Senior Conservation Scientist

The purpose of this role is to deliver the outputs of specific externally funded contracts with
defined timelines over the 3 year period 

The location of the post is flexible within the UK, and the post-holder would ideally be based
partly at an RSPB office. There is a requirement for extensive travel during the seabird
breeding season (May – Sept), including long periods away from home.

What’s the role about?

The successful candidate will work closely with colleagues in the RSPB’s UK marine team to
deliver a number a seabird tracking projects focussed on improving the evidence base for the
assessment of impacts of offshore windfarms on UK seabirds. They will input into a number of
seabird tracking projects on a range of species, having particular responsibility for leading
work on Leach’s and European Storm petrels, across multiple sites in UK. This work will employ
conventional GPS tags to collect location data, but in addition will require considerable
liaison with tag manufacturers to optimise newly-available tags for the collection of flight
height data. An ability to collaborate, problem-shoot, innovate, adapt and proactively progress
work, seeking advice when required, is therefore essential.

With support from senior staff, the post holder will be responsible for planning and delivery
of fieldwork, including recruitment of seasonal staff, logistics, licensing and permissions,
health and safety, procurement and ongoing training of team members. They will also lead on the
analysis of data, reporting to partners and funders, and on the production of a wide range of
written and oral outputs from the work. These will include press releases and other publicity,
articles for generalist and specialist audiences, as well as peer-reviewed papers in the
scientific literature, and conference presentations. There will be a particular emphasis on the
production of outputs that address current uncertainty in assessment of impacts of offshore
windfarms on the focal species, and the communication of these findings to relevant
stakeholders, including industry, government, statutory advisors and RSPB colleagues. As with
all senior science posts, the post-holder will be expected to provide scientific advice to
other departments in the RSPB and external groups as appropriate to their areas of expertise.

See the attached file for details of desirable skills and our diversity statement.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• A PhD in a relevant subject (or equivalent experience) and proven experience, post-PhD,
  working as a scientist (e.g. leading multiple scientific research projects; managing staff,
  volunteers and students; communicating to various audiences, by writing reports, publishing
  peer-reviewed papers, giving lectures and working with the media).
• Broad knowledge of conservation issues and practice, and conservation science, gained
  through experience of taking lead responsibility for the management of a range of scientific
  projects.
• A methodical and rigorous approach to experimental design, data collection, data management
  and analysis, ensuring data and results pass international peer-reviewed standards.
• Self-motivated and able to work energetically and cooperatively under pressure to meet
  deadlines, with the autonomy to prioritise your own working schedule and to manage the work of
  managed staff and volunteers on several projects coincidentally.
• Knowledge of key legal and practical requirements for ensuring health and safety of staff
  and volunteers, often in challenging field conditions, such as cliff-nesting seabird colonies,
  working with the public, and lone working.
• Willing and able to travel to remote fieldwork sites around the UK, often with large
  quantities of equipment and for periods of several weeks, and to liaise effectively with
  relevant field and site staff.
• Possession of a licence to handle wild birds in UK and extensive bird handling skills,
  particularly experience in handling small birds (e.g. passerines) and the use of mist nets will
  be essential.
• Collecting, curating and analysing large and complex data sets that can pass international
  peer-reviewed standards of scrutiny and audit.
• Specialist and up-to-date knowledge of how to apply complex analytical procedures to enable
  innovative, robust analysis and interpretation to data.
• Ability to influence others through production of high impact written material; for example
  peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals, reports to funders, books and book chapters, but
  also written material for any media channel.
• The post-holder will require a high level of physical fitness, and be at ease working on
  uneven terrain in the vicinity of sea cliffs.
• The post-holder must be able to maintain a positive attitude in the face of challenging
  fieldwork conditions (poor weather, equipment failure etc) and to maintain team morale. They
  will be resilient, a problem-solver and innovative, always looking for the positive outcome.
  They will relish the opportunity to spend long periods (several weeks at a stretch) living
  under expedition conditions (in tents) without access to mains electricity or running hot
  water.
• The successful candidate should demonstrate effective, inspirational and authoritative
  leadership to lead a team of field assistants that may include individuals with several
  decades’ experience of seabird research, to those who are just beginning their career and
  currently lack some of the necessary skills for the work ahead.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from mid-January 2024. For further
information [email protected].

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete
an application form.

This role will require completion of standard pre-employment checks.

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 eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship.