Stone-curlew Field Officer

We are looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic individual with skills in wildlife surveying to
join our team conserving Stone-curlews across the Wessex area.

Stone-curlews have undergone significant decline across the UK over the last century leaving
only two strongholds, the Brecks in East Anglia and Wessex. Thirty years of conservation
efforts have seen the population recover with the RSPB working closely with landowners and
farmers, including the MoD, to provide suitable habitat for breeding pairs. The population in
Wessex is now approaching 150 pairs, however continued recovery of this species relies on
monitoring and protection.

The postholder will be part of a small team working on the Wessex Stone-curlew project with a
particular focus on delivery of Stone-curlew monitoring and protection in the key area of
Salisbury Plain and the surrounding farmland. The role has a strong fieldwork focus during the
peak breeding season (April to September), excellent field skills are required for this tricky
and inconspicuous bird. The work includes locating Stone-curlew pairs, monitoring breeding
attempts, finding nests, liaising with farmers, contractors and landowners, and carrying out
intervention measures on vulnerable sites. Although the postholder will often be conducting
field work alone using their own initiative, they will also be taking a lead role working
alongside survey volunteers. Lone-working often in remote locations is commonplace in this
role. Some evening and weekend work will be required.

It is essential that the postholder is adept at managing time to balance a busy fieldwork
schedule, responding to farmers, colleagues and partners in a timely manner and ensuring
delivery of project management tasks to deadlines. For both the fieldwork and desk-based
elements of this role an ability to communicate confidently with farmers and landowners is
essential.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Higher level qualification in a relevant subject or equivalent work experience. 
• Previous experience of bird survey/ monitoring/ species protection work.
• Good knowledge of farmland wildlife and conservation mechanisms i.e Agri-environment
  Schemes. 
• Proven time management skills and organisational skills.
• Competent IT user – including MS Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• A full, manual driving licence that is valid in the UK.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• 4×4/off-road driving experience. 
• Experience of leading volunteers.
• The ability to work flexibly and during unsocial hours. 
• Ability to interpret and competently navigate using OS maps. 
• Good communication skills including talking confidently with farmers. 

Additional Information:

This is a Fixed-Term role for 6 months (April to September). Full-Time 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 from week commencing 11 March 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.