Green Spaces Project Officer

Background:
The Environment & Leisure Services works with the community to promote protect and enhance both the local environment and public health. The Parks, Open Spaces and Cemeteries section, manages, maintains and develops all the green space through the district.
During the last 3 years additional investment in this service area has resulted in significant improvements to grass cutting and grounds maintenance performance, as well as introducing new and improved flower planting schemes.

This has further been highlighted in the awards and recognition that has been gained by the service area.

•Wisbech town entered the Anglia in Bloom competition and achieved: Best Floral Displays, Most Improved Entry, Best Schools Project, Third overall in group and Silver Medal. This reflected significant improvements in many areas of Wisbech town and was achieved through consultation and involvement of many sectors, including In Bloom group, Friends groups, Business and Organisations, Schools, Tourism group, Regeneration group, Housing and industrial estates.

•Chatteris town entered the Anglia in Bloom competition and have achieved Bronze and Silver medals in recent years, with similar significant improvements in particular areas of the town.

The service area has continued to raise the standards within all its parks open spaces and cemeteries, and is now looking to move the service, and gain new National standards, with entries into The Green Flag Award and also looking at gaining charter marks within its cemeteries.

We are seeking a graduate who is looking to gain valuable experience in producing Management plans for its Parks, Open Spaces and Cemeteries, and will gain valuable experience in many associated areas.

Our initial targets are to enter a minimum of two parks into the green flag award by January 2008 and also make significant progress in looking at gaining Charter Mark for our cemeteries, which would include looking at and implementing a full cemetery memorial safety Inspection scheme, prior to initial entry for a charter mark.

Objective:
To produce and develop management plans for Wisbech Park, St Peter & St Paul’s Church Gardens, Cemetery memorials and to prepare the cemetery services for entry/inclusion in the ICCM Excellence Criteria for Cemeteries.

Further Employment Potential:
There might be potential for further employment, however this is dependant on the availability of funding and the success of the project itself. In any case, this will prove to be an invaluable opportunity for a graduate looking to get into the sustainable development or public sector or green space management.

Output 1
To produce an updated version of the Wisbech Park Management plan, ready for green flag submission Jan 2008

Output 2
To produce a new management plan for St Peter & St Paul’s Church Gardens, Wisbech, ready for green flag submission Jan 2008

Output 3
To produce a memorial/management inspection plan for all Cemetery memorials

Output 4
To prepare the cemetery services for entry/inclusion for the ICCM Excellence Criteria for Cemeteries.

Key Task 1
To write, research and produce management plans for green spaces

Key Task 2
To write, research and produce memorial/management plans for cemeteries

Key Task 3
To write a plan of action and to prepare the cemetery services for entry/inclusion for the ICCM Excellence Criteria for Cemeteries

Essential Selection Criteria 1
Knowledge of and enthusiasm for sustainable development, with particular reference to management of parks, open spaces and cemeteries.

Essential Selection Criteria 2
Ability to research, analyse and apply key information within a management plan

Essential Selection Criteria 3
Able and willing to undertake outdoor work in all weathers which includes, inspecting, surveying and monitoring. Also to attend evening meetings with Friends groups.

Essential Selection Criteria 4
Excellent report writing skills. Ability to draft land management documents and reports.

Essential Selection Criteria 5
Able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people, including line managers, friends groups and members of the public.

Essential Selection Criteria 6
Organisation and time management -able to prioritise own workload and meet strict deadlines.

Essential Selection Criteria 7
Independent Strategizing. Able to work using own initiative in various situations.

Essential Selection Criteria 8
Relevant land management qualification.

Essential Selection Criteria 9
Full Driving Licence.

Desirable Selection Criteria 1
Previous experience in draft land management documentation.

Desirable Selection Criteria 2
Any knowledge of the local area.