Ecologist - Tarras Valley Nature Reserve

The Company:

After 2 years of fundraising, in what was termed a moment of history and hope for people, nature and climate, the community of Langholm now legally owns 10,500 acres of the Tarras Valley and Langholm Moor.

The vast landholding is being developed into the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve. It includes upland moorland; ancient woodlands; river meadows; internationally important peatlands, and 8 properties including an upland hefted sheep farm.

About the role:

The Tarras Valley Ecologist role duties will involve:

• Carrying out ecological surveys which include general habitat assessment, breeding birds, protected species, herbivore impact and grazing impact assessment and invertebrate monitoring.
• Developing and implementing practical ecological monitoring frameworks
• Supporting and developing Citizen Science Monitoring
• Providing advice and guidance for holistic ecological restoration activities across the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve including projects, volunteering and land management.
• Support community engagement and help contribute to Tarras Valley communications and engagement activities around nature and restoration projects.
  

The Candidate:

It is crucial that you are comfortable working in a community setting, are an effective communicator and are willing to be flexible in your way of working. The work will involve a balance between office and site-based work throughout the year.

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent in relevant subject
• Excellent practical ecological surveying skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills – particularly with reporting, feedback on progress with projects and liaising with local community and other interest groups
• Ability to work alone and as part of a team
• Experience and evidence of delivering project outputs
• Ability to manage and prioritise a diverse workload
• Experience of report writing
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office and QGIS
• Passionate and enthusiastic about the vision of Tarras Valley Nature Reserve
• Developing and delivering ecological monitoring programmes
• Physically fit and able to work independently on remote upland environments
• Membership/chartership with CIEEM, or working towards this.

Desirable

• Experience of holistic ecosystem restoration initiatives within the Scottish context
• Experience of working with and/or licensed for bats, badgers, raptors, protected species
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Experience of communicating in a community setting
• Experience of reporting to a Board of Trustees.

The Package:

• We offer 35 days annual leave (including bank holidays) pro-rata for part-time
• We operate a dog friendly office
• Employer Pension contribution is 5.5%
• Time in Lieu (TOIL) system is in place alongside flexible working policies.