Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract (two years) Contract Reason : Subject to funding Secondment Opportunity: Permanent employees are encouraged to apply and will be supported as part of our workforce development commitment Salary: Grade I. Scale 35 - 46,142 to Scale 39 - 50,269 with a professional bar at SCP 37 48,226 Hours Per Week: 36 hours Base Location: Dukinfield Town Hall, King Street, Dukinfield, SK16 4LA Assessment Date : To be arranged The Role Great crested newts have declined dramatically in the UK over the last 50 years and although they are still widespread across lowland England they are no longer common. Despite strict protection under UK and European wildlife law, numbers are still declining, and habitat loss is their biggest threat. As a response to population decline, in 2020 the Great Crested Newt District Level Licensing (DLL) Scheme was launched in Greater Manchester to provide a new way of conserving newts. The District Licensing Scheme has significant advantages for newt conservation over previous conservation efforts, and the Scheme provides wider biodiversity benefits through fully funded region-wide conservation strategies that create high-quality habitat at a landscape scale and deliver long-term management and monitoring for newts. The scheme also benefits developers because the licensing process for great crested newts is simplified and streamlined. Since 2020 the Scheme has delivered 250 new or enhanced ponds for Great Crested Newts across Greater Manchester and Warrington, together with associated terrestrial habitat. We now need a new DLL Programme Manager to build on the valuable work undertaken so far. About You The role needs someone with knowledge of great crested newt ecology, practical habitat creation and management, management of contractors and budget management. The Programme manager needs to be well-organised, a good communicator and able to carry out a variety of tasks to enable the successful operation of the District Licensing Scheme in Greater Manchester and Warrington. Tameside Council and the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit The post will be based within the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit (GMEU). GMEU is a specialist shared service offering an advice service to local authorities on ecology and nature conservation matters. GMEU is hosted by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, with an office base in Dukinfield Town Hall, although this post will require travel throughout Greater Manchester and Warrington. About Us At Tameside, we are committed to ensuring all our Citizens lead long, fulfilling and healthy lives. We are committed to supporting economic growth, providing high quality health and care services, protecting our most vulnerable and creating strong and supportive, self-sufficient communities. We recognise that our people drive our success and enable the organisation to deliver on its vision, purpose and priorities, and that our people are our most important resource and asset. Our values underpin our practice and behaviours, and are at the heart of everything that we do; and we understand that how we do things is just as important as what we do. We pride ourselves on living by our STRIVE values of Support, Trust, Respect, Integrity, Value Diversity and Engage. Our values underpin our practice and behaviours and are at the heart of everything that we do. How we do things are just as important as what we do. Our employees skills, experience and knowledge are essential to our success along with their happiness, wellbeing, commitment, enthusiasm and motivation to be the best they can be. This post is classified as being in a professional job category. As such the grade for the job has a professional grade development bar which employees can progress through subject to meeting the following criteria: 1. Relevant professional qualification for the job role at Level 6 or above, AND 2. Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience in the role, AND 3. Maintained membership of a regulated body where this is a requirement to practice in the role where applicable, AND 4. Professional standards practised to the highest expected level. If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the About You or Supporting Statement section of your application. Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to offer sponsorship. At Tameside, we are committed to ensuring all our Citizens lead long, fulfilling and healthy lives. We are committed to supporting economic growth, providing high quality health and care services, protecting our most vulnerable and creating strong and supportive, self-sufficient communities. Our rewards and benefits package can be viewed here For further information about this role please contact the recruiting manager on 0161 342 2593 or derek.richardson@tameside.gov.uk