Part Time - Assistant Warden, North-East Scotland Coastal Reserves - (Fixed Term)

This is a great opportunity to work on a fantastic range of reserves on some of the most important areas for wildlife within the North-East of Scotland. The group of five reserves cover lochs, a range of associated wetland habitats, farmland, dunes systems, seabird cliffs and woodlands that are home to a diverse range of wildlife and we need your help to keep them special.
We are looking for someone enthusiastic with good practical and communication skills, and who will become a key part of our small, friendly, dedicated team.
What's the role about?
This role involves working with our Wardens, existing Assistant Warden and volunteers to help deliver our ambitious management plan targets across our suite of reserves in North-East Scotland.
This post will focus on the undertaking of habitat management, infrastructure maintenance, species monitoring and helping ensure all aspects of the reserve are as good as they can be. This role will also be working with volunteers, both residential and local.
You will be based at Loch of Strathbeg with regular work days at Loch Spynie and the potential for some work at Fowlsheugh, Troup Head & Meikle Loch.
Key Activities Will Include

• Undertaking species monitoring to assess the benefits of the on-site habitat management.
• Assisting with the provision of a safe working environment for all staff and volunteers
• Working with the team to deliver the reserves management programme.
• Recording and mapping of all works undertaken for annual reporting
• Contribute to the ongoing maintenance of reserves machinery in line with manufacturers recommendations

What We Need From You
Essential skills include:

• Comfortable managing volunteers from a range of backgrounds
• Full, manual, driving licence.
• You will have a proven track record of completing work alone and working within a varied team.
• Reasonable birdwatching knowledge and experience of biological surveys
• You will have knowledge and experience of practical habitat and estate management.

Desirable Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills And Experience

• Lantra or equivalent qualification in using equipment such as brushcutter, quad bike & 4x4 driving.
• Experience of staff or volunteer recruitment and line management.
• First aid qualification.
• Experience in working with livestock.
• Knowledge of servicing and maintaining vehicles, machinery, tools and equipment to agreed standards.
• Implementing and updating health and safety records and assessments.
• Computer literacy including experience of Microsoft Office packages including Word, Excel and Outlook.

Additional Information

• This role will involve lone working and working in remote locations.
• This role will require occasional weekend, early morning and evening working so will need someone who is able to be flexible.
• This is a very practical role with and expectation of c2.5 days a week either working on the reserve or within the workshop undertaking maintenance.

This is a Fixed-Term role (7 months) for 22.5 hours per week (3 days). 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 23 May 2023. For further information please contact [email protected].
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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.
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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.
Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.