Project Officer – UK Overseas Territories

What’s the role about? 

This is an exciting opportunity to join the UK Overseas Territories team as a project officer
on a one year contract and work on some of the RSPB’s most impactful conservation projects. You
would, in particular, support work on Darwin Plus projects focussed on two of the world’s most
remote inhabited islands: Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic, and the Pitcairn Islands in
the South Pacific. Projects range in duration, activity and objective, and include Atlantic
Guardians that aims to support the community of Tristan da Cunha with their new MPZ, while
other projects are focused on the management of a range of invasive species.

Reporting to and working with the Project Manager, this post holder would help support delivery
across these projects, ensuring activities are completed on time, to budget and with
appropriate reporting. The ability to work effectively and in full collaboration with our
on-island partners is crucial, so we are looking for someone with excellent communication and
listening skills who is a natural team player, as maintaining positive relations is crucial to
our long-term conservation success. We are also looking for someone who is highly organised,
with excellent time management skills and the ability to turn their hand to a wide range of
activities under time pressure. This could entail everything from workshop planning to marine
equipment purchasing, blog-writing to steering group co-ordination, report preparation to
budget management. The projects are highly varied, and the officer will need to maintain
momentum and delivery across them. Finally, an aptitude for writing reports and communication
materials is a particular plus.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience: 

• Proven experience delivering conservation project actions
• Experience of writing reports
• Ability to produce clear written communications
• Excellent problem solving skills and the ability to find creative solutions
• Able to work under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances
• Proven time management and organisational skills
• Attention to detail
• An ability to work well in a cross-functional project team
• Competent IT user

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of Tristan da Cunha and the UK Overseas Territories
• Experience of working in partnership with small island communities
• Knowledge of Invasive Alien Species and Biosecurity
• Experience of organising training events, workshops or facilitated discussions and
  meetings
• Experience of producing written materials, newsletters and similar project related
  communications
• Experience of budget management

This is a 12 month Fixed-Term role 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 21st or 22nd March 2024. For further
information please contact [email protected]

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.