Introduction

We are seeking a self-motivated Conservation Officer to work across our New Forest Priority Landscape. The successful applicant will be responsible for helping to deliver the RSPB’s ambitions within the Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Isle of Wight operational area, working as part of our New Forest team, to ensure delivery of the relevant outcomes of RSPB’s Saving Nature Strategy.

What the role is about

Conservation Officers have a key role in hands-on land management advisory work, planning casework, advocacy and managing and delivering various projects, in association with a range of RSPB colleagues. This includes projects led by RSPB and RSPB’s successful delivery in wider partnerships, particularly within our suite of UK priority landscapes.

This role has a vitally important external element, building positive relationships with key partners and stakeholders so that our collective policies and messages are understood and furthered within and outside the New Forest.   The role is full-time and will be initially home-based, but may in future involve working from RSPBs Franchises Lodge reserve.

Key activities will include:

• Undertaking and contributing to the delivery of species and habitat specific work programmes linked to the RSPBs Saving Nature Strategy
• Developing and leading the delivery of the RSPB’s landscape scale conservation programme in the New Forest
• Preparing and submitting RSPB responses to key planning casework and other consent/licensing applications, as well as relevant policy and strategy consultations, working closely with RSPB England colleagues to contribute to the Site Conservation outcomes of the Saving Nature Strategy
• Involvement in individual projects, in association with RSPB colleagues as appropriate. This includes RSPB projects and RSPB’s delivery in wider partnership projects
• Building positive relationships with landowners/managers and with key partners and other stakeholders so that our collective policies and messages are understood and furthered within and outside the New Forest.

What we need from you:

Essential

• Degree level qualification in a relevant subject or ability to show equivalent work experience
• Sufficient understanding of the species and habitats; landscape scale conservation; land use and management; planning systems and relevant policy and legislation of the region or country in which this role is based to enable recommendation to senior staff of appropriate responses and interventions
• Sufficient knowledge of a range of delivery mechanisms for conservation work relevant to the operational area to enable recommendation to senior staff of appropriate responses and interventions
• Ability to work effectively as a team player both internally and in external partnerships
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and presentational) – including an ability to speak confidently and cogently in public to a variety of audiences
• Ability to rapidly analyse significant quantities of information, prioritise and balance a diverse workload often to tight deadlines
• Competent user of core MS Office programs
• Experience of negotiating with the public or private sector, to deliver biodiversity benefits, through both regulatory and voluntary means, especially planning casework
• Experience of working to survey, protect and/or manage important sites, species or habitats
• Experience of managing staff or volunteers and setting clear work priorities
• Experience of productive partnerships

Desirable

• Confident advocating a position to landowners and managers, local politicians, members and volunteers who have different views
• Understanding of the concept of landscape scale conservation and the pressures on land use in the operational area of this role