Job Description
Biodiversity Officer (Culture, Recreation & Economic Services)
Type: Permanent
Location: Dublin
Salary: €57,336 - €79,701
Job reference: 000455
Closing date: 18/07/2024
Dublin is a major European Union capital city with a vibrant culture and an innovative economy. Dublin City Council is at the heart of shaping the city by providing a diverse, multi-layered and evolving range of services for citizens, businesses, the community and visitors to Dublin. Dublin City Council and its employees provide over 500 services across key functional areas of Housing, Community, Planning, Development, Environmental, Roads and Traffic, Leisure and Culture Services. For further information on Dublin City Council please log onto
BACKGROUND
The Parks, Biodiversity and Landscape Services team is responsible for managing 3,500 acres of parks and open spaces, including the iconic North Bull Island Nature Reserve. It also has responsibility for the management of an urban forest of over 100,000 trees. The service supports the recreational needs of the city and its citizens through the provision of playing pitches, golf, tennis and playground facilities.
Urban biodiversity contributes greatly to the natural heritage and quality of life of the city and contributes to the green credentials of the Capital City as a location for business and tourism. Urban pressures create a constant challenge to maintaining and enhancing this status and the City Council is committed under the National Biodiversity Action Plan (), the National Heritage Plan, the Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan (), the Dublin City Development Plan () and international law to managing this key resource. The aim of the Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan () is to achieve the sustainable management of biodiversity in the city, through maximising the involvement of all sectors and communities and promoting greater appreciation and enjoyment of biodiversity by all.
Dublin Bay was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2015 in recognition of the international importance of its habitats and species. The Biosphere covers an area of over 300 km2, and contains ten Natura 2000 sites; areas designated by the European Union for the importance of their habitats/species under EU Birds and Habitats Directives.
THE JOB
The principle task of the Biodiversity Officer will be to report to the City Parks Superintendent or other delegated officer to fulfil Dublin City Councils commitment to international, national, regional and City policy in relation to the conservation and management of biodiversity. The role involves managing biodiversity projects and initiatives in collaboration with other agencies and local communities. The role requires an ability to engage with the public and work as part of a team within Dublin City Council. The Biodiversity Officers will be required to collaborate as a team and contribute to a wider team with responsibility for parks operations, capital projects and tree care within Parks, Biodiversity and Landscape Services.
The Biodiversity Officer will report to the City Parks Superintendent or other delegated officer and play a pivotal role in the ongoing implementation and management of the Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan (). The role involves devising and managing local biodiversity projects in collaboration with other agencies and activation of local communities and raising awareness of biodiversity in Dublin City. The role requires an ability to engage with the public and work as part of a team within Dublin City Council. The Biodiversity Officer will also be responsible for drafting and implementing future Biodiversity Action Plans.
The Biodiversity Officer will play a pivotal role in planning and development, including review of ecological assessments and as a minimum at Stage 1 (Screening for AA) and Stage 2 (Natura Impact Statement and/or Natura Impact Report) of the Appropriate Assessment process. The role involves providing reviews of and advice on planning development files including appropriate assessment, ecological assessments and other ecological related reports, and work as part of a team within Dublin City Council. The Biodiversity Officer will also assist with biodiversity projects and contribute to future Biodiversity Action Plans.
The Biodiversity Officer (assigned as Dublin Bay UNESCO Biosphere Project Coordinator) will report to the City Parks Superintendent and the Board of the Dublin Bay UNESCO Biosphere Partnership. The successful candidate will be responsible for implementing the objectives of the Biosphere Partnership and UNESCO, and coordinating meetings, activities and projects of the Dublin Bay Biosphere Programme. The Biodiversity Officer will also contribute to the Conservation and Research Strategy (), Biosphere Education Strategy, Biosphere Business Charter, and Sustainable Tourism and Recreation Charter. Participating in networks and attending meetings of other UNESCO Biospheres will also be a feature of this role.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE SHALL
• possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills and have the ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders;
• possess good communication, research, reporting, organisation, presentation and management skills;
• be enterprising and innovative and be capable of working on own initiative and as part of a team;
• have experience of habitat survey and mapping, data management and analysis methods, using a variety of software including Geographic Information Systems (GIS);
• have satisfactory experience of project management processes including managing public engagement;
• have knowledge and experience of current legislation, issues and challenges to managing urban biodiversity in Ireland;
• have knowledge and awareness of current Health and Safety Legislation & Regulations, their implications for the organisation and the employee, and their application in the workplace.
QUALIFICATIONS
CHARACTER:
Each candidate shall be of good character.
HEALTH:
Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, ETC.:
Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms: -
(a) hold a recognised degree, (at least level 8 in the National Framework of Qualification) in a subject relevant to biodiversity including but not limited to environmental science, ecology, earth/ natural sciences, zoology, botany or natural resources management;
(b) after attaining the qualification referred to at (a) above, have at least five years relevant satisfactory experience of scientific work in biodiversity, sustainable development goals, biodiversity, energy and climate action;
(c) possess a high standard of technical training relevant to the areas of natural sciences and natural resources management and
(d) have a satisfactory knowledge of public service organisation or the ability to acquire such knowledge.
DUTIES
The duties of the post(s) include, but are not limited to, the following: -
I. manage, implement, review and update the Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan (or Dublin Bay Biosphere strategies as appropriate);
II. devise, manage and promote local biodiversity projects and biodiversity research, audits and surveys in collaboration with other agencies and community organisations in Dublin City (or within the Dublin Bay Biosphere);
III. manage the Dublin City Biodiversity Forum;
IV. facilitate the implementation of government initiatives in relation to biodiversity and national plans and programmes that are developed to support the implementation of the National Biodiversity Plan, such as the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan;
V. raise awareness of biodiversity, natural capital and ecosystems services and issues affecting biodiversity in the Local Authority, including climate change, and coordinate and implement an environmental education and biodiversity awareness programme city-wide;
VI. coordinate an annual review and report on the Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan; or Biosphere Strategies as appropriate;
VII. work with Local Authority staff to assist in advancing the restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems and support ecosystem services in within the Local Authority Area; and assist Local Authority departments to integrate biodiversity into their actions and policies, for example through training, supporting information dissemination;
VIII. work closely with other agencies as listed in the Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan () and UNESCO Biospheres as appropriate;
IX. provide technical reviews of planning files including reviews of ecological assessments, appropriate assessment reports and biodiversity related matters in planning development that may be prioritized by a designated officer as appropriate;
X. apply for Heritage Council, National Biodiversity Action Plan and other available sources of funding;
XI. such other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ROLE AND TO BEGIN THE APPLICATION PROCESS PLEASE CLICK THE APPLY BUTTON