Hodbarrow Tern Protection Assistant

We are recruiting for an Assistant Species Protection Officer at RSPB Hodbarrow. You will help
to protect and record one of North West England’s most important tern colonies. With a
knowledge of breeding shore birds you will share your enthusiasm with visitors and locals. You
will work within a small dedicated team to ensure Hodbarrow tern colony continues it’s breeding
successes of previous years. 

We are looking for a dynamic and knowledgeable person to join our team for a 3 month contract
at RSPB Hodbarrow. The Role will involve working with another Protection Assistant to protect
and survey the tern colony. Hodbarrow is home to Sandwich, Common, Arctic and Little Terns and
has benefitted from extensive investment over the past 6 years through various funding streams,
including Life on the Edge EU funding. With funding we have now increased the available nesting
areas, added new breeding islands and additional predator fencing. 

This is an ideal opportunity for those starting out on their conservation career to gain some
hands on experience and protect some of the UK’s rarest species. The successful candidate will
have a knowledge of tern ecology and identification. They will be effective and comfortable
working on their own for periods of time but also happy to work with others. Good communication
skills are essential as you will be speaking to volunteers and the public on a daily basis. I
would like to say the sun always shines at Hodbarrow however that would not be true so anyone
wanting to apply will have to be comfortable working in all weathers particularly when the rain
is horizontal. 

Essential skills, knowledge and experience: 

• Knowledge of bird and wildlife ecology, habitat requirements and identification to enable
  credibility in the role.
• Organisational skills e.g. maintenance and analysis of datasets, and managing conflicting
  priorities.
• Ability to work effectively as a team player 
• Effective communication skills (verbal, written and presentational) – including an ability
  to speak confidently and cogently in public to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to be diplomatic.
• Experience of working to survey, protect and/or manage important sites, species or habitats

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience of managing volunteers and setting clear work priorities
• Knowledge of the wildlife and habitats of the operational area of this role
• Experience of public engagement work 
• Specialist conservation knowledge in relevant habitat /species areas.

This is a Fixed-Term role for 3 months, full-time for 37.5 hours per week. 

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 7 March 2024. For further information
please contact [email protected].

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.

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.