Chalk Streams Trainee Officer Apprentice

Lincolnshire County Council are offering an exciting opportunity to join it's Environment team as a Chalk Streams Trainee Apprentice.

Are you a nature enthusiast with a passion for conservation? Do you dream of making a real impact on the environment? Join us on a thrilling journey as a Chalk Stream Apprentice and become a key player in an extraordinary project aimed at preserving the delicate balance of Lincolnshire's unique ecosystem.

The award winning Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project (LCSP) is looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join the team in delivering a new an exciting project, translocating a rare species of Bryozoan across Lincolnshire Blow well sites. The post holder will work under the supervision of the LCSP Project Officer to help deliver the outcomes of this new project. 

About the Role

The Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project is a partnership project that has been hosted by the Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service and Lincolnshire County Council since 2006. 

The Chalk Streams Trainee Officer Apprentice will support the delivery of work the team is involved in, in particular their focus will be on delivering a new grant Defra funded grant project on the translocation of a rare bryozoan across Lincolnshire's Blow wells. They will engage with partner organisations, landowners and volunteer monitors, obtain relevant licences, access permissions, work with external contractors, collate data and write reports. They will also complete a Level 2 Countryside Worker Apprenticeship with a recognised learning provider.

As an apprentice, you'll be at the heart of this conservation endeavour. Under the guidance of experienced experts, you'll learn the ropes of Bryozoan conservation and hands-on translocation techniques. Your duties will include:

•  Monitoring Bryozoan populations in their native habitats. 
• Collecting valuable data to inform the translocation process.
• Assisting in the careful relocation of Bryozoans to new safe havens.
• Collaborating with a dedicated team of conservationists and biologists.

As part of this apprenticeship, there will be an element of travel involved to the training provider campus for block weeks throughout the course at the college site in Somerset.

Learn more here: 

https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/countryside-worker-v1-0

The course will start in February 2024 and the applications will be open in January 2024.

About the Team

There are two members of the team that work on behalf of the partnership actively delivering on the ground chalk stream restoration projects, volunteer monitoring and education projects, providing advice and guidance to landowners, farmers and communities, raising awareness of chalk stream at shows, guided walks and talks to local groups.

Lincolnshire County Council has a flexible working policy, which includes themes such as a flexitime approach, condensed hours, as well as initiatives such as buying additional leave.  We operate a hybrid approach to working, which is a mix of working from home and the office.  The expectation is that staff are in the office approximately once per week. 

About You 

The ideal candidate will have a passion for the natural environment and have strong willingness to learn. The essential skills you will need to have are good communication and interpersonal skills and have experience collating evidence and report writing. It is also essential you have great time management to help meet external grant deadlines. You will be a team player, reporting to a range of partner organisations.

Ideally you will be be educated to degree level in an unrelated field and/or have at least 2 years work experience.  Candidates who do not have Level 2 English and Maths equivalent will study these alongside the apprenticeship.

The role will require you to walk distances across uneven ground in varying weather conditions, so a good level of physical fitness is required. 

Please note this role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area and therefore a valid driving licence and use of a car is required, unless the role can be undertaken effectively by alternative transport.

Join the Chalk Stream Conservation Revolution!

This apprenticeship is your chance to make a genuine difference in preserving Lincolnshire's invaluable natural heritage. By becoming a Chalk Stream Apprentice, you'll play a vital role in ensuring the Bryozoan's survival and contribute to the broader cause of environmental conservation.

About Our Offer

Along with a competitive salary we are offering:

• A Contributory pension
• Comprehensive benefits package including excellent discount schemes and cycle to work
• Flexible working policies
• Career progression opportunities
• A generous annual leave entitlement plus the option to buy more

Further details can be found in our rewards and benefits brochure

If this sounds like the role for you, then please read through the full Job Description, before clicking apply!  If you would like to know more about Lincolnshire County Council and our current vacancies then click on over to  www.lincolnshire.gov.uk. 

Act now, and let your passion for nature flourish in this one-of-a-kind apprenticeship!

Applications will close on 01/10/23 and interviews will take place face to face in Louth 18/10/23

For a confidential and informal discussion about the role please contact:

ruth.craig@lincolnshire.gov.uk

For more information regarding the apprenticeship contact: talent@lincolnshire.gov.uk

Best of luck with your application