We are seeking a passionate, experienced and self-motivated individual to lead on the delivery of the RSPB’s ambitious conservation goals and objectives in the South East area. The successful applicant will be responsible for leading targeted species protection work and conservation projects, with an emphasis on community empowerment across the RSPB.
What the role is about
The Senior Conservation Officer will lead a small team delivering a range of work for our priority species (turtle doves, breeding waders, beach-nesting birds and nightingales) and habitats (especially, wet grassland, inter-tidal and scrub).
Key delivery tools will be leading projects, empowering people to save nature, working with partners, planning casework, advocating good conservation practice, and land management and species advisory work. There will be two priority pieces of work to deliver: supporting the Turtle Dove Friendly Zones Project Manager by coordinating the day to day work of the team of Turtle Dove Conservation Advisors and seeking out opportunities to achieve the projects objectives, and leading on developing the ‘Kent Casework Hub,’ an independent community platform aimed at bringing together and empowering local activists through mutual support, information sharing and training for everyone interested in saving nature. 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. Significant development and people pressure in the South-East is a threat and an opportunity, therefore, engaging with development and strategies to protect nature, mitigating recreational disturbance and driving people-powered nature recovery will be key. The RSPB is committed to increasing equality, inclusivity and diversity. This contract is a full-time maternity contract for up to 12 months. It will be initially home-based, but may in the future involve working from a relevant RSPB Office and travel to meetings and site visits (with the option to maintain some home-based working)
Activities will include:
- Lead the Conservation Teams work programme to ensure the delivery of an ambitious work programme, maintaining focus on priority species and habitats
- Support the delivery of the RSPB’s landscape scale conservation programme delivery in the Greater Thames Estuary
- Leading and supporting on priority casework within the area, 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, working collaboratively with RSPB colleagues, particularly reserve staff, as appropriate. This includes RSPB projects and RSPB’s delivery in wider partnership projects - with a focus on supporting the Turtle Dove Friendly Zone project and leading on developing the Kent Casework Hub project
- Building positive relationships with landowners / managers and with key partners and other stakeholders so that our collective policies and messages are understood and habitat and species restoration furthered across the area but with a focus on our priority landscapes
- Identifying opportunities and working collaboratively to steer new policy implementation (e.g. Local Nature Recovery Strategies, Biodiversity Net Gain) to deliver ambitious nature recovery
What we need from you:
- 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 advise on appropriate responses and interventions
- Sufficient knowledge of a range of delivery mechanisms for conservation work relevant to the operational area to advise on appropriate responses and interventions.
- Ability to form effective teams (both internally and in external partnerships) and work effectively as a team player.
- Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and presentational) – including an ability to speak confidently and cogently in public to a variety of audiences.
- Confident advocating a position to landowners and managers, local politicians, members and volunteers who have different views e.g. professional, persuasive, engaging and confident
- Ability to support and develop staff using a variety of management techniques.
- Ability to rapidly analyse significant quantities of information, prioritise and balance a diverse workload often to tight deadlines
- Competent user of core MS Office programmes
- Ability to incorporate a people-based approach to conservation in the area. Including positive community engagement for projects and empowering people to protect and restore nature
- 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
- Experience of negotiating with the public or private sector, to deliver biodiversity benefits, through both regulatory and voluntary means, especially planning caseworK
- Effective project management skills. - Desirable
- Managing species recovery project work. - Desirable
- Experience of major site conservation casework eg to public inquiry stage - Desirable
The closing date for this vacancy is 13th June 2021, however, as we are actively recruiting for this position, we reserve the right to close the vacancy once sufficient applications have been received.
The proposed interview date for interviews is Friday 18th June 2021.
Should you have any queries relating to this vacancy please contact Chloe Rose, Senior Conservation Officer at
chloe.rose@rspb.org.uk
|