Assistant Warden – RSPB Eastern Solent Reserves

The RSPB’s Eastern Solent Reserves are a network of coastal reserves covering almost 1800
hectares along the shores of West Sussex and Hampshire. Situated on the Manhood Peninsula,
Pagham Harbour Local Nature Reserve is a natural harbour comprising of saltmarsh and mudflat,
surrounded by wet grassland and reedbeds. As well as being a notable stop-over for migratory
birds, it is an internationally recognised site for breeding shorebirds, including threatened
Little terns and a growing Sandwich tern colony. A stone’s throw away lies Medmerry, a
ground-breaking and vast managed coastal realignment comprising of developing saltmarsh and
grasslands, surrounded by a mosaic of nature friendly farming. The Langstone Harbour reserve is
an archipelago of shingle, saltmarsh and mudflats set between Portsmouth and Hayling Island,
home to one of the largest mixed seabird colonies on the south coast of England. In winter, the
reserves become a haven for Brent geese and a large assemblage of wildfowl.

Based at the Pagham Harbour visitor centre, the warden team manage the reserves for wildlife,
maintaining and improving habitats and playing an important role in local nature recovery. We
are seeking an enthusiastic, competent and suitably qualified person to join the warden team,
assisting with the annual work programme across the reserves in accordance with the management
plans and maintaining visitor infrastructure on the sites to a very high standard in order to
deliver a consistently excellent visitor experience.

What’s the role about?

We are recruiting for an Assistant Warden to support the warden team with the
annual work programme across the Eastern Solent Reserves, working on a range of habitats
including coastal saltmarsh, lowland wet grassland and shingle.

Based out of the office at Pagham Harbour, you will help with habitat works, infrastructure
maintenance and repairs and biological surveys. You will assist with leading the weekly work
parties, working closely with our volunteers and interns and ensuring everyone works safely and
in accordance with risk assessments. You will help to implement and update health and safety
records, leading on trail inspections across the reserves. You will also support the team in a
number of upcoming habitat creation and improvement projects, managing contractors on the
ground and feeding into the design process. 

What we need from you:

Essential skills include:

• You will have knowledge and experience of practical habitat and estate management,
  preferably in a wetland or agricultural environment.
• You will have a proven track record of completing work alone and working within
  a varied team.
• Comfortable managing volunteers from a range of backgrounds.
• Competent user of standard IT applications (eg Microsoft Office).
• Excellent communication skills.
• Full manual driving licence.

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

• Lantra / NPTC or equivalent qualification in using equipment such as brushcutter, chainsaw,
  tractor & sit-in ATV.
• RYA Powerboat Level 2 qualification.
• Knowledge of servicing and maintaining vehicles, machinery, tools and equipment to agreed
  standards.
• Experience of volunteer recruitment and line management.
• Implementing and updating health and safety records and assessments.
• Reasonable birdwatching knowledge and experience of biological surveys.
• Experience using GPS mapping software.

Additional information:

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

This is a 6 month fixed-term role for 37.5 hours per week. Standard working hours are
Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00. 

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position in the week commencing 8th July 2024. We
are happy to offer interviews via Teams for any candidates unable to attend in person. For
further information please contact [email protected]

As part of this application process, you will be asked to complete an application form
including evidence of 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.