Project Officer ( Operations)

for the Stewart Island / Rakiura Community and Environment Trust

Job Description

Location;                         Halfmoon Bay - Stewart Island / Rakiura

Salary;                   $17.00 an hour ( 30 hours per week)

Term;                             1 year (An extension of one year is possible should funding be available).

To undertake and manage operational activities on behalf of the Stewart Island / Rakiura Community and Environment Trust (SIRCET). This will include the operational management of the Halfmoon Bay Habitat Restoration Project (HMBHRP).

The Project Officer will be employed by SIRCET, which was formed in 2002 to promote projects that benefit our community and environment around the settled parts of Halfmoon Bay . SIRCET is committed to raising awareness in environmental ecosystem protection and restoration, waste minimisation and sustainable resource use.

Currently SIRCET is almost solely focused on the Halfmoon Bay Habitat Restoration Project (HMBHRP). This project aims to control pest animals (possums, feral cats and rats) on private land around Halfmoon Bay with a view to providing a safe habitat for the native bird population. A recent addition to the project is the shift in focus from purely animal pest management to ecosystem protection as a whole. This includes the reduction of deer numbers in addition to the previous suite of animal pests to promote an increase in forest regeneration. It also encourages pest plant management and assists in species monitoring of a variety of species including weka, robins, little blue penguins, titi and any newly released native species.

The Halfmoon Bay area boasts a significant number of bird species including kaka, tui, bellbirds, kereru, little blue penguins, titi, grey warblers, fantails, red crowned kakariki, weka and kiwi. However over time many species such as saddleback, Stewart Island robins, yellowhead and riflemen have disappeared from the area and one of the aims of the project is to reintroduce these species to the management sites.

The project hinges on volunteer input to assist in the pest management programme and relies on technical advice from the Department of Conservation amongst other technical experts.

This position is an important role in an exciting project. It is a 1 year contract with a likely extension of an extra year given sufficient available funding, for 30 hours per week or 1560 hours per year subject. (Note – this ‘spread’ of hours can be flexible and negotiated)

The Project Officer will report directly to the Administration Officer and will liaise with the Staff Liaison Trustee.

The Project Officer will be required to form good relationships with the Administration Officer, volunteers, landowners and stakeholders, community, Department of Conservation (DOC) technical advice representatives, technical experts, staff liaison trustee and the Board of Trustees.

The Trust is a member of the Otago Southland Employers Association and follows their procedures on employment agreements and for resolving employment relations problems.

The Project Officer will be responsible for carrying out the operational management of the Halfmoon Bay Habitat Restoration Project.

These responsibilities include:

Ø      Undertake pest animal and plant management as specified in the HMBHRP operational plan

Ø      Coordination of Volunteer involvement

Ø      Maintenance of operational assets

Ø      Data entry and analysis

Ø      Communication of operational progress

The Project Officer is not currently responsible for supervision of any other staff, however they will be required to coordinate and liaise with new and existing volunteers and may in future supervise a project assistant.

The Project Officer is responsible for upholding the good reputation of SIRCET in every activity and for complying with reasonable Health and Safety and Code of Conduct standards.

Duties will be predominantly field based.

Undertake the HMBHRP operational plan including the organisation and co-ordination of:

·        Rotational Trap Maintenance

·        Rat trapping, possum trapping & wild cat control

·        Plant pest management

·        Equipment needs

·        Volunteer involvement

·        Signage, Health & Safety

·        Operational involvement in species releases

·        Assistance with species monitoring

In conjunction with the Administration Officer, duties include:

·        Equipment purchase and maintenance

·        Community work-days, workshops and school education days

·        Collation of operational material for reporting needs and project proposals

·        Operational updates to the Community and Board of Trustees

·        Any other reasonable task relating to the operations of the Halfmoon Bay Habitat Restoration Project 

1. Knowledge of and experience in pest control techniques, including those used in the Halfmoon Bay Habitat Restoration Project
2. Good written and verbal communication skills
3. Good work planning skills
4. Capacity to manage and coordinate staff (such as a project assistant) and volunteers
5. Good relationship building skills and willingness to work alongside community members
6. Sensitivity to public opinion and information requests, and to working on private land
7. Good computer skills especially in data entry
8. Capacity to work unsupervised and manage flexible attendance
9. Capacity to work alone in bush areas in often cold and windy weather.
10. Basic First Aid training or experience
11. Drivers licence essential