Senior Conservation Officer

Are you passionate about providing a future for Scotland’s wildlife? Do you have a clear
understanding of the challenges facing our marine, upland, farmland and wetland wildlife? Are
you a team player who wants to have wider impact? If so, we have a fantastic opportunity for
you to conserve species and habitats across the islands of Orkney by joining our Orkney team as
our permanent Senior Conservation Officer.

About the Role

In your role you will be responsible for developing, delivering and overseeing RSPB’s wider
countryside conservation work and managing associated staff on the islands to ensure
conservation of the many species and habitats of international importance and so ensure
delivery of relevant outcomes of RSPB’s Saving Nature Strategy across Orkney. The role will
lead, manage and develop the conservation team in the area, helping to deliver a work programme
focused on our priority landscapes including some of Scotland’s rarest and most iconic species
and habitats.

This will be achieved by using detailed knowledge and experience of the appropriate
conservation toolkit to ensure we achieve our objectives. This may include site safeguard
casework, species recovery work, land management advice, overseeing conservation projects and
engagement in land use and marine policy. 

This post will have a key role in instigating and managing programmes and projects across the
Area and in association with RSPB colleagues. This includes those led by RSPB in the local area
such as Species on the Edge and those where delivery is achieved across wider partnerships. You
will be proactive with other island stakeholders to deliver ambitious targets for key marine,
upland, wetland, peatland & farmland species and habitats. The position will have an
important external role, building positive relationships with key partners and stakeholders so
that RSPB’s policies and messages are understood and furthered within relevant partnerships and
fora. As the conservation leader within the area team, you will contribute expertise to the
Area management structures, monitoring and reporting on the work plan and development of new
work plans and/or project ideas. You will also be expected to contribute expertise and
experience to RSPB’s policy and advocacy work and contribute to the delivery of our funding and
communications objectives, through communicating our conservation messages in various ways. 

You will ensure we can identify threats to priority species and habitats and work with internal
staff and external stakeholders to develop and implement projects, strategies and programmes of
work to address these threats. You will lead on casework response in the islands and manage
projects and internal budgets and staff. You will help shape where we carry out species
recovery work across the islands and help spot out future opportunities to work on our key
species and habitats. You will help shape and deliver the Orkney Local biodiversity action plan
in partnership with stakeholders. You will liaise with our research, planning and policy
colleagues to conserve our island wildlife

This is a fantastic opportunity to play your part in being at the forefront of delivering RSPB
Scotland’s conservation work within an area of Scotland that is incredibly rich in biodiversity
– if that sounds like the job for you, we would love to hear from you.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Degree-level qualification in a relevant subject or ability to show equivalent work
  experience
• Experience of managing staff or volunteers
• Experience of managing projects
• Knowledge of the wildlife and habitats of Orkney and relevant delivery mechanisms available
  to conserve them
• Ability to form effective teams (both internal and partnership) and work effectively as a
  team player and leader
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and presentational) – including an ability
  to speak confidently and cogently in public and advocating a position to those who may have a
  different view
• Experience of working to survey, protect and/or manage important sites, species or habitats
• Ability to rapidly analyse significant quantities of information, prioritise and balance a
  diverse workload often to tight deadlines
• Sufficient understanding of landscape scale conservation; land use and management; planning
  systems; to be able to lead casework response and advise staff on appropriate responses and
  interventions.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience of raising funds from external sources for projects
• Experience of public engagement work
• Experience of major site conservation casework
• Specialist conservation knowledge in relevant areas, such as wetland, upland, farmland,
  marine conservation
• Experience of living in remote areas

Additional Information

This is a full-time, 6-month contract with the possibility of extension. Please note that we
are actively recruiting for this position and reserve the right to close the vacancy once
sufficient applications have been received. For all role enquiries 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.