Seasonal Project Officer: Esk and Tay Rivers - Tay District Salmon Fishery Board, Perth

The Company:

The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative is a multi-year project in northern Scotland, which aims to encourage communities to tackle invasive non-native species such as Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and American mink. It is funded by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund.

Key responsibilities:

• Deliver a practical work programme of invasive non-native plant control working with the Project Officer, independently, with land managers and with volunteers.
• Work with local land-managers, ghillies, gamekeepers, communities, and other stakeholders to recruit, coordinate and maintain a network of volunteers supporting both invasive plant and American mink control.
• Liaise, motivate and communicate with volunteers to ensure continued engagement with the project.
• Organise and lead volunteers in the control and clearance of invasive non-native plants.
• Ensure that Health and Safety requirements are met and project protocols followed.
• Record volunteer tasks undertaken and time spent in these tasks.
• Record the extent and abundance of priority invasive plant species at control sites (using project protocols) as part of our assessment of project outcomes and impacts.
• After training, support our mink control programme to:
  
  • Set-up, maintain and operate mink rafts, traps and Remoti notification devices run
    by volunteers, land managers and project and partner staff
  • Identify new trap locations and secure necessary landowner permissions to operate
  • Ensure the humane dispatch of mink by qualified staff or volunteers
• Gather materials and content to support promotion of project activities, events, success and engagement with volunteers and for use on the project website and social media platforms.

The Candidate:

• Motivated and enthusiastic to undertake tasks with other project staff
• Physically fit to carry out manual clearance of invasive non-native plants
• Advantageous to have experience of leading or working with volunteer groups
• Advantageous to have an interest and general knowledge of environmental conservation or invasive non-native species management
• Good record keeping skills
• Good communication skills and able to deliver projects with supervision and independently
• Advantageous to hold City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in PA1 (safe use of pesticides), PA6 (handheld applicator) and W (for use by water) qualification
• Advantageous to hold First Aid at Work or Outdoor First Aid qualification
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential.

Please submit your CV and a covering letter (no more than 2 pages), outlining your relevant skills and experience for the job to – sisi@nature.scot