Field Team Leader – Gough Island

The RSPB is looking to recruit a Field Team Leader to carry out research on Gough Island. This
work will primarily include 1) field and captive trials assessing House Mouse Mus
musculus behaviour and the effectiveness of eradication measures, and 2) the monitoring of
the two land birds (Gough Moorhen Gallinula comeri and Gough Bunting Rowettia
goughensis). In addition, it will also involve 3) a limited amount of seabird monitoring,
and likely 4) the control of an invasive plant Sagina procumbens. Please note,
this is a substantial change to the Field Team Leader work programme on Gough Island compared
to previous years, with the focus no longer being on seabirds. The post holder will
work alongside a Field Officer. Both posts will be for a period of ~15 months, consisting of
pre-deployment training and ~13 months deployment on Gough Island (precise shipping schedules
vary from year to year).

Gough Island (6,500 ha) is located in the South Atlantic Ocean and forms part of the UK
Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha, widely considered as one of the world’s most important
seabird breeding sites.

This position offers a unique opportunity for a highly motivated and disciplined individual
with relevant fieldwork skills and a keen interest in wildlife and eradication techniques for
invasive non-native species, who can adapt well to small island living in a challenging and
remote sub-Antarctic environment.

Work can be very intense, with frequent long hours of fieldwork and data entry and management,
so it is important to be well organised. Data are managed using databases and checked by
creating reports on a monthly basis, observing deadlines at frequent intervals.

The successful applicants for the Field Team Leader and Field Officer positions will be joining
and living with the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) over-wintering team of
seven meteorologists and support staff, bringing the total team size to nine people. The
successful applicants will be required to work within the requirements of SANAP’s
over-wintering teams, including sharing cooking and cleaning duties in communal living
quarters. Moreover, applicants should be aware that internet access on the island is
limited, and a service cannot be guaranteed – there may be long spells (months) with no
internet access. There are satellite phones for emergency use.

The ideal candidate will be able to cope with the above tasks and living arrangements and will
be confident in remote and challenging field situations. Applicants should have good awareness
of safety issues and be comfortable living in close quarters with other people from a diverse
range of cultures. The successful applicant will be highly driven, self-motivated, and able to
work unsupervised whilst following management decisions from a remote setting. 

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

1. A science degree or equivalent experience in a relevant subject, including the ability to
   implement scientific methodology accurately.
2. Knowledge of small mammal – preferably rodent – ecology and experience of monitoring,
   trapping, handling and captive trials.
3. Wild bird/animal handling and monitoring experience in the field with a focus on bird
   identification, bird banding/ringing.
4. Data collection/data management skills or a demonstrable ability to adhere to data
   collection, entry and management standards.
5. Leadership, management and site supervision of a team with a key focus on setting a clear
   direction, maintaining motivation and promoting safety.
6. Able to manage a work programme and deploy resources efficiently and effectively to achieve
   objectives, including needing to be flexible and adaptable to changing work requirements and
   workload.
7. Interpersonal skills with the tact, diplomacy, respect and negotiating skills to manage
   staff and develop and maintain good relations with the SANAP Team and the Tristan da Cunha
   Conservation Department and wider Tristan community – i.e., an ability to live and work in a
   very small team from a diverse range of cultures at a remote location for a prolonged period.
8. Knowledge of practical requirements for ensuring health and safety of staff working in
   challenging field conditions and living remotely.
9. Able to work in extreme conditions, sometimes for prolonged periods in the field, including
   by being physically fit and capable of carrying out fieldwork in very rugged terrain and
   inclement weather conditions in remote locations.
10. Report writing, including proficiency in standard software packages (MS Office, including
    Access), fluency in written and spoken English language.

Desirable:

1. Confident analysing and reporting data and experience of R statistical software.
2. Willingness to generate materials for communications purposes (e.g., photography of
   wildlife / fieldwork, writing blogs).
3. Experience of the ethics and regulations governing the use of animals in research (e.g., UK
   Home Office standards).
4. Knowledge of wilderness survival techniques and First Aid.
5. Practical/technical skills (e.g., carpentry, construction, camera trapping).
6. Ringing experience with valid BTO permit.

This is a Fixed-Term role until 31st October 2025 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 mid to end May. For further information
please contact [email protected]
or [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.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act 1974.