Would you like lead on habitat management across hundreds of hectares of upland in the North Pennines for the benefit of nature? Do you want the opportunity to work on the internationally important blanket bog at RSPB Geltsdale with species such as Hen Harrier, Merlin, Curlew and Golden Plover. This may be just the role for you.

About RSPB's Geltsdale Reserve

The RSPB’s Geltsdale Nature Reserves is a 5500ha upland site in Cumbria. Situated in the very north-western tip of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The majority of the reserve consists of unenclosed blanket bog and mosaics of upland heath and acid grassland, together with smaller areas of enclosed in-bye land and wood pasture.

The importance of Geltsdale and the surrounding area for upland wildlife is reflected in its international designations. Most of the reserve lies within the North Pennine Moors Special Area of Conservation and the North Pennine Moors Special Protection Area. These recognise the particular importance of the area’s blanket bog and dwarf shrub heath, alkaline fen, ash and oak woodlands, and its upland bird assemblage.

We’re now recruiting for a warden for a fixed term of 20 months, covering for a secondment, to lead on the day-to-day delivery of our ecological management plans on the blanket bog and working with the rest of the warden team across the reserve.  You will be within the reserve team, working closely with the Site Manager, inputting your ideas and passion to realise the potential for nature within the reserve along with the rest of the team and a network of volunteers. You will lead on aspects of habitat management on the moorland (suitable to your skills and knowledge) and be supported by the other reserve wardens and the wider Area team in kind. As part of the role, you will have line management responsibilities for two species protection assistants.

What's the role about?

In your role as Warden, you will coordinate and lead the delivery of a busy but rewarding work programme. Your role will be varied – in any given week you could be supervising and developing volunteers, surveying wildlife and habitats, setting up contracts, working with visitors, carrying out estate maintenance or delivering hands-on habitat management.

Are you the right person to take on this fulfilling role?  You’ll be positive, able to lead teams, well organised and keen to deliver/develop an ambitious work programme. With a proven track record, you will have a good and practical grasp of land management techniques, ecological principles, wildlife and habitat monitoring, creating a safe working environment, leading and managing staff/volunteers and be a team player.

What we need from you:

 Essential skills include:

• Relevant ecological knowledge, with specialist knowledge required of the following: uplands, blanket bog and breeding birds of prey.
• Experience of working with and/or managing staff and/or volunteers (including leading work parties).
• Experience of a range of biological monitoring, including Brown and Shepherd survey methodology.
• Knowledge and experience of health and safety applying to practical conservation.
• Hill skills, attendance of a recognised course in navigation and upland survival skills
• Lantra / NPTC or equivalent qualifications in sit-in ATV, sit-astride ATV, trailed loads, first aid.
• Full manual driving licence.
• Organisational, time management and prioritisation skills.
• Experience of working with contractors and graziers.
• Knowledge of and a track record of practical estate and habitat management.
• Good communication skills and computer literacy, including record keeping and data management. Competent user of standard IT applications (eg Microsoft Office).

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

• A proactive approach to problem solving.
• A knowledge and experience of managing predator control contractors.
• Relevant knowledge of cross compliance requirements eg agricultural and environmental legislation.
• Ability to work in a team and to build collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders including land owners, farmers, partners, neighbours, national colleagues, contractors and regulators.
• Experience of small to medium size project management.

Additional information:

• This role will involve lone working and working in remote upland locations.
• This role will require occasional weekend, early morning and evening work so will need someone who is able to be flexible.

This is a Fixed term contract for 20 months.  FT for 37.5 hours per week.

RSPB reserves the right to make this position permanent.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position in Feb 2023. For further information please contact stephen.westerberg@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.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

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