Conservation Scientist

The Company:

The RSPB is a charity for the conservation of birds and nature. We bring people together who love birds and other wildlife, and who want to take action to restore the health and diversity of the natural world. We carry out conservation on a large scale, protect and restore habitats, and save species from extinction. We’re living in a nature and climate emergency, and we won’t stop whilst the threats persist.

We believe our work makes a real difference to the world we live in. It takes a great team to save nature and we need a wide range of skills to make it happen.

As an RSPB employee, you will be helping to save nature every time you come to work. There’s never been a more important time to protect our wildlife and wild places, so we want to make sure you feel rewarded for everything you help us to achieve.

The Candidate:

Essential skills, knowledge, and experience:

• Recognised expertise in marine ecology and conservation or other expertise relevant to casework e.g. population modelling, with the ability to apply these skills to seabirds. Proven scientific research experience (e.g., from timely completion of a PhD or managing a similar project; communicating to various audiences by writing reports).
• Knowledge of current conservation casework issues and practice, and conservation science, gained through experience of leading a scientific project and/or working on the ornithological assessment process for renewable developments.
• Skilled communicator, with the ability to use a range of mediums to influence others and engage with different audiences, often with opposing perspectives.
• Experience of building cooperative working relationships with external stakeholders, such as funding bodies, government agencies, developers, and collaborators.
• Knowledge of the models and methods underpinning the assessment of ornithological impacts of offshore work, including direct use and critical review, such that correct methods can be recommended to answer practical and analytical questions.
• Collecting, curating, and analysing large and complex data sets.
• Self-motivated and able to work efficiently under pressure to meet deadlines.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Specialist and up-to-date knowledge of how to apply complex analytical procedures to enable innovative, robust analysis and interpretation to data.
• Knowledge of the planning procedures and legal requirements for consent of renewable developments in the UK.

The Package:

• Fixed term role for 12 months, with flexibility for potential part time working or job share.
• Pension Scheme.
• Life Assurance Scheme.
• 26 days annual leave.