Project Officer – Natur am Byth (Lleyn and Anglesey)

Job Description

Project Officer – Natur am Byth (Lleyn and Anglesey)

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

The Lleyn peninsula and Isle of Anglesey has many special habitats, including wet grassland, lowland heath, soft cliffs, sand dunes and fens, but some of their most important species, such as curlew, chough, spotted rockrose and large mason bee, are declining and at risk of extinction.

We are seeking a passionate wildlife conservationist to work with project partners, land managers, local people and volunteers to secure a long-term future for these species in Wales as part of Natur am Byth.

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.

We are looking for a hard-working individual with an interest in natural history to support a 4-year programme of practical conservation management, ecological monitoring and people engagement activities across the Lleyn Peninsula and Isle of Anglesey. You will be involved in engaging with landowners and managers, the RSPB Reserve and Conservation team, partner organisations and local communities across this landscape to empower more people to take action for nature on their doorstep.

The Project Officer will play a key role in implementing conservation interventions and monitoring their success through ecological surveys. Planned conservation actions for the target species include:

• creation and protection of curlew nesting and foraging habitat;
• ditch and pond maintenance for Baltic and dwarf stonewort, clubbed general soldier fly, Limnephilus tauricus caddisfly, shore dock and water vole;
• restoration of coastal grassland and heath for chough, Cladonia peziziformis lichen, large mason bee and spotted rock-rose;
• sand dune management for dwarf rush;
• scrub clearance for black night-runner ground beetle, Desmoulin's whorl snail and six-spotted crane fly;
• translocation of Geyer's whorl snail and juniper.

You will consult with project partners to finalise conservation plans for each target species and obtain any consents required. The Project Officer will also liaise with landowners and managers to increase their awareness of target species, provide conservation advice, and secure permissions for surveying and habitat management tasks. Your role in the surveying of target species and their habitats will be crucial in enabling the implementation of conservation interventions, and the adjustment of conservation advice to landowners and managers.

Both contractors and volunteers will be required to deliver practical conservation management and ecological monitoring for the target species. As well as supporting the Project Manager with the procurement and management of contractors on site, the Project Officer will play an important role in developing and implementing a programme of people engagement activities and volunteer tasks, providing people with experiences of nature and an opportunity to take part in conserving the rarest and most endangered species on the Lleyn peninsula and Isle of Anglesey now and in the future.

What we need from you

Essential skills, knowledge and experience

• Good basic knowledge of UK wildlife, including some of the target species.
• Computer literacy - Microsoft Office.
• Experience of practical conservation management and ecological monitoring.
• Community engagement - working with the public and volunteers and delivering events to engage different audiences.
• Working with project teams and stakeholders.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience

• Written and spoken Welsh.
• Organising training events, workshops or facilitated discussions and meetings.
• Experience of working with land managers and/or contractors.

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 full-time role at 37.5 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.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on Friday 5th 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.