Wildlife Officer – Agri-Environment Scheme (AES)

1. Role Purpose:

To spearhead Manx Wildlife Trust’s (MWT) delivery
of key on-farm elements of the Isle of Man Government’s
Agri-Environment Scheme (AES), working closely and collaboratively with farmers,
agricultural businesses, industry representatives, ecologists and Government officers to
ultimately deliver MWT’s mission to ‘protect and
enhance our environment, create more spaces for wildlife, and inspire people to act for
nature.’ Our proud Manx farming industry is key to delivering nature’s recovery on the
Isle of Man. Farmland covers around 75% of the Manx landscape and therefore represents MWT’s
greatest opportunity for landscape-scale conservation and enhancement.

This role involves a wide range of complex, technical and professional activities in a wide and
often unpredictable range of work situations, for which we are looking for a personable,
pragmatic and ‘down to earth’ individual. This role is predominantly based outdoors, across the
length and breadth of the Island. The remit includes 40,000ha (100,000ac) of
lowland and upland farmland across the Island’s 340 farms. The work of this post varies
considerably throughout the year due to the seasons and agricultural calendar. Reporting to and
working closely with the Head of Conservation & Land (who maintains oversight of our AES
delivery and its continuous improvement) the postholder will have a substantial degree of
personal responsibility and autonomy in their day-to-day work.

2. Role Responsibilities:

2.1 Core Responsibilities: Day to day delivery of our AES contract; including:

1. Providing on-farm advice, guidance, upskilling and support to farmers in relation to Manx
   farmland and upland wildlife & habitats, including the various elements of support
   available for nature-positive farming practices through the AES.
2. Assisting farmers and agricultural businesses with AES applications and the planning and
   designing of habitat creation/restoration projects.
3. Conducting on-farm assessments of priority habitat presence, condition, and management in
   relation to AES payments. Ensure mandatory AES Management Conditions are being met and make
   formal payment recommendations to Government.
4. Providing professional advice to Government on whether proposed projects meet legislative/
   policy requirements and complement our Agricultural, Biodiversity & Climate
   Change Strategies.
5. Carrying out and encouraging biodiversity research and recording on farmland and the farmed
   uplands, working with the Manx Biological Recording Partnership.
6. Seeking out continuous improvement and efficiency of the AES, for the mutual benefit of
   farmers, food production, biodiversity, the environment, climate and people in the Isle of Man.
7. Foster partnerships and collaborative working to best capitalise the unique opportunity
   presented by AES to achieve food, biodiversity, environmental and climate-related gains. Work
   closely with internal conservation/engagement & research colleagues to ensure our AES
   delivery enhances our wider work towards nature’s recovery & our international 30 by
   30 obligation. Key partnerships will include DEFA (Agriculture, Ecosystem, Climate Change,
   Upland & Peat Officers), the Manx National Farmers’ Union, Flockmasters (upland graziers),
   Manx Grassland Society, Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group and eNGOs within the Manx Nature
   Conservation Forum.
8. Produce content for quarterly reports to MWT Council, demonstrating AES delivery and
   biodiversity impact. Write a review paper for the MWT Annual Report. Deliver a regular AES
   newsletter and year-round, farm-based upskilling events available to all 840 Manx farm workers.

2.2 Wider Responsibilities:

1. Comply with MWT’s Staff Handbook, policies, procedures, guidelines & our DEFA AES
   contract, along with all relevant regulatory/statutory requirements, Health & Safety
   legislation and GDPR.
2. Monitor wider developments within Government agricultural support and similar AES schemes
   in neighbouring countries. Contribute to the strategic development/planning of the IOM’s AES.
3. Be an advocate, ambassador, and spokesperson for MWT and the Manx farmed environments
   (specifically farmland and upland wildlife & habitats) to include interviews, newsletters,
   social media, lectures, external meetings, agricultural shows and events.
4. Work with the MWT Conservation Group (including our Farmland Birds, Action for Wildlife
   & Nature Reserves Officers) and the MWT Engagement Team to showcase our conservation impact
   on farmland and in the uplands, using our stories to inspire further action and investment.
5. Liaise with The Wildlife Trust Federation (TWT) to ensure best practice is shared/learned.
6. Have critical oversight of MWT’s AES webpages, documents and publications.
7. Support the MWT Team in their wider activities as a key member of the MWT Conservation
   Group, supporting wider Membership and Engagement activities.
8. Actively promote and demonstrate a commitment to best practice in equality & diversity.
   Demonstrate at all times the honesty & professional behaviours expected of all MWT staff.
9. Actively participate in the MWT staff appraisal and development scheme. Monitor the
   effectiveness of your actions, identifying opportunities and areas for improvement. Undertake,
   when appropriate, personal professional development, incl. with TWT.
10. Perform other reasonable duties and projects as directed by the HC&L.

3. Working Hours, Salary, Place of Work:

This is a full-time permanent post. The working hours are 37.5 hours a week (standard being 9am
to 5pm, Monday to Friday, with 30 mins for lunch each day), based Island-wide but from MWT’s
Peel headquarters. Including the 10 Manx bank holidays, leave entitlement is an impressive 38
days/yr.

There is a requirement to work some evenings and weekends to attend or run events and/or
meetings. Overtime is not paid; additional hours will be taken as time off in lieu (TOIL).

Flexible home working is acceptable but must be agreed with HC&L. There is an expectation
that at least one day per week is based from our Peel headquarters to enable close working with
colleagues.

The starting salary for this post is £25,730pa to a maximum of £28,600pa based on experience,
results and time served. MWT offer an additional 5% contribution via an organisational pension
scheme. Off-Island candidates should note that the Island
has
very low levels of income tax (standard rate 10%) and very low rates of local government
taxation. Our Island nation is an incredible place to live, reflected by our Biosphere status.

There is a need for frequent travel around the whole Island (including remote and isolated
areas, including in the uplands). A pool-vehicle is available internally on a first-come,
first-served basis, however as this vehicle is shared, the applicant will require their own
vehicle for business work. On occasion you will need to leave the Island to attend conferences
when overnight stays will be required. You will receive 50p/mile for any use of your own
vehicle for MWT work.