Science Officer (Seabirds & Energy)

Science Officer (Seabirds & Energy)

Application deadline: Thursday, 6 June 2024 – 23.45

• Location: Cambridge, UK
• Full time: 35 hours per week
• Duration: 1 year fixed-term contract, with potential for extension
• Salary: £28,000 – £31,000 pro rata per annum (dependent on skills and experience), plus
  competitive 12% pension benefit
• Annual Leave: 25 days pro rata per annum in year 1, increasing by 1 day pa to 28 days

BirdLife is the world’s largest conservation partnership and a globally recognised leader in
bird conservation science. Through our network of 122 national Partners, we are committed to
finding practical and sustainable solutions to environmental problems that benefit both nature
and people. BirdLife works actively with governments and the energy sector to ensure that the
environmental impacts of energy development are fully considered and minimised. With our
partner organisations, we have developed a range of decision-support tools and guidance
materials to aid the nature-safe deployment of energy infrastructure.

BirdLife International is seeking to recruit an enthusiastic individual to support its
scientific work on the impacts of energy infrastructure on seabirds. The principal focus of the
role will be to support BirdLife’s Global Science Team in conducting spatial analysis of
seabird sensitivity in relation to offshore windfarms for presentation through the online tool
AVISTEP: The Avian Sensitivity Tool for Energy Planning. In additional, the role will provide ad hoc support to
BirdLife’s Marine and Climate Change Programmes, including assisting in the compilation of
seabird tracking data, assisting in the development of research on the impacts of energy
infrastructure on birds, and representing BirdLife at relevant scientific and policy fora.

Ideally you will have:

• Bachelor of Science and Masters’ Degrees (or equivalent experience) in either a biological
  or environmental subject.
• Good knowledge of global biodiversity conservation issues and specific knowledge of
  seabirds and marine ecology.
• Strong scientific background with a comprehensive understanding of scientific project
  design, literature review, mathematical computation.
• Specialist knowledge of advanced spatial analysis including relevant statistical
  techniques, including proficient in R and in ArcGIS.
• Excellent knowledge of the collation and analysis of tracking data, preferably seabirds.
• An understanding of the use of spatial data in conservation and planning.
• A good understanding of the issues surrounding energy infrastructure and its potential
  impact on birds and other wildlife would be desirable.
• Experience in the practical use of GIS (preferably ArcGIS) and programming (preferably R)
  is essential.
• Experience of collating, verifying, analysing, interpreting and disseminating biological
  data.
• Experience of analysing animal tracking data, ideally seabirds.
• Experience of literature review and report writing.
• Experience of seabird research and conservation desirable.
• Experience of forging and maintaining relationships with stakeholders would be desirable.
• Experience in using species distribution modelling would be desirable.

See the full job description on the BirdLife International website.

Some of our benefits:

• We are able to offer a hybrid model of working on-site and from home/remote for most roles,
  which helps to ensure a flexible work-life balance.
• A chance to work in the award-winning David Attenborough building, which brings together
  much of the Cambridge-based conservation community on a ‘conservation campus.’
• A generous pension scheme, up to 12% company contribution.
• Holiday starting at 25 days excluding Bank Holidays and increasing for every year of
  service up to a maximum of 28 days.
• Full access to LinkedIn Learning with access to more than 13,000 high-quality, on-demand
  courses.
• Cycle to work scheme.

Employee Assistance Programme, including access to Health Assured online health portal
(webinars, nutritional advice, 4-week programmes, financial wellbeing and more).

BirdLife values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the
community. Find out more about our Diversity statement.

We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive and supportive culture, a place where
we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We aim to promote a more inclusive environment,
which attracts all candidates and signals our commitment to celebrate and promote diversity.

We will consider putting into place appropriate reasonable adjustments for candidates who may
have a disability.

We are able to offer a hybrid model of working on site and from home/remote for most roles,
which helps to ensure a flexible work life balance.

How to apply:

Please email your application to us at: [email protected]

Please put “Science Officer (Seabirds and Energy)” in the subject line. Your application should
include a covering letter summarising your suitability for the role, your CV and details of
where you saw the job advert.

Interviews: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.