With support from National Trust, RSPB seeks to appoint Recreational Disturbance Programme Manager

The Shelduck and Brent Geese are too far away, so this off-the-lead canine targets a Carrion Crow

THE RSPB and the National Trust have teamed up to create an important new post with a salary of up to £41,856 per annum

The organisations are seeking to appoint a  Recreational Disturbance Programme Manager on a two- year contract.

Says the job description: "The RSPB strongly supports responsible access to nature.

"It has proven physical and mental health benefits. Being immersed in nature is how many people learn to understand, love and want to care for it. 

"However, it is also true that there is some human behaviour which can unintentionally be damaging to wildlife.

"When recreational activity - for example,  dog walking and jet-skiing - causes a change in behaviour or directly damages wildlife or their habitats, the impact can be significant, particularly for sensitive species."

It continues: "As Programme Manager, you will be exceptionally self-motivated, using your initiative to collate information about recreational disturbance impacts and best-practice interventions, maintaining an overview of the big picture without getting lost in the detail. 

"You will need excellent people and networking skills to engage with stakeholders across the conservation sector to determine what work is already happening, collate and share best practice, and identify evidence gaps and opportunities for new projects and support their development. 

"You will lead on communications/advocacy with recreational groups and will act as a single point of contact, helping the sector to share best practice more effectively."

This role is jointly funded by RSPB and the National Trust. 

The role will work across all four UK countries and will be managed by the RSPB, but it will report to a steering group with representatives from different organisations across the conservation sector. 

 Key activities will include:

* Collating and maintaining an overview of who is doing what when it comes to recreational disturbance. This will involve online research and conversations with people from a range of organisations.

* Creating and maintaining an online hub for sharing of recreational disturbance best practice.

* Communicating with land managers, recreational bodies, enforcement agencies and regulators to advocate for recreational disturbance management measures. 

* Identifying gaps in our current evidence base and workplans, then developing ways to fill those gaps. This may include submitting funding bids for additional disturbance-related roles.

* Organising conferences and meetings to support sharing of best practice.

* Line management of externally funded roles/volunteers as required.

* Representing RSPB - or supporting other RSPB representatives - on appropriate forums and groups across the four countries as required.

Experience of project and programme management approaches.

Experience/knowledge of recreational disturbance management interventions.

We expect the post-holder to be home-based with occasional travel to locations across the UK, including overnight stays.

The RSPB says this is a two-year fixed-term full-time role for 37.5 hours per week. 

The closing date for applications is May 5, and more  information is available from meriel.harrison@rspb.org.uk 

                                                 

Watch out, jet-ski about! Panicking shorebirds take to the sky