Stone-curlew Field Officer (Fixed Term)
| Dyddiad hysbysebu: | 06 Chwefror 2026 |
|---|---|
| Cyflog: | £24,571.00 i £26,231.00 bob blwyddyn |
| Gwybodaeth ychwanegol am y cyflog: | 24571 - 26231 |
| Oriau: | Llawn Amser |
| Dyddiad cau: | 25 Chwefror 2026 |
| Lleoliad: | Winterbourne, SP4 0HE |
| Cwmni: | Vacancy Filler |
| Math o swydd: | Cytundeb |
| Cyfeirnod swydd: | JAN20262708 |
Crynodeb
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. The ideal candidate will be self-led and have experience engaging with landowners/farmers as well as experience engaging in detail-oriented work.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. The RSPB works 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 and will be responsible for delivery of Stone-curlew monitoring and protection, mostly in the key area of Salisbury Plain and surrounding farmland, but possibly in the wider Wessex area as well. Excellent field skills are required for this tricky and inconspicuous bird, including experience with optics and the ability to spot minute details from a distance. 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. The work also has a strong data gathering and recording component with the need to record measurements quickly and accurately. The field officer will also be required to maintain electronic records. Although the postholder will often be conducting field work alone using their own initiative, they may also work alongside volunteers. Lone working often in remote locations is commonplace in this role. Some evening and weekend work will be required. The field officer will need to be comfortable driving a 4x4 vehicle off road and spending multiple hours per day in a vehicle. Stone-curlew pairs are spread across a wide geographical area and a significant proportion of the monitoring is done from inside a vehicle using a window mounted spotting scope.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 such as data entry 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.Strong data management skills and willingness/ability to input data within an Excel spreadsheet in a timely manner whilst balancing a busy fieldwork schedule. Ability to interpret and competently navigate using OS maps. Good communication skills including talking confidently with farmers. Proven time management skills and organisational skills. A full, manual driving licence that is valid in the UK.The ability to work flexibly and during unsocial hours. Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:4x4/off-road driving experience. Previous experience monitoring breeding stone-curlew.Knowledge of farmland wildlife and conservation mechanisms i.e. Agri-environment and Countryside Stewardship Schemes. Competent IT user - including MS Word, Excel, and Outlook. Additional Information:This is a fixed-term role for 5 months (April to August), 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.As part of this application you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete a short form with cover letter section. Please evidence how you meet the essential and desirable criteria in the cover letter section.Please note that we are actively recruiting for this vacancy, and reserve the right to close once sufficient applications have been received.We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from week commencing 2nd March 2026 with the view for the postholder to start in early April. For further information please contact julie.sims@rspb.org.uk 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.