Name: Helen Mandley            

Company: Water Management Alliance (WMA)

How long have you been with the company: 2 years 8 months 

Job Role: Environmental Officer

Where did you find the job advertisement to apply for the role?

Friend told me about the role and I looked on the company website.

Why did you want to work for the company?

In my previous job at the Norfolk Rivers Trust I had worked with the WMA company in partnership so I knew the team within WMA was really good. The jobs we do are so varied and I wanted to be a part of all of them to become more experienced in my field.

What interested you about the industry?

Protecting native wildlife and habitats while managing water courses such as drains and rivers.

Can you describe a typical day for you?

During October I am out and about doing water vole surveys to see if they are active within a site before and during mitigation (mitigation is where the vegetation is removed to encourage water voles to leave before we start works). This is so maintenance work can happen on drains such as maintaining culverts and sluices without affecting water voles because they are a protected species. I will then write up my findings into a report.  I also get involved in invasive species management.

What qualities do you bring to the role?

I bring knowledge of the landscape and river catchments, enthusiasm of working to protect native species and habitat. Wanting to work with the engineering and maintenance team to service drains while enhancing and protecting the habitats on site.

What is difficult about your role?

Being an Environmental Officer requires you to be able to carry out water vole surveys, sometimes this can be difficult when working in all kinds of weather. You just need to keep going. During the winter months I am standby for Flood Duty as we have the contract to manage the Lowestoft Temporary Flood Barriers. So if there is a tidal flood predicted I could be out in all weathers, night or day helping to put the barrier up and take it down after the event. Last time it happened, it was snowing and it was absolutely freezing!

What is the best thing about working at the company?

Working within a team that understands your role and working together to get the work done. Having the knowledge that your work benefits the environment. Going back to river restoration jobs a year or so later to find out the site is recovering well from the work. 

Why would you recommend working in the industry?

The environment is important to both us and the native species, this means that we need to work together to carry out works and also protect habitats and species at the same time.