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| A bird worth fighting for! RSPB determined to increase Stone-curlew numbers in Wessex. Photo, via Wikimedia Commons, taken in Italy by Francesco Venonesi |
THE RSPB is seeking to recruit a Stone-curlew field officer in South-west England on a short-term contract.
The post will be based at the Winterbourne Downs nature reserve in Wiltshire and offers the salary equivalent of between £23,401 and £25,122 for the five-month post.
States the job description: "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 with complex and detail-orientated 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.
However, 30 years of conservation efforts have seen the population recover.
The RSPB works closely with landowners and farmers, including the Ministry of Defence to provide suitable habitat for breeding pairs.
The population in Wessex is now approaching 150 pairs, but, according to the RSPB, continued recovery of this species relies on monitoring and protection.
The job description continues: "The role has a strong fieldwork focus during the peak breeding season (April to September).
"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 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 will also be taking a lead role working alongside survey volunteers.
Lone working often in remote locations is commonplace in this role, and 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.
"The 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.
"It is also essential that the post holder can navigate complex spreadsheets.
"Experience of leading volunteers is also a requirement."
As with all its vacancies, the RSPB notes: "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.,"
The closing date for applications is February 25, with interviews on March 3 and a contract start-date of April 1.
Further information is available from: megan.gee@rspb.org.uk
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| Winterbourne Downs - photo: RSPB |
