Do you want to help shape a sustainable Västmanland – area by area?

As a nature conservation manager, you contribute to preserving and developing the county's most valuable natural environments.

The assignment is suitable for you who are interested and knowledgeable about nature, are driven, and appreciate taking projects and processes from start to finish while seeking a varied workday. Here, you will be part of a team that collaborates and supports each other, but where everyone takes significant responsibility for their respective areas of responsibility and tasks.

Responsibilities

As a nature conservation manager in Västmanland, you will plan, lead, and follow up on conservation measures in nature reserves and Natura 2000 areas. This practically means that you are a jack-of-all-trades, performing practical maintenance measures one day or guiding contractors on specific maintenance measures, and the next day sitting in the office putting together a procurement, building permit application, or report. You will work with various types of maintenance measures in many different natural environments and also manage the establishment and maintenance of outdoor recreation facilities.

The work is often complex, but the workgroup has a wealth of competence and experience, and together with contractors, landowners, livestock keepers, and others, we find ways forward and solve our tasks. Our work makes a clear mark on the landscape and is important for both people and the environment.

Your tasks include, among other things:

• planning, implementing, and following up on maintenance measures in protected areas
• establishing and managing procurements and contracts, as well as contributing to work with reporting and accounting for completed measures and more
• working with nature guidance and information, which may involve contributing to the development of signs and other informational materials or organizing inaugurations and other activities
• managing external contacts with landowners, livestock keepers, contractors, authorities, the public, and others.

You will become part of the management group, which together with you consists of five people. The group is characterized by collaboration, lack of prestige, and a genuine commitment to conservation issues. No one is a specialist in everything, but the employees complement each other. Here, you constantly have the opportunity to tackle new challenges, and in an environment with both broad and deep competence, you have good opportunities to develop.

There are some opportunities to adapt the content of the tasks based on your experiences and competencies, but our starting point is that you will be responsible for the areas in Sala municipality, where there are about 30 nature reserves and Natura 2000 areas.

About the workplace

You will work in the Nature Protection and Management Unit at the Department of Nature and Environment. The unit's approximately 15 employees are responsible for the establishment and management of nature reserves, action programs for threatened terrestrial species (ÅGP), terrestrial environmental monitoring, outdoor recreation, green infrastructure, and more.

The unit employs an experienced, positive, and committed team that collaborates with others to preserve the most important and valuable natural environments in the county. Together, we have fantastic experience and competence, and as an employee, there are good opportunities to receive support and learn from others, thus developing both within your own and others' areas of expertise.

As an employer, the County Administrative Board is a responsible authority that works hard to enable a good balance between work and private life. This is evident, among other things, through great flexibility regarding working hours and good opportunities for remote work. You will find the County Administrative Board centrally located in Västerås, near the train station.

Qualifications

We are looking for someone who

• has knowledge of nature and our most common natural types and the maintenance required to preserve and develop these environments,
• has an academic degree in biology, conservation, agriculture, forestry, or equivalent that we consider equivalent,
• has the ability to express yourself well in speech and writing (in Swedish),
• has a B driver's license.

It is meritorious to have

• experience in planning and/or implementing conservation measures,
• experience from work in the agricultural sector or significant practical experience in measures such as mowing, clearing, burning, forestry, or property management,
• in-depth knowledge of species or natural types,
• GIS skills,
• possession of relevant driving licenses and experience working with clearing and/or chainsaw or heavy trailers,
• experience in government work, procurements, contract writing, or building permit processes.

Personal qualities

You need to be practically oriented and may have practical experiences, but the most important thing is that you can understand, plan, and describe conservation measures and guide others during implementation. You need to be driven and able to handle a relatively fragmented workday where planning and prioritization are of great importance to drive the work forward effectively. This means that you need to create structure, keep order, and focus when many questions and tasks are ongoing simultaneously.

You thrive on responsibility but also see the value of collaborating and asking for support when needed. Good judgment and a curious attitude help you find balanced solutions in various situations.

In meetings with landowners, contractors, and colleagues, you build trust by being attentive, clear, and respectful. You contribute to a good atmosphere in the group and enjoy sharing experiences and ideas.

About the County Administrative Board in Västmanland

The County Administrative Board in Västmanland is an exciting, competent, and pleasant workplace. Few workplaces have such a wide range of activities. We are around 200 employees who together develop and work on issues that are crucial for society. We have a coordinating role in the county and are therefore an important link to the government, parliament, and other authorities. Our vision is a sustainable Västmanland for current and future generations.

Meet some of our employees and read more about what we offer as an employer.

Other

To work with us, you must share the County Administrative Board's values regarding the equal worth of all people. Some positions at the County Administrative Board are classified in security classes. This may mean that a security review and background check according to the Security Protection Act (2018:585) will be conducted before employment. In some cases, Swedish citizenship is required. We apply probationary employment as needed, and upon permanent employment, you will automatically be placed in a war position with us.

This is what it means to be placed in a war position with us.

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