James McGiffen
New Moston,Greater Manchester
Summary
Experienced Conservation Volunteer with a strong background in practical conservation work, tree inspections, and species identification. Proven ability to manage habitat and access improvement projects, including removal of invasive species and installation of signposts. Adept at generating detailed inspection reports and coordinating woodland management plans. Excellent communication skills, punctuality, reliability, and adaptability demonstrated through various roles in conservation and customer service. Career goal: To continue developing expertise in conservation management while contributing to environmental sustainability initiatives.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
Work History
Volunteer Officer
The Conservation Volunteers
Manchester , Greater Manchester
09.2026 - Current
- Assisting the Project Officer in running day to day practical conservation tasks.
- Undertaking training in a range of conservation tasks, people skills, first aid, preparing site visit reports, site visits, field surveys and identification tasks.
Conservation Volunteer
The Conservation Volunteers
Manchester , Greater Manchester
05.2026 - Current
- Habitat Management: Removal of invasive species such as Himalyan Balsam.
- Habitat Management: Tree Removal - Blackthorn and Norwegian Maple using tools such as Tree Poppers, Bosaws and Loppers.
- Access Improvement: Installation of signposting and Lecturns using Shoveholers, Pinchbars, Shovels, Spades, Postcrete to cement the signs in the ground.
- Access Improvement: Footpath maintenance - Clearing encroaching vegetation including Ivy, brambles around the path.
- Meadow Management: Raking tall and overgrown grass using a range of tools. Managing areas of the meadow for newly planted trees to survive.
- Wildflower Meadow Management: Planting and preparing new Wildflower meadows - clearing beds for new seeds to be walked into the ground. Managing existing wildflower meadows - clearing competing plants and grass.
Sessional Worker (Tree Inspector)
The Conservation Volunteers
, North West
08.2026 - 09.2026
- I was given a range of woodland sites and organised my own transport, rota and inspection schedule and operated solo, liaising with management as and when necessary.
- Generated inspection reports of a range of sites where trees had been planted. The criteria used were: number of trees, species, health and survivability of trees.
- Recorded findings from inspections to determine quantities of surviving trees and suggest further planting patterns.
- Organised regular reviews, submitted findings and recommendations to management.
Citizen Forester
City of Trees
Manchester , Greater Manchester
07.2026 - 08.2026
- Tree Maintenance: Clearing competing grasses from trees, adding Mulch mats, ensuring guards were in place or removed if damaged.
- Bioblitz: Undertaking species identification in urban fringe woodland and meadow.
Customer Service Assistant
One Stop
Manchester
- Enable customers to make retail purchases, handling cash and card transactions
- Stock replenishment, ensuring stock levels are optimal and handling stock deliveries
- Staff training, enabling new member of staff to make positive contributions to the day to day running of the store
- Accountability, reconciling discrepancies in takings and stock levels
- Security, ensuring the staff, stock and store remain secure.
Education
Introducing the environment, ecology, and ecosystems.
The Open University
Milton Keynes01-2026
A-Levels - English Literature, History, Ancient History
Oldham Sixth Form College
06-2023
GCSEs - Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Photography, History, English Language, English Literature
Todmorden High School
06-2021
Skills
- Practical Conservation work - I have excelled in physically demanding conservation tasks ranging from footpath clearance through Balsam bashing to tree clearances I have also been involved in building and placing signposts and lecturns
- Tree Inspections and surveys - I have conducted a regional tree inspection across multiple sites for a national conservation body My detailed findings have helped coordinate woodland management plans for the North West of England This task involved use of comprehensive applications and report writing
- Species Identification - I have undertaken volunteer work in identification by both online courses and in person by TCV and City of Trees
- Communication and Compassion - I deal with members of the public, and other team members on a day to day basis and I have often been complimented on my polite manner
- Punctuality and Reliability - I have an excellent record for time keeping in my present position
- Adaptability and Growth - During my current employment role I have been given more responsibility in my duties, I've been given the responsibility to help train new members of staff I have been invited to take on the role of Volunteer Officer to help new volunteer conservation workers and develop a new skill set myself
Interests and Hobbies
- I'm an experienced Field Archer and shoot competitively, and have won several regional and national competitions. I've also helped instruct beginners at club level in the past.
- After completing my Duke of Edinburgh Award I've become increasingly interested in Hiking and Fell Walking.
- Since leaving school I've been working on improving my fitness levels and regularly work out at my local gym.
- I'm interested in travel, especially in Central and Eastern Europe.
- I've been interested in gaming for some years, having a PC, a console and I've dabbled in TTRPGs in recent years.
Timeline
Volunteer Officer
The Conservation Volunteers
09.2026 - Current
Sessional Worker (Tree Inspector)
The Conservation Volunteers
08.2026 - 09.2026
Citizen Forester
City of Trees
07.2026 - 08.2026
Conservation Volunteer
The Conservation Volunteers
05.2026 - Current
Customer Service Assistant
One Stop
Introducing the environment, ecology, and ecosystems.
The Open University
A-Levels - English Literature, History, Ancient History
Oldham Sixth Form College
GCSEs - Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Photography, History, English Language, English Literature
Todmorden High School