Freshwater Pearl Mussel Ireland

Job Opportunity - Catchment Officer (Agri-environmental)

Employer: The Pearl Mussel Project Limited

Location: Kenmare, County Kerry (hybrid working arrangements considered)

Job Type: 9 month fixed term contract, full time (to end March 2024) 

Salary: Attractive salary package, dependant on experience

Closing date: 30th June 2023

Role / Position: The Pearl Mussel Project is a locally led European Innovation Partnership (EIP) funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which runs a voluntary results-based agri- environmental scheme for farmers within eight priority catchments. The overall aim of the scheme is to promote farm management tailored to maintaining and improving the local environment with a view to securing the long-term conservation of freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) in Ireland.

We are currently recruiting a catchment officer for the south-west catchments (south Kerry and west Cork) area based in the Kerry office. The role will require the successful candidate to travel between the four catchments in their respective areas on a regular basis, and they will likely spend a high proportion of time out of the office.

Main duties and responsibilities

·       • Main point of contact between farmers and the project team;

• Continual liaison with the farming community in four of the project catchments;

• Review supporting action claims;

• Provide agri-environmental advice and support to participant farmers;

• Liaise with and provide support to agricultural advisors as required;

• Organise and provide training for participant farmers;

• Planning and conducting monitoring surveys and fieldwork;

• Work closely with the western catchment officer and the wider team;

• Assist in the organisation of the end of project conference; and

• Contribute to end of project reporting as required.

Qualifications and experience required

A degree in agriculture, ecology, or related discipline;

• Minimum of 3 years relevant work experience in the agricultural / environmental sectors;

• Knowledge and awareness of previous and present agri-environmental schemes such as

REPS, GLAS, Hen Harrier Programme, Burren Programme, ACRES etc. Knowledge of results-

based schemes would be an advantage.

• Strong knowledge of peatland and grassland habitats and their indicator species;

• Experience in the preparation and monitoring of farm plans;

• An ability to identify issues at a farm level that pose a threat to freshwater pearl mussel, and

identify solutions which give due consideration to the environment and farm operations;

• Excellent communication skills;

• Exceptional organisational and project management skills;

• Must be comfortable using Microsoft Office and ESRI ArcGIS or other mapping software;

• Must be self-motivated and have a proven ability to work under their own initiative;

• A positive and enthusiastic attitude;

• Have a pragmatic, solution driven and flexible approach to work;

• A willingness to actively participate as part of a wider multidisciplinary team;

• An ability to manage their own workload, ensuring that work is carried out on schedule; and

• A full clean driver’s licence.

How to apply:

Send cover letter, CV, and two referees by 30th June 2023 to:

Dr Patrick Crushell
Project Manager
The Pearl Mussel Project Ltd
Bell Height
Kenmare
County Kerry

Tel: 064 6642524

E-mail: patrick@pmproject.ie  Web: PearlMusselProject.ie

Download job advert PDF here

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Wetland Surveys Ireland in partnership with The Pearl Mussel Project have been contracted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine to operate the ACRES West Connacht Co-operation Projects that are being established as part of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan.

We are currently seeking candidate for the position of Administrative Officer.

As a key members of the overall project team, the office administrator will support the delivery of the ACRES West Connacht goals and objectives.

Download details and job advert PDF here

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Job Opportunity in Connemara and South Mayo Area
Catchment Officer (Agri-environmental)

Employer: The Pearl Mussel Project Limited

Location: South Mayo/Connemara

Job type: 2 Year fixed term contract, full time

Salary: €40,000 / annum (excl. travel expenses)

Closing date: 08/06/2022

Suitable applicants will be shortlisted for interview on 16^th and 17^th June with a view to the successful applicant commencing work on 4^th July 2022

Role / Position: The Pearl Mussel Project is a locally led European Innovation Partnership (EIP) jointly funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which has developed a voluntary results-based agri-environmental scheme for farmers within eight priority catchments. The overall aim of the five year programme (currently in year 4) is to promote farm management tailored to maintaining and improving the local environment with a view to securing the long-term conservation of freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) in Ireland. We are currently working with over 470 farmers across our eight priority freshwater pearl mussel river catchments.

We are now recruiting a catchment officer with an agri-environmental background for our North-west Catchments (in Connemara, Mayo and Donegal). The successful applicant will work as a key member of the project team and will report to the Project Manager. The role will require the successful candidate to work remotely and to travel between the four catchments in the north-west on a regular basis. The successful applicant will be expected to work from a home office.

Main duties and responsibilities

·       Main point of contact between farmers and the project team;

·       Continual liaison with the farming community in four of the project catchments (Owenriff, Co Galway; Dawros, Co Galway, Bundorragha, Co Mayo, and Glaskeelan, Co Donegal);

·       Provide agri-environmental advice and support to participant farmers during the scheme;

·       Liaise with and provide support to farm advisors working on the Programme as required;

·       Contribute to the development of guidance documents and training material;

·       Assist with delivery of training to farmers and farm advisors;

·       Planning, coordinating and conducting monitoring surveys and fieldwork;

·       Organise and partake in outreach events such as school visits;

·       Liaise and work closely with the wider project team; and

·       Prepare and contribute to reports when required;

·       Prepare and contribute to reports when required; and

·       Work closely with the upcoming South Mayo Cooperation Project team.

Qualifications and experience required

The ideal candidate would have the following knowledge, experience, and attributes:

·       A degree in agriculture, ecology, or related discipline;

·       Minimum two years relevant work experience in the agricultural / environmental sectors;

·       Knowledge and awareness of agri-environmental schemes such as REPS, GLAS, Hen Harrier Programme, Burren Programme, etc;

·       Strong knowledge of farmland habitats (peatland & grassland) and their indicator species;

·       Experience in the preparation and monitoring of farm plans;

·       An ability to identify issues at a farm level that pose a threat to freshwater pearl mussel, and identify solutions which give due consideration to the environment and farm operations;

·       Excellent communication skills and a strong attention to detail;

·       Self-motivated and have a proven ability to work under their own initiative;

·       Have a positive, enthusiastic, pragmatic, solution driven, and flexible approach to work;

·       A willingness to actively participate as part of a wider multidisciplinary team;

·       An ability to manage their own workload, ensuring that work is carried out on schedule;

·       A full clean driver’s licence and own transport;

·       Good computer skills particularly in the use of Microsoft Office software;

·       Knowledge and experience of results-based schemes would be an advantage; and

·       Experience of using ESRI ArcGIS or other data management software would be an advantage.

How to apply:

Send cover letter, CV, and two referees by Wednesday 08^th June to:

Dr Patrick Crushell
Project Manager
The Pearl Mussel Project Ltd
Bell Height
Kenmare
County Kerry

Tel: 064 6642524

E-mail: patrick@pmproject.ie  Web: PearlMusselProject.ie

Download job advert PDF here

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November 2021: The Pearl Mussel Project have produced a short farm newsletter with information on some of the latest developments within the programme, including: farmer training & payment, expansion of the scheme in the north-west through the Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE project, a report by Michel Chapman PMP Assistant Catchment Officer on his work, a research study by Verena Berard on farmer preceptions of results based schemes, and a profile of Joanne Hamilton one our farm advisors. 

Download your copy of Pearl Mussel Project News, Issue 4 here. 

We hope to produce further issues of Pearl Mussel Project News during the programme. So check in again to see the latest programme developments.

If you would like to submit an article, photograph or item for inclusion in the newsletter which relates the programme email Mary McAndrew at mary@pmproject.ie

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