Outstanding individual required to chair the Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site Partner.

The Steering Group for England's only natural World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast, is seeking a high performing individual with experience of partnership working at a senior level to champion its work.

This is a unique opportunity to play a leading role in the protection, conservation and presentation of 185 million years of Earth's history.  The Chair will have excellent communication skills and experience at chairing strategic multi-partner committees.  Ideally they would also have a knowledge of, and passion for the Jurassic Coast.

All appropriate expenses will be reimbursed.

See below for an introduction or download

 jurassic_coast_independent_chair_further_details (74.38 Kb)

or contact sam.rose@dorsetcc.gov.uk / 01305 228656

Closing Date: 30 July

The Jurassic Coast

The Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site is England's first natural World Heritage Site - it is known as The Jurassic Coast. It covers 95 miles of truly stunning coastline from East Devon to Dorset, with rocks recording 185 million years of the Earth's history.

World Heritage status was achieved because of the Site's unique insight into the Earth Sciences as it clearly depicts a geological ‘walk through time' spanning the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

World Heritage Sites (WHSs) are places of global significance.  They are recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) through the World Heritage Convention, which has been ratified by 186 of the 192 member states of the United Nations.  

Summary facts

◦       The Site is approximately 95 miles or 155 km long, and just under a kilometre wide at its widest point

◦       The boundary is, in general, from mean low water mark to the top of the cliffs and excludes the man-made frontages of Exmouth, Sidmouth, Seaton, Lyme Regis, West Bay, Weymouth, Portland Port and Swanage

◦       The Site is owned by over 80 separate landowners, the largest of which is the National Trust with over a third of the Site

◦       It is England's first Natural World Heritage Site^[1]

◦       Approximately 326,000 people live in the four districts along the coast^[2], the majority of which are within 10 miles of the Site

◦       Only approximately 10 people live within the designated boundary

◦       The name ‘Jurassic Coast' is used as the World Heritage Site brand.  It normally refers to the Site itself (Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site), but is sometimes used on its own to describe an undefined area that is wider than just the narrow coastal strip.(see Appendix 1 for more details)

More information about the Site can be found on this website.

Management of the Site

The responsibility for management of the Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site lies with a non-executive committee known as the Steering Group.  This Group is made up of representatives of organisations that have a key role to play in the delivery of the aims and policies in the Management Plan for the Site, as well as individuals with relevant expertise.   The Group is led by Dorset and Devon County Councils, as the two main authorities^[3] responsible for initially securing the designation of the Site, and the list of the other partners represented on the Steering Group can be found in Chapter 6. 

The need for the Group and its role was set out in the draft Management Plan originally submitted alongside the nomination to UNESCO in 1999.  This management approach was accepted by both UNESCO and the UK Government's Department for Culture Media and Sport, to which the Steering Group reports.  This devolved approach ensures that management of the Site is undertaken at a local level, but with national representation and advice where necessary, particularly through Natural England and English Heritage.

The Group's primary function is to oversee the delivery of the aims and policies in this Management Plan, which sets out the UK Government's commitment to meet its obligations to the World Heritage Convention with respect to this WHS.  Because the Group itself has no executive powers, its primary means for ensuring the delivery of the Plan is through its individual and collective member activity, and through inspiring, influencing and lobbying others.  The mechanism for undertaking this is in many cases the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Team, which includes relevant specialists to support delivery of the Plan.

The role of the Chair

The Chairperson will play a crucial role in helping the partnership to deliver its and the UK's obligation to UNESCO, and so safeguarding the World Heritage Site for future generations.  The role will require a candidate who is committed to the values of World Heritage, and who themselves has an area of expertise that has a bearing on the delivery of the Management Plan.  The success of the partnership will be measured by its ability to deliver the Aims of the Management Plan, and the Chairperson will play a key leadership and champion role in support of this.  The Chairperson will need to be independent of the existing Steering Group membership, and will be required to make clear any conflicts of interests at the outset.

[1] At time of publication

[2] Census 2001

[3] Along with the Dorset Coast Forum