Reporting to a LAWPRO Regional Co-Ordinator, the Senior Community Water Officer (SCWO - GRADE VI) will be responsible for delivering an annual work programme across an assigned regional geographical area.
The role will require the post holder to take on specialist roles in support of the communities’ team in the day-to-day oversight and delivery of the community functions as well as develop and enhance delivery of the emerging community thematic areas. They will actively engage with the public in water matters, seeking participation, education, local inclusion, two-way communications, understanding and trust. The post holder will also play a key role to increase public participation in line with the River Basin Management Plan [RBMP] objectives and in the establishment of the five pilot Catchment Community Fora (CCF). This person will be the main conduit with the management team and the communities’ team to deliver the overall objectives of the LAWPRO programme. The successful post-holder will require strong management and communication skills with an environmental and/or community development background. Tasks associated with this role may include:
Deputise for Regional Co-ordinators, as required.
Develop work programmes for and supervision of Community Water Officers.
Prepare regular reports on the regional community activity.
With the Communications Lead and the Communities team, develop and deliver a programme of regular/scheduled media outreach including for the CCFs.
Support the exchange of information and linkages between communities and the WFD Governance Structures, local authorities, eNGOs, and other stakeholders, as necessary.
Build capacity within communities through the development of guidance on catchment scale community action project initiation and delivery.
Provide guidance and support community groups to develop and deliver large scale community actions, which the groups will be independently responsible for implementing.
Support community groups to seek funding and to prepare applications to access resources for implementing actions at the catchment scale within the region, in liaison with Funding lead and the regional Community Water Officers.
To build capacity within the communities’ team by providing support and guidance to Community Water Officers to assist in the delivery of water actions at a Catchment Scale.
Contribute to the review and evaluation of the CCF Pilots further develop the CCF model and framework, with an emphasis on improving operations, sustainability, scalability, or enhancing the active participation of its members in the model.
Liaise and collaborate with Local Authority Environmental Awareness Officers, Heritage Officers. Biodiversity Officers, Climate Action Officers, and local Community Enterprise Officers.
Engage proactively with local authority Public Participation Networks/Community Engagement Networks and CCFs.
Support and promote WFD public participation objectives across the appointed region.
Assist in developing and implementation of a programme of proactive public liaison.
Assist in setup of Catchment Partnerships and River Trusts, as well as water related NGOs and liaise with same.
Assist in progressing development and delivery of a Citizen Science Programme.
To maintain adaptability and flexibility in programme delivery as integrated catchment management evolves.
Other functions as required.
The Community Water Officer will be employed by either Kilkenny County Council or Tipperary County Council.