Assistant Warden - Cumbria Coast Reserves

Job Description

The Cumbria Coast team manage three reserve – Hodbarrow, St Bees Head and Campfield Marsh. All three reserves represent a variety of different habitats and species creating a varied and exciting portfolio. Campfield Marsh in the North of the county comprises of 360 hectares of peat bog, fen, wet grassland and saltmarsh on the south shore of the Solway Estuary.

Over the last five years the reserve has seen some exciting management changes due to a Countryside Stewardship scheme which has funded the installation of a new dynamic wetland system on the wet grassland, a network of saltmarsh restoration and bog edge habitat restoration. St bees head is home to a cliff nesting bird colony where thousands of seabirds nest every year including the only English breeding colony of black Guillemot.

Hodbarrow in the south of the county is home to up to 15% of the UK’S sandwich tern population it is hard to believe that the site was one of the largest iron mines in the world. The mine shut in the 1960’s and the RSPB bought the site in 1986. Where iron was hard won nature has now taken over and with the work of the RSPB and some innovative solutions to managing the tern colony the reserve is going from strength to strength.

What's the role about?

This role will involve the successful candidate working on a variety of habitats including a coastal lagoon, peat bog, sea cliffs, Saltmarsh, and wet grassland. Based predominantly at RSPB Campfield Marsh, we are recruiting for a permanent Assistant Warden. We are looking for someone who wants to take the next step in their career and join a supportive and positive team. Communication is key and we will be looking for someone who has worked in teams as well as on their own. Using your knowledge and enthusiasm you will bring new and innovative ideas to our team and help us manage amazing habitats for a wide variety of species.

As Cumbria Coast Assistant Warden, you will make an important contribution to the management of all three of our Reserves. You will be involved in the ecological management, visitor infrastructure upkeep and monitoring of species of all three sites. With three different reserves to manage there is a variety of species and habitats to get stuck into – every day is different in the Cumbria Coast Team.
You will be involved in all aspects of reserve management including:

• The use of machinery to manage vegetation and the habitats on all three reserves
• Maintaining livestock and predator fences
• Monitoring and recording all aspects of reserve species including bird species and productivity
• Planning and implementing dynamic water systems

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• You will have knowledge and experience of practical habitat and estate management.
• You will have a proven track record of working of completing work alone and working within a varied team.
• Comfortable managing and recruiting volunteers from a range of backgrounds
• Experience of monitoring bird populations and productivity
• General biological survey skills preferably with a specialism
• Full, manual driving licence.
• Knowledge and experience of practical habitat and estate management in an agricultural or wetland environment.
• Competent user of standard IT applications (e.g. MS packages, Outlook)
• Implementing and updating health and safety records and assessments.
• Excellent communication skills when working closely in a team or remotely.

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experience:

• Lantra or equivalent qualification in using equipment such as brushcutter, Sit- astride ATV and tractor, PA1/6 pesticides.
• Knowledge of servicing and maintaining vehicles, machinery, tools, and equipment to agreed standards.
• Agricultural or livestock knowledge

Additional information:

• This role will involve lone working and working in remote locations.
• This role will require occasional weekend, early morning and evening working so will need someone who is able to be flexible.

This is a Permanent role for 37.5 hours per week. We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from mid-February 2023. For further information please contact Mhairi.Maclauchlan@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.