Ringed Plover Research Assistant – Solent

Are you interested in making a significant contribution to the conservation of beach-nesting
birds? Then this may be the opportunity for you!

Our beach nesting birds are under pressure from coastal change, predation, and increasingly
busy coasts. As a result, the RSPB is working with partners across England implementing species
protection measures and empowering communities to help change the fortunes of these birds.

Building upon the results of a pilot project in 2023, we have secured further funding from
Natural England to continue to test the effectiveness of nest cages on the hatching success of
Ringed Plovers, creating recommendations for practitioners.

What’s the role about? 

We are looking for a dynamic and motivated Research Assistant to work alongside project teams
in the Solent to collect and collate the data to measure the success of nest cages for beach
nesting ringed plovers.

This will include working with project teams to:

• Install, maintain, and process images from trail cameras
• Install and maintain nest cages
• Find and monitor ringed plover nests
• Monitor predator activity, which may include undertaking night shifts
• Record disturbance events
• Complete visitor counts

Therefore, you’ll need to have experience of coastal breeding birds, an eye for detail, relate
well to others and be able to work within a team with an understanding of other project
priorities.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience and knowledge of beach nesting birds
• Experience monitoring breeding birds
• Demonstrable practical field skills e.g. use of trail cameras
• Confident to use own initiative to solve day-to-day problems in the field
• Able to be self-motivated and work within a defined work plan
• Experience collecting and collating data sets and understanding of good record keeping
• Understanding of health and safety in the field and for ensuring own health and safety
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to develop and maintain good
  relations with project teams and members of the public
• Proven time management and organisation skills
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office
• Full driving licence that is valid in the UK, to carry equipment to sites not reachable by
  public transport. Having your own vehicle with business insurance would be desirable.

Additional Information:

• This role will involve lone working
• This role may require occasional weekend, early mornings and evening working so we need
  someone who is able to be flexible.

This is a fixed term role for 37.5 hours per week for 5 months from April to August 2024.
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 the week commencing 19th
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 currently
advertising for an identical role at Titchwell Marsh – please let us know in your application
if you wish to be considered for this position as well.

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.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. 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