Are you enthused by the sight of ospreys soaring overhead? Does digging a ditch, patching a hole or cutting and burning vegetation sound like a brilliant day at work? Or perhaps you would prefer driving a Soucy-tracked tractor, herding cattle or chainsawing scrub. If so, read on...

We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic about nature conservation and practical habitat and estate management; who is a keen and skilled bird surveyor with an eye for detail; who can use their range of handy skills, machinery tickets and experience to solve day-to-day site management issues and who can work in the variety of conditions that Scotland has to throw at us, always with a smile on their face. You will be working with the small site team at RSPB Loch Lomond, including managing our ever expanding team of volunteers, both local and residential, to help make the site the best it can be for wildlife and visitors. This is your chance to be involved with one of the RSPB's most exciting reserves, which lies within Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

This role will include contributing to RSPB major projects. You will also contribute towards the strategic aims and objectives of the Loch Lomond, Trossachs and Tayside Area Team, and part of this role may include work at other RSPB reserves, such as RSPB Inversnaid.

You will be responsible for:

• Habitat management to ensure conservation targets are being met.
• Maintenance of machinery to ensure they are operating safely and efficiently.
• Livestock infrastructure to ensure it is fit for purpose.
• Maintenance of buildings and infrastructure for visitors to ensure a positive visitor experience.
• Monitoring of key species and habitats to enable performance to be managed and targets for improvements to be set.
• Mapping and gathering and managing electronic data to ensure data and maps are stored and can be used and assessed by others.
• Maintaining high standards of health and safety to minimise risk to the RSPB and to ensure understanding and compliance of health and safety while undertaking duties.
• Running events to generate income.
• General administration and report writing associated with all of the above to ensure admin and reports are up to date and systematically organised.
• leading and developing a high performing team of volunteers and staff.

Essential skills, knowledge and qualifications:

• LANTRA or equivalent qualifications and experience in using: 
  • Chainsaws for small trees and fallen trees
  • Tractor and implement usage such as flail, topper, rotavator, trailer, bucket, PTO shaft operation, maintenance, driving on slopes
  • Sit-astride ATV
  • Sit-in ATV
  • Pedestrian Mower
  • Brushcutter and strimmer
  • Pesticide application including modules PA1 & PA6AW
• Natural history knowledge.
• Maintenance and use of machinery, tools and equipment.
• Habitat management
• Microsoft Office packages including Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Problem solving and coming up with well thought through practical solutions.
• Working unsupervised for extended periods.
• Communicate verbally with a wide range of audiences.
• Developing and implementing work plans.
• Manage oneself and others to prioritise and work to an agreed plan. 
• Practical land management experience and delivering estate management works.
• Operating and maintaining machinery, equipment and infrastructure.
• Customer care.
• GCSE Mathematics and English, or equivalent

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience

• Livestock management.
• Requirements of local agri-environment and cross-compliance regulations.
• Biological recording.
• Implementing and updating health and safety records and assessments.
• Organising and running events

Additional Information

• This role is based in a remote and rural location.
• This role will involve lone working.
• This role will require regular/occasional weekend and evening working.
• Some standby and on-call work will be required.
• This role will require regular/occasional travel within the UK.
• This role will require regular/occasional overnight stays away from home.
• The RSPB works for a healthy environment for all and we therefore expect you to take action in accordance with our Environmental Policy and objectives. Together we can make a positive difference for our world.
• In the RSPB, volunteers are a major resource and make a vital contribution to the RSPB’s aim to take action for the conservation of wild birds and the environment. Employees are responsible for encouraging, developing and supporting volunteers in their work for the RSPB.

This is a full-time, 6-month contract for 37.5 hours per week.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on 28th August 2024. Should you have any queries about this vacancy, please contact Paula.Baker@rspb.org.uk.

Please note that in order to be considered for this post you will be required to complete an online application form. Before applying, we would encourage you to read through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.

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.

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.