We are looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic individual with skills in wildlife surveying to join our team conserving Stone-curlews across the Wessex area.

Stone-curlews have undergone significant decline across the UK over the last century leaving only two strongholds, the Brecks in East Anglia and Wessex. Thirty years of conservation efforts have seen the population recover with the RSPB working closely with landowners and farmers, including the MoD, to provide suitable habitat for breeding pairs. The population in Wessex is now approaching 150 pairs, however continued recovery of this species relies on monitoring and protection.  
 
The postholder will be part of a small team working on the Wessex Stone-curlew project with a particular focus on delivery of Stone-curlew monitoring and protection in the key area of Salisbury Plain and the surrounding farmland. The role has a strong fieldwork focus during the peak breeding season (April to September), excellent field skills are required for this tricky and inconspicuous bird. The work includes locating Stone-curlew pairs, monitoring breeding attempts, finding nests, liaising with farmers, contractors and landowners, and carrying out intervention measures on vulnerable sites. Although the postholder will often be conducting field work alone using their own initiative, they will also be taking a lead role working alongside survey volunteers. Lone-working often in remote locations is commonplace in this role. Some evening and weekend work will be required.

It is essential that the postholder is adept at managing time to balance a busy fieldwork schedule, responding to farmers, colleagues and partners in a timely manner and ensuring delivery of project management tasks to deadlines. For both the fieldwork and desk-based elements of this role an ability to communicate confidently with farmers and landowners is essential.  

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Higher level qualification in a relevant subject or equivalent work experience. 
• Previous experience of bird survey/ monitoring/ species protection work.
• Good knowledge of farmland wildlife and conservation mechanisms i.e Agri-environment Schemes. 
• Proven time management skills and organisational skills.  
• Competent IT user - including MS Word, Excel, and Outlook.  
• A full, manual driving licence that is valid in the UK.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• 4x4/off-road driving experience. 
• Experience of leading volunteers.
• The ability to work flexibly and during unsocial hours. 
• Ability to interpret and competently navigate using OS maps. 
• Good communication skills including talking confidently with farmers. 

Additional Information:

This is a Fixed-Term role for 6 months (April to September).  Full-Time for 37.5 hours per week. 

The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from week commencing 11 March 2024. For further information please contact megan.gee@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 covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

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.