Warden – Lakenheath Fen

Would you like to work across two priority landscapes? The dry sandy soils of the Brecks and
the wet peat of the Fens looking after some amazing and iconic species like stone curlews and
cranes? If so then this might be the job for you.

The Lakenheath Fen team are seeking to recruit a new Warden to lead on
management of our Cavenham Quarry site and to assist in the management of Lakenheath Fen.
Cavenham is a restored quarry working of 70 hectares in size. Most of the site is dry acid
grassland and supports a significant population of breeding stone curlews. Lakenheath Fen is a
wetland RSPB created from arable farmland over the last 25 years and its reedbeds support
bitterns, marsh harriers and cranes in nationally important numbers.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and resourceful person to join our small team.
The successful candidate would lead on the management of the Cavenham site and would assist in
the management at Lakenheath. Applicants should have a good natural history knowledge
especially of dry grassland and wetland and be able to quickly and effectively integrate into a
small team. You would have good organisational skills and experience of running and working
with volunteers. This is a full time post with occasional weekend working in the visitor centre
at Lakenheath.

At Cavenham key work will include delivering the new Countryside Stewardship agreement, both
options and capital works. This will involve working with the grazier and contractors. Ensuring
the predator fence is maintained and effective, monitoring key breeding species notably stone
curlew and managing deer control on site and liaising with neighbours. Other habitat management
will include scrub control both with contractors and volunteer groups and working with Natural
England on bare ground creation.

At Lakenheath you will be working with the rest of the team on the full range of habitat
management, monitoring and visitor services. This will include assisting with reedbed, wet
grassland and woodland management. Lakenheath is currently undertaking a significant habitat
creation project which also involves carbon credits and biodiversity net gain and you will be
involved in helping the site manager deliver this work. With a small team everyone takes turns
in duty manager work at weekend in the visitor centre.

Essential Skill, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of dry grassland and associated species management and some knowledge of wetland
  habitat management notably reedbeds and wet grassland and associated species including
  bitterns, cranes and marsh harriers.
• Experience of practical land management in grasslands and wetlands.
• Experience in the safe operation and maintenance of machinery, tools, equipment and the
  health and safety associated including risk assessments record keeping.
• Experience of leading, managing and motivating volunteers.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Proven time management and organisational skills.
• Working unsupervised for extended periods, as part of a team or leading a team.
• A full, manual driving licence that is valid in the UK to drive the reserve pickup trucks
  between the two reserves.
• LANTRA or equivalent qualification for ATV, chainsaw, brushcutter and pesticide
  certification PA1 and PA6AW.
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office packages including Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Problem solving skills, creating well thought through practical solutions.

Desirable Skills

• Experience of GIS mapping software and report writing.
• LANTRA clearing saw, weed wiper and tractor driving.
• Knowledge of Agri-Environment schemes especially Countryside Stewardship.
• Experience of predator control including fox and north American mink.

This is a Permanent Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week with occasional weekend working as
you will be required to act as duty manager in the visitor centre at Lakenheath Fen. The role
will involve lone working in remote locations as well as early morning survey work. 

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on 19 April 2024. For further
information please contact [email protected].

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

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes.