with limited evening and weekend working.
Fixed term contract until the 31st March 2025 with potential for extension subject to external
funding.
This post is funded through Welsh Government’s Coastal Capacity Communities Fund.
Main place of work: across the Vale and hybrid working at Docks Office, Barry.

The post holder will:

• further establish the Vale Coastal Forum as the main network through which communities,
  businesses and organisations with an interest in the coast and beyond can share knowledge and
  develop initiatives to deliver across environmental, social and economic topics.
• develop, in collaboration, a Vale Coastal Nature Recovery Project that would deliver the
  Vale Nature Recovery Programme along the whole coast.
• ascertain potential funding opportunities and partners and to ascertain the requirements of
  funders in order to support an application for the Vale Coastal Nature Recovery Project.
• ensure that the Vale Nature Recovery Plan is integrated into both the coastal and marine
  environments and reflects the biodiversity issues that are pertinent to those habitats and
  their species.
• secure and manage consultancy services required as part of project development, to
  strengthen the Vale NRAP and to support the ambitions of the Coastal Forum.
• provide consistent and timely reporting on progress to both a Steering Group and the
  Coastal Forum.
• be responsible for budgets attached to the work programme and to draw together, with
  support from Finance Officers in VOGC, quarterly claims to be submitted to WCVO. To deal with
  any queries in respect of both budgets and claims.
• participate in LNP Cymru meetings, Countryside Team meetings and any Wales wide meetings in
  respect of coastal activity funded through the Coastal Communities funding stream of Welsh
  Government.

About you

You will need:

• Experience of working in a collaborative partnership environment.
• Knowledge of coastal habitats and species
• Experience of project development and funding applications.
• Experience of working with consultants and ensuring delivery.
• To be communicative and literate.
• IT skills especially Excel.
• Well motivated with the ability to work well in a team and have a pleasant manner, whilst
  dealing with the public.
• Ability to be flexible and work unsupervised.
• Ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of audiences.
• Willingness to learn new skills and develop knowledge in biodiversity.
• Negotiation to gain participation of others in a conservation driven project.
• Ability to drive throughout the Vale.

The ability to communicate in Welsh would be desirable.

About us

The Countryside Team within the Sustainable Development Section comprises of a number of teams
that cover the two Country Parks, the Heritage Coast, Rights of Way, Landscape and Ecology and
hosts both the Vale Nature Partnership and Restore the Thaw teams.

The objectives are to:

• Conserve, enhance and effectively manage the Vale of Glamorgan’s countryside
• Provide for and promote appropriate countryside and coastal access, recreation and
  awareness
• Provide high quality specialist services for landscape design and implementation
• Attract grant aid, sponsorship and partnership working to enhance activities

The Ecology section supports and assists with the Vale Nature Partnership, advises Development
Control regarding planning applications, assists and advises all other council departments on
biodiversity and law, advises on protected sites and species, develops and delivers projects,
is responsible for the Biodiversity Forward Plan and undertakes actions in the Vale Nature
Recovery Action Plan.

Closing date: 20th March 2024