RSPB

Conservation Officer

As part of the RSPB NI’s Area Team working in East, you will deliver a range of work for priority species and habitats across County Down.

You will be a determined and enthusiastic team player with a passion for nature and a commitment to advise on some of Northern Ireland’s most important areas for farm wildlife.

Conservation Officer
Location: Across East County Down
Salary: £28,420.00 - £31,529.00 Per Annum
Duration: Full Time, permanent

In this varied role you will provide advice directly to farmers and land managers, coordinate and undertake surveys, manage a Team of dedicated volunteers and help deliver conservation projects to help nature thrive across County Down.

This role will allow you to develop your skills under guidance from colleagues, but a background understanding of landscape scale conservation, GIS and nature conservation delivery mechanisms is desirable, as is a knowledge of arable and mixed farming systems.

This role will sit within the RSPB NI East Area Team and report to the Conservation Manager. You will have an important external role, building positive relationships with key partners and stakeholders, advocating nature friendly farming methods, and showcasing what good looks like. A background in farm advisory and nature conservation delivery mechanisms is essential, as is an in-depth knowledge of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affair’s (DAERA) Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS).

Key responsibilities:

• Facilitating the RSPB NI County Down Farmland Bird Initiative (a group option within EFS)
• Providing advice, training and information to local communities, landowners, land managers and land use advisers on priority species and habitats, in close liaison with other members of the Conservation Team
• Submitting quarterly and annual claims and reports to project funders and stakeholders
• Acting as an EFS planner to produce site specific remedial management plans for farmers entering the scheme
• Manage and develop volunteers to ensure the delivery of an ambitious, focused work programme
• Undertaking and overseeing species/habitat surveys and monitoring work on sites to ensure delivery of site/s objectives. This includes mapping, and the gathering & management of electronic data
• Demonstrating best practice in terms of collaboration & communication,
• Managing medium and small projects using the RSPB’s Project Management Framework
• Supervising contractors to carry out work on sites safely and legally
• Building positive relationships with key decision-makers, external partners and stakeholders

   
Closing: Tuesday 28th March

To complete your application online, please CLICK HERE.

Closing Date: 28/03/2023  Location: Across East County Down