This is a fantastic opportunity to work at the Ribble Reserves, part of the internationally important Ribble Estuary National Nature Reserve, supporting important populations of breeding and wintering, wildfowl and waders. The reserves stretch along the coast from Southport, north towards Preston. They consist of over 1000ha of saltmarsh and coastal grazing marshes, with lagoons, pools, creeks, ditches and over 9km of predator exclusion fencing, with more planned in the coming years.

Marshside reserve in Southport is a mix of saltmarsh and coastal grazing marshes, with visitor hides, viewing screens and trails. Hesketh Out Marsh, near Hesketh Bank is predominately saltmarsh and includes the award winning managed realignment project, restoring over 350ha of farmland back to functioning saltmarsh. A recent acquisition of Towler's Marsh, next to Hesketh Out Marsh, has added 20ha of wet grassland to our reserve portfolio, restoration of this site is planned over the next few years.

We work in close partnership with Natural England across the NNR, assisting with breeding bird monitoring and practical management work on Banks Marsh and Crossens Outer, an area of saltmarsh between Marshside and Hesketh Out Marsh, covering over 1200ha.

What’s the role about?

We are looking for a dynamic individual with relevant skills and experience to join our small team, to assist with the day-to-day management of the reserves, including partnership work with Natural England on the wider NNR. In this role you will help us deliver a work programme of practical conservation and hands-on habitat and infrastructure management and maintenance.

You will be using a range of machinery to maintain our wet grasslands, saltmarsh, lagoons, pools and predator exclusion fencing. You will also be working with volunteers on weekly work parties carrying out habitat, infrastructure, health and safety maintenance and contributing to our annual records and reports. You will also carry out species monitoring, including breeding bird surveys, monthly WeBS counts and predator monitoring.

What we need from you:

Essential qualifications, knowledge, experience and skills

• Knowledge & experience of practical habitat and estate management
• The skills to maintain infrastructure for visitors with an understanding of both health and safety and quality standards
• Skills & knowledge of servicing and maintaining, machinery, tools and equipment to agreed standards
• Ability to work closely with other members of the team to prioritise and deliver to an agreed work plan
• Reasonable birdwatching knowledge and experience of biological surveys
• The ability to balance your delegated priorities and plan and implement these independently
• Leading small teams of volunteers, ensuring they are kept safe and supported
• Full driving licence valid for use in the UK
• Practically minded and able to prioritise and deliver to an agreed work plan

Desirable

• Lantra or equivalent qualification in using equipment such as brushcutter, chainsaw, tractor, ATV, 4x4 off-road, trailers, PA1/6AW pesticides
• Implementing and updating health and safety records and assessments
• Experience of working with livestock
• Experience of volunteer line management, including recruitment

Additional information: - This role will involve lone working and working in remote locations. - The role will require weekend work, early morning and evening working, and opening/closing reserves on a rota basis. So will need someone who is able to be flexible.

This is a Permanent, Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week. 

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from Tuesday 20 Jan 2026. For further information please contact Wes.Davies@rspb.org.uk.

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. 

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.