Estate Worker - Carnforth

Job Description

We are looking for an enthusiastic and practical person with land management and machinery skills to play a key role in the wardening team at Leighton Moss and Morecambe Bay Nature Reserve near Silverdale, Lancashire.

This is an exciting and at times complex role, undertaking practical estate management and maintenance on this iconic site. The successful candidate will be involved in the practical aspects of managing a busy nature reserve including, among other things, visitor trails, hides and other infrastructure; livestock fencing and handling facilities; building maintenance; habitat management on a range of habitats from Reedbed to Limestone grassland. As the estate worker, you will be responsible for the maintenance of all reserve machinery and vehicles as well as having a good practical knowledge of workshops and DIY tasks.

An enthusiasm for and interest in the natural world is preferable and a joy of working outdoors in all weathers is essential. The successful candidate will be trained to lead effective volunteer work parties and manage small contracts with an emphasis on a safe working culture. Training will also be provided in machinery necessary for the role.

Key areas of work will include:

• Maintenance of buildings and infrastructure to ensure they are operating as required.
• Maintenance of livestock infrastructure to ensure we meet all animal welfare and cross compliance legislation.
• Routine operation, record keeping, servicing and maintenance of machinery and vehicles to ensure they are operating safely and efficiently.
• Habitat management and grounds maintenance to ensure conservation and visitor experience targets are being met.
• Keeping up to date health and safety records to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and to enable improvements to be set.
• Being responsible for completing all above tasks in compliance with Health & Safety policy to minimise risk to the RSPB.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Servicing and maintaining vehicles, machinery, tools and equipment to high standard.
• Machinery and equipment operations.
• Practical land management experience and delivering estate management works.
• Experience of maintaining buildings and infrastructure, such as hides or boardwalks.
• The ability to work unsupervised, within a team or leading a team.
• Experience of working with and managing volunteers.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Vertebrate management – American mink and deer species.
• Knowledge/understanding of nature conservation.
• Lantra or equivalent qualification in tractors, trailers, chainsaws, brushcutters, dumpers, 360 excavators, boats and vehicles.
• Biological survey and monitoring experience.

Additional information:

This role will involve occasional lone working and working in remote locations. This role will require occasional weekend, early morning and evening working.

This is a permanent full-time role, starting April 2023. We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 9th March 2023 at RSPB Leighton Moss and Morecambe Bay Reserve visitor centre.

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.

Open briefings

If this sounds like the role for you and you'd like more information on what the day-to-day responsibilities are, or a chance to ask questions, please book on to an open briefing. Open briefings are held online and are up to 1 hour long, with a short presentation from our hiring manager to talk through the practicalities of the role and cover frequently asked questions or concerns. Open briefings aim to break down barriers people from different and diverse backgrounds may face when applying for roles in the sector. They are entirely optional to attend. The open briefing for this role is likely to be in the week commencing 20th of February in the early evening.

To express your interest to attend the open briefing for this advertised role, or if you have any role enquiries, please contact Richard.Miller@rspb.org.uk

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes at the top of this advert. Ensure that, when filling out your application form, you cover all the essential and desirable criteria.