Part-Time - Estate Worker - (Fixed Term)

Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, energetic and practical person to join the team in the Aire Valley, supporting the Warden and Assistant Warden to care for Fairburn Ings Nature Reserve. This is an exciting role that will help us to deliver our annual habitat and estate management, keeping Fairburn Ings a special place for wildlife and people.

Comprised of a mosaic of habitats including dry grassland, woodland and reedbed, Fairburn Ings is home to some incredible breeding species such as bittern, willow tit, spoonbill and harvest mouse, and attracts more than 50,000 visitors each year.

As our Estate Worker you will lead teams of volunteers in a range of practical habitat management and infrastructure maintenance tasks around the reserve, playing a key role in the implementation of our conservation management objectives. You will spend a high proportion of your day working out on the reserve so will need to enjoy working outdoors and have a love of nature. You’ll have plenty of energy and a willingness to learn and develop as part of your role.

This position is a fantastic opportunity for somebody starting out in their conservation career to gain invaluable experience and improve their knowledge and skills.

What you'll be doing:

• Leading teams of volunteers, including young volunteers and corporate work parties
• Practical habitat management tasks as defined by the reserve’s management plan to ensure conservation targets are being met
• Maintenance of reserve infrastructure to ensure an excellent visitor experience
• Maintenance of tools and machinery to ensure they are operating safely and efficiently
• Maintaining a high standard of health and safety at all times to minimise risk to the RSPB
• Keeping health and safety and other records up to date to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and to enable improvements to be set
• Assisting with reserve ecological monitoring and surveying

Essential knowledge, skills and experience:

• Experience of practical habitat management and estate management tasks
• Experience of using and maintaining a range of tools and equipment
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills
• Experience of working on your own and using your own initiative
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Knowledge and interest in nature conservation

Desirable knowledge, skills and experience:

• Full, manual driving licence that is valid in the UK or ability to access remote locations
• Experience of operating and maintaining machinery and vehicles
• Experience or knowledge of ecological surveying and monitoring

This is a six-month fixed term Contract, Part Time role for 22.5 hours per week.

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 on 11th February 2023. For further information please contact karen.swaffield@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.

If you wish to provide a cover letter with your application, please include this at the end of your CV document upload.

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.