Job title: Senior Research Assistant Northern Ireland Seabirds

Project background

Rathlin Island is Northern Ireland’s only inhabited offshore island, with a permanent community of around 150 people. Rathlin is of great importance for wildlife at both national and EU levels, but this wildlife is under threat from invasive non-native ferrets and rats. The aim of the LIFE Raft project is to safeguard this wildlife by eradicating both the ferret and rat populations from the island, whilst embedding sound biosecurity measures to prevent their return. Delivered over five years, the project will require a multi-disciplinary approach covering technical operations, community engagement and collaborative working across the project partnership and with key external stakeholders.

This project will be made possible with funding from EU LIFE+, National Lottery Heritage Fund (development phase) and Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), with contributions from RSPB NI, Rathlin Development and Community Association (RDCA) and support from the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust (CCGHT

About the role

The role is as a bird survey field worker which will involve surveys of seabirds and other species as part of a large island restoration project. We will expect the postholder to have a science background and to also be responsible for some planning, organising and writing up of results. The post is a 6 month contract. Bird surveys will be carried out throughout the bird breeding season of 2022 to capture baseline data on bird populations before rat and ferret eradication.  Rathlin island is a large, unique and internationally important seabird colony with a variety of breathtakingly beautiful habitats and landscapes. This is a unique opportunity for a surveyor to work as part of this internationally important project to document real-time responses of bird populations to active conservation operations. The work will require extensive field work and the use of a range of monitoring techniques and technologies. Field work will be carried out both from land on Rathlin and from boats off Rathlin’s shores.  Management of scrupulous data collection and recording will be expected. The whole project is supported by a steering group consisting of RSPB, DAERA, RDCA and CCGHT. The scientist will work with the LIFE Raft project team to ensure the specific monitoring objectives are met. Experience of surveying seabirds and other species on the ground and knowledge of the species involved is essential. This is a sensitive project, and the role will benefit from previous experience of working with communities and stakeholders in a collaborative and considerate way. 

About you

You’ll be a positive advocate for Rathlin Island and the recovery and conservation of breeding seabirds in this fragile island ecosystem. You will have experience of seabird surveying and preferably also of working within a project team. We would like you to have a good working knowledge of at least some of the most up-to-date methodologies for detecting and surveying seabirds and other species in challenging habitats. You will be able to respectfully inform and engage the local community on what you are doing and how you are doing it.

Key tasks:

Assisting with refining bird survey methodologies and finalising a monitoring plan for the LIFE Raft project

Conduct surveys to establish pre-eradication seabird population and productivity baseline trends

 Identifying priority sites on Rathlin Island for attraction measures for both the Manx shearwater and European Storm petrel

Conduct surveys to identify wader population size and productivity

 Assisting with collecting evidence of signs of predation of seabirds or landbirds to inform a greater understanding of the impact of invasive non-native species on island ecosystems.

To positively engage with other project team members and secure a good relationship with the local community on Rathlin.

Preferred qualifications, skills and experience:

Please ensure to address the following criteria in your application form: 

1. Preferably educated to at least degree level
2. At least 3 years practical experience of surveying birds, including seabirds and preferably experience of seabird surveys from boats
3. Experience of working with and influencing a range of people.
4. Experience of working in a challenging environment possibly in poor weather and involving unsociable hours.
5. Some experience of non-standard passive monitoring techniques for example camera traps and bioacoustics.
6. Ability to record and organise important data
7. Experience of summarising data in standard statistical programs and use of GIS programs would be an advantage
8. Demonstrable experience of developing and working in partnerships to achieve shared outcomes.
9. Excellent health and safety awareness.
10. Knowledge of invasive non-native species impacts and their management.
11. Preferably with a full driving licence, ideally with some off-road driving experience or ability to access remote locations

This is a 6 month Contract Full Time role for 37.5 hours per week starting March 2022.  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 on January 21st 2022. For further information please contact gillian.gilbert@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.

This role will require completion of an Access NI in addition to the standard pre-employment checks.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.