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Churches Officer
Job description
Background
BCT is proud to be the leading non-governmental organisation devoted solely to the conservation of
bats and their habitats. The Bat Conservation Trust’s vision is a world where bats and people thrive
together in harmony. Its mission is to secure the future of bats in a changing world.
The strategic aims of the organisation are:
To establish the capacity of the landscape to support viable populations of bats
To secure and enhance bat populations to the full capacity of the landscape
To win the level of support required to achieve and maintain these bat populations
For BCT to act as the authoritative voice on bat conservation
BCT’s core expertise includes: biodiversity delivery (an experienced lead partner for several bat
species in the UK Biodiversity Strategy); the National Bat Monitoring Programme (coordinating more
than 1000 volunteer surveyors each year); delivering advice about bats (through the National Bat
Helpline and through long-term partnerships with the statutory nature conservation organisations);
training professionals and volunteers; and engaging and educating wider audiences.
The Bats and Churches Project
Although it is understood that churches play an important role in the conservation of bats,
with a high proportion of ancient churches hosting bat roosts (Sargent, 1995), some for many
generations, a better framework of resources and support is needed to help churches with
large roosts of bats and ensure the long-term security of the bat populations concerned. There
is a clear need to address current gaps in guidance, ensure this information reaches church
user communities and build effective sustainable relationships with the capacity to provide
future long-term support.
This project will work with church organisations, church user communities, and bat-workers
to grow relationships, provide information on bats, develop guidance resources and improve
the support network available to church users. This six-month pilot, based in eastern England
aims to demonstrate approaches that can be extended in a larger two-year project (subject to
funding).
Purpose of the job
To improve the guidance and support framework available to churches with bats; provide
information and training to church users how to plan for the presence of bats when
undertaking works and general maintenance; good practice with regard to health, managing
special issues, and bat conservation; build effective church organisation - bat conservation
partnerships.
Main Responsibilities
1. Improve the guidance and support framework available to churches with bats
Liaise with bat-workers recognised for their specialist experience with churches to
integrate knowledge into guidance.
Collate and review resources currently available to church users and bat workers,
identify gaps for guidance and resource development within and beyond the
lifespan of the project.
Collate case history examples of churches with bat roosts
Complete the publication of NE /BCT/CBC guidance for parishes currently in
development.
Develop and disseminate guidance.
Manage BCT web-pages related to churches to provide up-to-date information.
Add guidance to the Church of England Church Care website as required
Develop a power-point presentation on bats and churches for bat-workers
Contribute to the development of proposals for follow-on and related partnership projects.
2. Improve communication between all key stakeholders (Church of England and other church
organisations, individual churches and their communities, professionals working in the
ecclesiastical sector, volunteer and professional bat-workers, bat groups, researchers, BCT and
SNCOs).
Establish a web forum for church specialist bat workers to exchange information
on effective techniques for managing bat issues and supporting churches
Establish and grow relationships with a range of church organisations, with a view
to establishing partnership work beyond the period of the pilot.
Regularly work out of Church House, Westminster to develop and maintain close
relationship with Church of England colleagues, disseminate information and
learn more about church needs and requirements.
Maintain a network of relevant contacts, provide updates on new developments
and promote best practice.
Contact and respond to enquiries from individual churches.
Liaise with appropriate BCT colleagues e.g. the Partnerships Officers and
communications team on effective communication with different audiences.
In the event that this post is extended, the post-holder would be expected to have a role in
the communication of the findings and recommendations resulting from several ongoing
research projects.
3. Develop seminars and education / training events
Develop education and training events for DACs / church users on how to plan for the
presence of bats when undertaking works and general maintenance; good practice
with regard to health, managing special issues, and bat conservation.
Support bat groups in the development of county church surveys.
Deliver seminars and education events for DACs / church users and bat-groups.
Give presentations to other professionals working within the ecclesiastical sector.
Establish one or more church demonstration site(s) to showcase positive
management of bats and opportunities to use bats for wider church and
community activities.
4. Publicise the work of the project via a range of media
Publications
o In collaboration with the communications team write articles for church
magazines, relevant professional sector publications.
Undertake media interviews as appropriate.
5. Project management and administration
Report to the project funder.
Contribute to quarterly BCT reports for management, Trustees and Bat Group Forum
Manage the projects finances.
Attend or submit weekly reports for BCT team meetings and respond to actions.
Liaise with line manager and Senior Management Team over progress of the project.
6. Provide technical advice to other BCT colleagues
Act as a source of technical advice on church issues across BCT and to volunteer and
professional bat-workers.
Working Relationships
Inside the Organisation:
Line managed by the Head of Biodiversity.
Works closely with other BCT staff including the Partnerships Officer, Biodiversity Officer,
communications team, Built Environment Officer, Director of Conservation, Director of Science and
Honorary Education Adviser.
Outside the Organisation:
This is the major function of the role and regular contact with the Church of England, church
organisations, individual churches and their communities, professionals working within the
ecclesiastical sector e.g. ecclesiastical architects, SNCOs, ecological consultants bat groups and
volunteer bat-workers is required.
Length of post: This is a five-month contract, with the possibility of future extension, subject to funding.
The post is subject to a one-month probationary period.
Salary: £22,800 - £27,300 depending on experience.
Holiday: 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
Pension: BCT offers a stakeholder pension scheme with Friends Provident after satisfactory completion
of the probationary period. BCT matches contributions up to 3% of salary.
Usual time of work: 9-5.30 including one hour for lunch (37.5 hours per week). There will be evening and
weekend work for time off in lieu is given, although not necessarily on a one for one basis.
Place of work: Negotiable. The main geographical focus of the work is eastern and southern England
and the post-holder will be expected to travel extensively within this area, and occasionally to other
areas in the UK. On average the post-holder will work one day per fortnight at the Church of England
headquarters at Church House, Westminster. The location must be within reach of good transport
networks.
Person Specification
This section details the experience, competencies, knowledge and personal qualities desirable for the post.
Quality Essential Desirable
- Solid grounding in the issues - Experience of managing
affecting bats in churches project budgets.
- Experience of managing projects - Experience of managing
including high level report writing. contractors.
- Experience of building effective - Experience of designing
relationships and networking. technical courses / developing
- Personal practical experience of training specifications.
working with bats and finding - Experience of developing
Experience solutions to their conservation, projects / writing proposals.
involving work with other sectors. - Experience of leading
- Experience of educating others about workgroups to produce
bats defined outputs.
- Experience of producing high quality - Experience of public
publications. speaking.
- Relevant degree or equivalent - Knowledge of papers /
experience reviews on bats.
- Knowledge of bat ecology, and - Licensed bat-worker
behaviour. - Broader ecological knowledge
- Good knowledge of key technical informed by personal
Knowledge issues affecting the conservation of experience
bats in buildings. - Knowledge of church
organisations and structures.
- Knowledge of UK
conservation policy and
relevant legislation.
- Excellent communication and
interpersonal skills - able to deal
confidently with a wide range of
people
- Excellent networking and
representation skills
- Excellent organisational and project
management skills
Competencies - Good influencing skills – able to
bond well with others from a wide
range of backgrounds, and inspire
trust and respect.
- Able to take an overview of different
technical areas and communicate
effectively with professionals in a
wide range of disciplines
- Ability to absorb and understand
policy / legal regulations.
- Good presentation and report writing
skills.
- Proficient in standard IT packages
including Word, Excel, Access &
PowerPoint
- Clean driving license
- Good team worker
- Ability to motivate and inspire others Respect for and deep
- Sensitive to the perspective of others understanding of church
and able to convey that mission
understanding
- Able to convey authority
- Strong personal motivation
- Independent, quick, strategic thinker
- Ability to work with minimal
supervision
- Ability to be flexible and manage
own work programme.
Personal
- Good at identifying and taking up
Qualities
opportunities as they arise.
- Strong commitment to bat
conservation and environmental
issues
- Self-aware, open to constructive
feedback and desire to develop skills
and competencies.
- Able to inspire confidence in church,
BCT colleagues, funders, volunteers
and professional batworkers.
- Willing and able to travel extensively
