Countryside officer

Countryside officers are responsible for a range of activities that manage and maintain the natural environment and associated public access and recreation. They encourage visitors to open spaces/the countryside, promote awareness of the natural environment and protect and preserve the open space/countryside for future enjoyment.

The following job titles also refer to countryside officer:

natural areas maintenance team leader
countryside officers
park ranger
rural areas officer

Master’s degree is generally required to work as countryside officer. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Countryside officer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to countryside officer.

forestry adviser
landscape designer
forester
curator of horticulture
botanist

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of countryside officer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of countryside officer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of countryside officer.

Environmental legislation in agriculture and forestry: Awareness on enviromental legislation, policies, principles relevant for agriculture and forestry. Awareness of the impact on the enviroment of local agricultural precedures and practices. Means to adjust the production to new enviromental regulations and policies.
Natural areas maintenance: The methods to maintain the assets (both natural and constructed) of natural areas, including program development and implementation.
Plant species: The variety of plants, trees and shrubs and their special characteristics. 
Pest control in plants: Types and features of pests in plants and crops. Different kinds of pest control methods, activities using conventional or biological methods taking into account the type of plant or crop, environmental and climate conditions and health and safety regulations. Storage and handling of products.
Characteristics of plants: The varieties, characteristics and structural and functional features of plants, depending on their habitat.
Animal species: The characteristics of different species and breeds of animals (relevant to the occupation).
Plant disease control: Types and features of diseases in plants and crops. Different kinds control methods, activities using conventional or biological methods taking into account the type of plant or crop, environmental and climate conditions and health and safety regulations. Storage and handling of products.

These skills are necessary for the role of countryside officer.

Perform pest control: Carry out crop spraying pest and disease operations in line with National industry and customer requirements. Carry out slurry and fertiliser spreading in accordance with local environmental regulations
Estimate costs in farm: Provide cost analysis for relevant solutions and proposed actions taking into account the farm type and long term planning principles.
Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
Build garden masonry: Create types of masonry specific for gardens such as walls and stairs.
Manage collected waste: Move the collected debris and waste to the designated collection point and dispose it according to legal and organisational requirements.
Read maps: Read maps effectively.
Manage staff: Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
Advise on fertiliser and herbicide: Ability to advise on fertilisers and herbicides when and where needed.
Supervise crop production: Supervise and analyse overall crop production in order to ensure effective production process, taking into account the environmental regulations.
Lead a team in forestry services: Direct a forestry team or crew and guide them to the common goal of completing a variety of forestry related assignments and tasks.
Identify plants characteristics: Identify and classify crop characteristics. Be able to recognise different types of bulbs by name, graded sizes, field markings and stock markings.
Assess hazards implied in tree operations: Evaluate risks and hazards, perform efficient actions in order to minimize risks and to restore the trees to their orginal state or to replant new ones.
Prepare planting area: Prepare planting area and soil for planting by for example fertilising, mulching by hand or using mechanical tools or machinery; prepare seeds and plants for sowing and planting by ensuring the quality of seed and plants.Sow and plant by hand, using mechanical tools or machinery and in accordance with national legislation.
Operate landscaping equipment: Operate a variety of landscaping equipment such as chain saws, line trimmers, tillers, back hoes, bobcats, bed edgers, mowers, blowers, dump trailers, tillers, sod cutters, weed eaters, plant augers, and drills.
Build fences: Put up fences using a pothole digger, shovel, tamper, and other manual tools.
Plant green plants: Plant seeds manually or by using ground equipment.
Operate horticulture equipment: Operate horticultural equipment and assist with servicing. Ensure that vehicles are roadworthy before starting the work.
Perform weed control operations: Carry out crop spraying for weeds and plant disease operations in line with national industry and customer requirements.
Conserve natural resources: Protect waters and natural resources and coordinate actions. Work with environmental agencies and resource management personnel.
Execute disease and pest control activities: Execute disease and pest control activities using conventional or biological methods taking into account the climate, plant or crop type, health and safety and environmental regulations. Store and handle pesticides in accordance with recomandation and legislation.
Maintain technical equipment: Maintain an inventory of cultivation equipment and supplies. Order additional materials as needed.
Ensure aquaculture personnel health and safety: Make sure that health and safety procedures have been established and followed across all aquaculture facilities including cages. Ensure that personnel and general public are instructed and all work activities are carried out according to relevant health and safety regulations.
Operate turf management equipment: Operate turf management equipment like hedge cutters, mowers and strimmers.
Develop natural areas works programmes: Develop, implement and review natural areas works program (service delivery) to enable completion within allocated resources and timeframes.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of countryside officer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Waste management: The methods, materials and regulations used to collect, transport, treat and dispose of waste. This includes recycling and monitoring of waste disposal.
Soil structure: Diversity of soil elements and types of soil in relation to plant growth.
Plant harvest methods: The various methods, timing and equipment involved in harvesting different crops and plants.
Fire-fighting systems: The devices and systems used to extinguish fires; the classes and chemistry of fire.
Forest ecology: The ecosystems existing in a forest, starting from bacteria to trees and soil types.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of countryside officer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Use a computer: Utilise computer equipment or digital devices to facilitate quality control, data management, and communication. Follow instructions given by a computer programme, create computer files or documents.
Develop forestry strategies: Build up forestry policies in order to enhance their sustainable management and to improve communication linked to forestry operations. These plans are meant to tackle issues regarding correlated environmental and societal changes.
Apply forest legislation: Ability to efficiently apply forest legislation and principles.
Harvest crop: Mow, pick or cut agricultural products manually or using appropriate tools and machinery. Take into account the relevant quality criteria of products, hygiene prescriptions and use the appropriate methods.
Maintain turf and grass: Establish and maintain fine turf, grassed fields, and synthetic surfaces for sports events. Ensure a pleasant appearance of the property grounds.
Conduct land surveys: Conduct surveys to determine the location and features of natural and man-made structures, on surface level as well as underground and underwater. Operate electronic distance-measuring equipment and digital measuring instruments.
Think analytically: Produce thoughts using logic and reasoning in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Make independent operating decisions: Make immediate operating decisions as necessary without reference to others, taking into account the circumstances and any relevant procedures and legislation. Determine alone which option is the best for a particular situation.
Manage waste: Manage or dispose of significant amounts of waste materials or hazardous materials. Ensure required licenses and permits are in place and reasonable management practices, industry standards, or commonly accepted farming practices followed.
Seed the ground: Application of plant seed by ground equipment or manually.
Manage time in forestry: Plan and implement the time sequence of work programmes and schedules regarding the execution of forestry activities.
Support volunteers: Follow up volunteer activity.
Perform cleaning activities in an outdoor environment: Adapt the cleaning working methods and procedures to the environmental conditions and adapt to weather conditions such as rain, strong wind or snow, when this affects the performance of the equipment or machinery that is being used.

2133 – Environmental protection professionals

 

 

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References

1. Countryside officer – ESCO