This is an amazing opportunity to work on a fantastic range of reserves on some of the most important areas for wildlife within the North-East of Scotland. The group of five reserves cover lochs, a range of associated wetland habitats, farmland, dunes systems, seabird cliffs and woodlands that are home to a diverse range of wildlife and we need your help to keep them special.

We are looking for someone enthusiastic with good practical and communication skills, and who will become a key part of our small, friendly, dedicated team. 

What's the role about?

This role involves working with our wardening team to help deliver our ambitious management plan targets across our suite of reserves in North-East Scotland.

You will be based at Loch of Strathbeg with regular work days at Loch Spynie and the potential for some work at Fowlsheugh, Troup Head & Meikle Loch.

A herd of Konik ponies graze the site at Loch of Strathbeg and key part of the role will be to provide weekend cover and help with welfare checks. Once familiar with the team and ponies, you will be expected to work most weekends, alongside another member of the team. This role will also be working with volunteers, both residential and local.

What we need from you:

 Essential qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

• You will have knowledge and experience of practical habitat and estate management.
• You will have a proven track record of working of completing work alone and working within a varied team.
• Comfortable managing volunteers from a range of backgrounds.
• Reasonable birdwatching knowledge and experience of biological surveys.
• Be willing to assist with predator control to benefit ground nesting birds.
• A full, manual driving licence that is valid in the UK.

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

• Lantra or equivalent qualification in using equipment such as brushcutter, quad bike and 4x4 driving.
• First Aid at Work qualification.
• Knowledge of servicing and maintaining vehicles, machinery, tools and equipment to agreed standards.
• Experience of staff or volunteer recruitment and line management.
• Implementing and updating health and safety records and assessments.
• Experience in working with livestock.
• Computer literacy including experience of Microsoft Office packages including Word, Excel and Outlook.

Additional information:

• This role will involve lone working and working in remote locations.
• This role will require regular weekend, occasional early morning and evening working so will need someone who is able to be flexible.

This is a part-time role for 4 days (30 hours) per week, fixed term for 9 months. 

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 from week commencing 20 May 2024. For further information please contact lorna.dow@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.

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 you may need to complete your application.

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

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.