Assistant Warden - North Kent Marshes (Fixed-Term)

Job Description

The North Kent Marshes team are looking for an enthusiastic, resilient and resourceful person to help deliver its conservation objectives across the 4 reserves on the Hoo Peninsula; Northward Hill, Cliffe Pools, Higham Marshes and Shorne Marshes until March 2023. The North Kent reserves consist of a variety of habitats; grazing marsh, saline and brackish lagoons, woodland, scrub and reedbeds. These habitats hold a variety of breeding birds such as Lapwing, Redshank, Nightingale, Marsh harrier and large colonies of breeding Herons and Egrets.

What's the role about?

The successful applicant will undertake a range of habitat management and species monitoring activities across the suite of reserves in North Kent. Ideally, you will have experience in grazing marsh and woodland habitat management as well as species monitoring in these habitats. This post will, undoubtedly, enhance and develop your skills and knowledge to progress your career.

Key areas of work will include:

• Habitat management as defined by the reserve’s management plans and agri-environment agreement.
• Leading and inspiring the reserve’s volunteer team, including Residential and non-residential interns.
• Monitoring of key species and habitats.
• Maintaining high standards of health and safety to minimise risk to the RSPB and to ensure understanding and compliance of health and safety while undertaking duties.
• Monitoring and maintaining reserve operations as compliant according to the various agreements and standards.
• Use of and maintenance of machinery to ensure they are operating safely and efficiently.
• Maintenance of livestock and other infrastructure to ensure it is fit for purpose.
• Collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders from wider team members, neighbours, graziers, Reserve Ecologists etc.
• General administration and report writing associated with all of the above to ensure admin and reports are up to date and systematically organised.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Energy, adaptability and the desire to achieve.
• Experience of estate management, especially electric anti-predator fences.
• Well organised approach to work including developing and effective prioritisation of workplans and workloads.
• The ability to work unsupervised, within a team or leading a team.
• Implementing and updating health and safety records and assessments.
• Experience in the safe operation and maintenance of machinery, tools and equipment.
• Experience and knowledge of lowland wet grassland habitat management for breeding and wintering waders and wildfowl.
• Experience and knowledge of woodland management.
• Experience and knowledge of surveys and monitoring of key species, especially breeding waders.
• Full driving licence or ability to access remote locations.

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

• Lantra or equivalent qualification in using equipment such as brushcutter and tractor, PA1/6AW pesticides and chainsaw.
• Experience of working with contractors/graziers
• Knowledge of the requirements of agri-environment and cross-compliance regulations.

This is a Fixed-Term, Full-Time role, working 37.5 hours per week until 31st March 2023. The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 7th September 2022. For further information please contact joseph.tidbury@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application process you will be asked to 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.