Assistant Warden - Lower Lough Erne

Have you got experience of practical habitat management, and do you want to make a difference to the wildlife of Lower Lough Erne, co Fermanagh? If so, apply to join our team!

The Reserve is made up 47 islands on Lower Lough Erne, the UK’s second largest freshwater lake. It supports an incredible array of wildlife ranging from breeding waders such as curlew and lapwing to red squirrels, Irish hares and priority invertebrate species. You will join the Lower Lough Erne reserve team in looking after a range of habitats, including wet grassland supporting high numbers of breeding waders, and will assist with a variety of tasks, such as habitat management, livestock operations and monitoring of priority species. The successful candidate will be trained to use the ‘cot’ – a specially designed boat used to move livestock and equipment around the islands that make up the reserve. You will assist with the day to day implementation of the management plan for the reserves and to assist with projects off site as required.

What we need from you:

You will be part of a small but highly motivated team of staff and volunteers and will be involved in the following tasks:

• Habitat management to ensure conservation targets are being met.
• Maintenance of machinery to ensure they are operating safely and efficiently.
• Monitoring of key species and habitats to enable performance to be managed and targets for improvements to be set.
• Mapping, gathering and managing electronic data to ensure data and maps are stored and can be used and assessed by others.
• Maintaining high standards of health and safety to minimise risk to the RSPB and to ensure understanding and compliance of health and safety while undertaking duties.
• Assisting at events to generate income.
• General administration and report writing associated with all of the above to ensure admin and reports are up to date and systematically organised.

 Essential skills include:

• You will have an aptitude for gaining knowledge and acquiring new skills
• Experience of boats and working on water, or motivation to learn these skills
• Good ecological/general natural history knowledge
• You will have knowledge and experience of practical habitat and estate management.
• You will have a proven track record of working alone and working within a varied team.
• Reasonable birdwatching knowledge and experience of biological surveys
• Be willing to assist with predator control to benefit ground nesting birds
• Full driving licence.

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

• Lantra or equivalent qualification in using equipment such as brushcutter and tractor, PA1/6 pesticides.
• Knowledge of servicing and maintaining vehicles, machinery, tools and equipment to agreed standards.
• Experience of staff or volunteer recruitment and line management.
• Implementing and updating health and safety records and assessments.

Additional information:

• This role will involve lone working and working in remote locations.
• This role will require occasional weekend, early morning and evening working so will need someone who is able to be flexible.

This is a Permanent Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week. 

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from w/c 22nd April 2024. For further information please contact nancy.reed@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.