Islay Reserves Officer

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed ‘people person’ to work for the RSPB on a 6
month contract on Islay. Based at Loch Gruinart, this is an exciting opportunity to promote
Islay’s amazing wildlife and cultural heritage. 

Our Islay Reserves are working farms and cover a diverse range of habitats from wet grassland
to moorland, salt marsh to sea cliffs which support a huge range of species including hundreds
of breeding waders, tens of thousands of wintering Greenland barnacle geese, chough, hen
harrier, white fronted geese, corncrake and marsh fritillary.

Main responsibilities are welcoming visitors to our reserves and enthusing people about Islay
and our work here. Duties will include managing and delivering a busy programme of walks,
talks, events and activities, designed to raise awareness of our work and generate funds and
memberships. Also, some assisting of reserve staff as required. 

If you are a good communicator, are passionate about Islay and its wildlife, and have the
ability to pass this enthusiasm on to visitors, this is the post for you. A flexible approach
to work is required, as are excellent organisational and presentation skills.

Essential Skills

• Standard written and spoken English
• Good basic knowledge of UK wildlife, habitats and key species (sufficient to be able to
  lead public engagement activities in a credible way and to train and motivate volunteers)
• Computer literacy – Microsoft Office
• Good interpersonal skills
• Ability to engage with a wide range of people face to face
• Customer care experience
• Working with and/or leading volunteers
• An excellent verbal communicator able to communicate RSPB messages in a way that is
  understood by a range of audiences and that engenders their support
• Ability to work under own initiative
• Ability to enthuse and motivate themselves and others
• Full, manual Driving Licence that is valid in the UK
• Community Engagement – working with the public and delivering events to the public
• Able to perform administrative tasks and to deliver accurate reporting to given timescales

Desirable Skills

• Membership recruitment or involved with charitable fundraising via face to face methods
• Geographical knowledge of location (Isle of Islay)
• Experience of promotion, marketing and production of interpretive material

Additional Information

This role will require occasional weekend, early morning and evening working so will need
someone who is able to be flexible.

This is a Fixed-Term role for 6 months, 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 from 12th February 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.