Curlew LIFE Monitoring Officer

Curlews have declined by 48% in the UK since the mid-1990s and populations are unstable. Curlew LIFE is a 4 year project supported by the EU LIFE programme and other partners, which aims to reverse these declines in five priority UK landscapes. We are working with land managers and communities to improve habitat and raise awareness of curlew conservation issues. We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Monitoring Officer to support our monitoring programme during the 2024 breeding season. You will be working with RSPB staff and volunteers and liaising with local farmers in our Northern England Curlew LIFE project site at Hadrian’s Wall on the border of Northumberland and Cumbria undertaking a range of ecological surveys. 

Specific tasks:

• Undertaking ecological surveys assessing bird abundance and breeding success, as well as basic habitat surveys and undertaking mammalian predator transects.
• Nest location and monitoring curlew productivity.
• Setting up and maintaining remote nest cameras.
• Work in a small team to set up, maintain and dismantle temporary nest protection fencing.

We require you to be based in or near your working area. RSPB will provide a vehicle for the fieldwork. The terrain can be challenging. Flexibility is required to ensure surveys are completed within the dedicated period.

What we need:

• Sound knowledge of natural history in general (ornithology in particular) especially upland habitats and species.
• Identification of upland bird species by sight and sound.
• Experience of territory mapping.
• Capable of working independently and prepared to spend whole days working alone in remote areas on difficult terrain.
• Able to work flexible and unsociable hours and occasionally weekends to ensure survey period deadlines are met.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Full Driver license or ability to access remote locations without public transport
• Ability to consistently and accurately record data in the field and in GIS.
• Other project duties as required by your line manager.
• Previous practical experience of nest location and monitoring - Desirable

For all application/role enquiries please contact – Ian Cole – Curlew LIFE Project Officer (Geltsdale & Hadrian’s Wall), ian.cole@rspb.org.uk

This is a Fixed-Term 6 month contract, Full-Time role for 37.5 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 from 28th February 2024. Please note that you will be required to upload a CV and complete an application form where you will have the opportunity to tell us why you are best suited for this role.

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