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Conservation Officer – Argyll, Arran & Ardnamurchan Area

Reference: NOV20218008
Expiry date: 2021-12-10 23:59:00.000
Location: RSPB Scotland - Glasgow
Salary: £27,574.00 - £30,590.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Pension, Life Assurance, 26 days Annual Leave
Attachments: CandidateGuidanceNotes.pdf

RSPB Scotland have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, positive and self-motivated Conservation Officer to work within our area team. They will be responsible for helping to deliver the work of RSPB’s conservation team within the Argyll Arran and Ardnamurchan operational area, to ensure delivery of the relevant outcomes of RSPB’s 2030 Strategy - including relevant projects such as our Priority Landscapes. Although you will be based at the Glasgow office, many aspects of the role can be carried out remotely, so there is flexibility to work from home.

What’s the role about?

Argyll, Arran and Ardnamurchan which is a fascinating area supports amazing biodiversity from machair to the rainforest. This role will work closely with the Senior Conservation Officer and Area Team to deliver a range of work for priority species and habitats. We are seeking someone with a passion for nature and a clear commitment to protecting the areas most important wildlife and habitats.

The Conservation officer’s priorities will include responding to forestry and planning casework with the aim to of delivering positive gains for biodiveristy, providing landowner advice and leading on black grouse lek monitoring. The post-holder will be involved in the delivery for the area’s two landscape-scale Priority Landscapes focused around the Argyll Islands and Argyll-Morvern rainforest; to be achieved by deploying appropriate conservation tools such as casework, species recovery, land management advice, conservation projects and engagement in land use policy. This will include working closely with colleagues based in the planning team and other sections of the organisation and the post-holder must also have the ability to work in wider external partnerships, requiring respecting the perspectives of others and building positive relationships with key partners and stakeholders. They will also be expected to contribute operational experience to RSPB Scotland’s, policy and advocacy work and contribute to the delivery of our funding and communications objectives.

This post requires a committed individual with excellent communication skills. A knowledge of GIS mapping and database management. As part of the wider Argyll Area Team, working out of the Glasgow office, you will work as a team player within a dynamic environment deploying a personable, knowledge based approach. This is a fantastic opportunity to be at the centre of delivering RSPB Scotland's conservation work and has the potential to bring real and lasting benefits for our wildlife. If that sounds exciting, then this may be the perfect position for you.

What we need from you

As Conservation Officer in Argyll, Arran and Ardnamurchan you will ideally have experience of delivering conservation and partnership working and you will have:

Essential qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

  • Sufficient knowledge of a range of delivery mechanisms for conservation work relevant to the operational area of this role to enable recommendation to senior staff of appropriate responses and interventions. (e.g. relevant agri-environment schemes, woodland grants).
  • Conservation and or management knowledge in relevant areas, such as, upland, woodlands, coastal grassland along with habitat and species conservation requirements for the area.
  • Understanding of the concept of landscape scale conservation and the pressures on land use in the operational area of this role.
  • Experience of negotiating with the public or private sector, to deliver biodiversity benefits, through both regulatory and voluntary means, especially planning casework and forestry.
  • A degree level qualification in a relevant subject, or ability to show equivalent work experience.
  • 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.
  • Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and presentational) - including an ability to speak confidently and cogently in public to a variety of audiences.
  • Ability to work effectively as a team player both internally and in external partnerships.
  • Competency in use of GIS and core MS Office Programmes.

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

  • Knowledge of the Argyll, Arran and Ardnamurchan Area
  • Proven experience of advocating a position to landowners and managers, members, and volunteers who have different views.
  • The ability to see and incorporate the ideas of others into your ways of working
  • Experience of public engagement work.
  • Effective project management skills.

This is a Permanent, Full Time role. Please note that due to the nature of this role and its location, the successful candidate should be able to travel to remote locations without the use of public transport.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on 21st December 2021. For all application/role enquiries please contact Andy Robinson, Senior Conservation Officer  andy.robinson@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.