The RSPB is looking to recruit a Field Officer to carry out bird monitoring and other field work on Gough Island, including the control of an invasive plant Sagina procumbens and activities following the unsuccessful mouse eradication operation on the island in 2021. The post holder will work alongside and report to a Field Team Leader. Both posts will be for a period of ~17 months, consisting of pre-deployment training and ~15 months deployment on Gough Island (please note, precise shipping schedules vary from year to year).

Gough Island (6,500 ha) is located in the South Atlantic and forms part of the UK Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha, widely considered as one of the world’s most important seabird breeding sites.

This position offers a unique opportunity for a highly motivated and disciplined individual with relevant fieldwork skills and a keen interest in wildlife, who can adapt well to small island living in a challenging and remote sub-Antarctic environment.

Work during the seabird breeding season is very intense, with frequent long hours of fieldwork and data entry and management, so it is important to be well organised. Data are managed using databases and checked by creating and inspecting reports on a monthly basis, observing deadlines at frequent intervals. The results underpin efforts to restore the Gough Island World Heritage Site.

The successful applicants for the Field Team Leader and Field Officer positions will be joining the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) over-wintering team of seven meteorologists and support staff, bringing the total team size to nine people. The successful applicants will be required to work within the requirements of SANAP's over-wintering teams, including sharing cooking and cleaning duties in communal living quarters.

The ideal candidate will be able to cope with the above tasks and will be confident in remote and challenging field conditions. Applicants should have good awareness of safety issues and be comfortable living in close quarters with other people from a diverse range of cultures. The successful applicant will be highly driven, self-motivated, and be able to get along with other team members.  

Due to the isolated nature of these contracts, we welcome applications from candidates for the two available positions (Field Team Leader/Field Officer) who are already known to one another, although this is by no means essential.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• A science degree or equivalent experience in a relevant subject.
• Wild bird/animal handling and monitoring experience in the field with a focus on bird identification, bird banding/ringing.
• Seabird-specific ringing experience/permit (at least one member of the team must have a valid BTO ringing permit for seabirds by the time of deployment).
• Working on remote islands in challenging terrain and inclement weather conditions for extended periods (or equivalent remote locations).
• Ability to implement scientific methodology.
• Data collection/data management skills or a demonstrable ability to adhere to data collection and management standards.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the tact, diplomacy, and respect to develop and maintain good relations with the SANAP team and relevant members of the Tristan Community.
• Ability to live and work in a very small team from a diverse range of cultures at a remote location for a prolonged period.
• Ability to adhere to RSPB and SANAP health and safety policies and procedures at all times.
• Ability to follow management decisions from your Team Leader.
• Ability to understand and work within SANAP's communications and managerial protocols.
• Proficiency in standard software packages (MS Office).

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Practical/technical skills (e.g. carpentry, construction, radio telemetry etc.).
• Willingness to generate materials for communications purposes (e.g. photography of wildlife / fieldwork, writing blogs).
• Basic knowledge in R statistical software.
• Data management skills (e.g. using Access).

This is a Fixed-Term role for approximately 17 months, 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 in early May 2022. For further information please contact antje.steinfurth@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and 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.