Part Time Ribble Wader Monitoring Assistant

Job Description

This is a great seasonal opportunity to monitor priority breeding waders at a unique site in Lancashire on the Ribble Estuary. Newton Marsh and Freckleton Marsh are privately owned marshes linked to the nearby Ribble Estuary SSSI and The Ribble and Alt Estuary SPA. The marshes currently support breeding black-tailed godwits, Avocet, Redshank, Lapwing and Little Ringed Plovers.

What's the role about?

The role involves conducting breeding bird surveys at Newton and Freckleton Marshes and specific black-tailed godwit monitoring on Newton Marsh.

The monitoring of breeding black-tailed godwits will include, finding nests using thermal imagers, siting and monitoring nest cameras, and monitoring chicks to fledging across neighbouring farmland.

The post will be line managed and supported through our Ribble Reserves operations on the South side of the River Ribble near Southport.

Key activities will include:

• Carrying out five breeding bird surveys on both sites between April and July.
• Monitoring for breeding black-tailed godwits, including nest finding and chick productivity monitoring.
• Liaising with the Newton and Freckleton marsh managers and maintaining effective relationships.
• Working closely with neighbouring farmers.
• Maintaining survey records and producing an end of season report.
• The role will involve lone working.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience of conducting breeding bird surveys/monitoring on wet grassland or similar surveys/habitat.
• Excellent wader identification skills.
• Knowledge of, and adherence to, legal and practical requirements for ensuring own health and safety, sometimes in challenging. field conditions, for instance lone working.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of licencing and regulations surrounding field work, for instance on protected species in protected habitats
• Ability to use own initiative to solve day-to-day problems in the field
• Ability to be self motivated and work efficiently in the field including early mornings and late nights
• Practical scientific skills of a standard that provides the highest quality data
• Verbal communication skills to develop and maintain good working relations with marsh managers and neighbouring landowners
• Skilled use of Microsoft office including Word and Excel.
• A full, manual driving licence that is valid in the UK.

This is a fixed-term role for 4 months, part-time for 15 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 from 24 April 2024. For further information please contact wes.davies@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.