Part-Time - People Engagement Officer – Natur am Byth (Cefni Valley, Anglesey)

Job Description

Would you be interested in joining a team to help conserve the most endangered species in north-west Wales?

The Cefni Valley is one of 12 Important Curlew Areas in Wales, and it is also a stronghold for water vole.

We are seeking an enthusiastic individual with a passion for nature conservation to work with local farmers, our RSPB Reserve team and volunteers to secure a long-term future for curlew and water vole in the Cefni Valley on Anglesey.

What’s the role about?

Natur am Byth unites nine environmental charities and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to deliver the country’s largest natural heritage and people engagement programme to save species from extinction and connect people to nature. Please click this link for more information.

Urgent action is required to save the last breeding populations of curlew in Wales, and Natur am Byth is supporting vital conservation efforts for this wader species in the Cefni Valley. The People Engagement Officer will liaise with private landowners and farmers to raise the profile of curlew, and secure support and permissions for monitoring and nest protection during the breeding season. You will work closely with the Conservation Monitoring Officer to locate curlew nests, install temporary electric fencing and monitor activities of chicks, keeping land managers up-to-date and increasing the likelihood of breeding success by providing advice and support.

In addition to curlew, the Cefni Valley is also home to a key population of water vole. The People Engagement Officer will encourage private landowners and farmers to continue habitat management that benefits both species and explore new opportunities for nature conservation. These initiatives will be secured by inspiring landowners to engage and then negotiating land management agreements that deliver favourable habitat management for curlew and water vole now and in the future. You will identify any barriers to conservation work and find solutions to these problems. During the development phase of Natur am Byth, farmers in the Cefni Valley raised concerns with water management and you will play an important role in finding a resolution by engaging with project partners, and other key stakeholders. There is also significant scope to provide updates on the new Sustainable Farming Scheme and support the enrolment of Cefni Valley farmers into this new agri-environment scheme in the future.

The People Engagement Officer will play an important role in developing and implementing a programme of activities for the local community, providing people with experiences of nature in the Cefni Valley. By raising awareness and understanding of curlew and water vole conservation, we can build support within the local community and develop a volunteer team that will help secure a long-term future for both species, and other wildlife in the Cefni Valley.

What we need from you

Essential skills, knowledge and experience

• A good listener and an excellent verbal communicator able to share conservation messages in a way that is understood by a range of audiences and that engenders their support.
• Written and spoken Welsh.
• Good basic knowledge of UK wildlife, including curlew and water vole.
• Computer literacy - Microsoft Office.
• Community engagement - working with the public and volunteers and delivering events to engage different audiences.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience

• Geographical knowledge of location.
• Organising training events, workshops or facilitated discussions and meetings.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and working in partnerships to achieve shared outcomes.
• An awareness and understanding of co-design in landscape scale conservation.

Please note that the successful candidate will live within a reasonable travelling distance of Lleyn and Anglesey. It is an essential requirement that you can travel independently to sites where public transport may not be available. Expenses will be paid for costs in excess of normal travel.

This is a part-time role at 15 hours per week on a fixed-term contract for 3 years and 5 months. 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.

For your information, we will soon be advertising a similar, part-time community engagement role for the Curlew LIFE project in Conwy (2.5 days per week).

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on Thursday 11th January. For further information, please contact jack.slattery@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.

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.

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

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

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