Assistant Warden x2 - Eastern Solent Reserves

Job Description

The RSPB’s Eastern Solent Reserves are a network of coastal reserves covering almost 1800 hectares along the shores of West Sussex and Hampshire. Situated on the Manhood Peninsula, Pagham Harbour Local Nature Reserve is a natural harbour comprising of saltmarsh and mudflat, surrounded by wet grassland and reedbeds. As well as being a notable stop-over for migratory birds, it is an internationally recognised site for breeding shorebirds, including threatened Little terns and a growing Sandwich tern colony. A stone's throw away lies Medmerry, a ground-breaking and vast managed coastal realignment comprising of developing saltmarsh and grasslands, surrounded by a mosaic of nature friendly farming. The Langstone Harbour reserve is an archipelago of shingle, saltmarsh and mudflats set between Portsmouth and Hayling Island, home to one of the largest mixed seabird colonies on the south coast of England. In winter, the reserves become a haven for Brent geese and a large assemblage of wildfowl.

Based at the Pagham Harbour visitor centre, the warden team manage the reserves for wildlife, maintaining and improving habitats and playing an important role in local nature recovery. We are seeking two enthusiastic, competent and suitably qualified individuals to join the warden team, assisting with the annual work programme across the reserves in accordance with the management plans and maintaining visitor infrastructure on the sites to a very high standard in order to deliver a consistently excellent visitor experience.

What's the role about?

We are recruiting for two Assistant Wardens to support the warden team with the annual work programme across the Eastern Solent Reserves, working on a range of habitats including coastal saltmarsh, lowland wet grassland and shingle.

Based out of the office at Pagham Harbour, you will help with habitat works, infrastructure maintenance and repairs and biological surveys. You will assist with leading the weekly work parties, working closely with our volunteers and interns and ensuring everyone works safely and in accordance with risk assessments. You will also head up our intern programme, helping to train and inspire the next generation of wardens. You will help to implement and update health and safety records, leading on trail inspections across the reserves. You will also support the team in a number of upcoming habitat creation and improvement projects, managing contractors on the ground and feeding into the design process.

We are advertising for two contracts; both are full time, with one contract being permanent, and the other a year long fixed-term post with the possibility of extension or permanency at the end of the year.

What we need from you:

Essential skills include:

• You will have knowledge and experience of practical habitat and estate management, preferably in a wetland or agricultural environment.
• You will have a proven track record of working of completing work alone and working within a varied team.
• Comfortable managing volunteers from a range of backgrounds.
• Competent user of standard IT applications (eg Microsoft Office).
• Excellent communication skills.
• Full manual driving licence.

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

• Lantra / NPTC or equivalent qualification in using equipment such as brushcutter, chainsaw, tractor & sit-in ATV.
• RYA Powerboat Level 2 qualification.
• Knowledge of servicing and maintaining vehicles, machinery, tools and equipment to agreed standards.
• Experience of volunteer recruitment and line management.
• Implementing and updating health and safety records and assessments.
• Reasonable birdwatching knowledge and experience of biological surveys.
• Experience using GPS mapping software.

Additional information:

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

We are advertising for two roles. One is a Permanent role for 37.5 hours per week. The other is a Fixed-term role for 37.5 hours per week. Please indicate which contract you are interested in or both on the application form. All fixed-term roles can be made permanent without the need for further advertising.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position in the week commencing 20/12/2022. We are happy to offer interviews via Teams for any candidates unable to attend in person. For further information please contact adam.taylor@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application process, you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence of 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.