Assistant Warden

RSPB

Insh Marshes, Highland, Scotland
£27,123 - £28,956 pa
Full Time • Permanent
Closing on Sun, 17th Aug 2025

Conservation & Wildlife


This is a fantastic opportunity to work at the biggest and most naturally functioning floodplain wetland in Britain. Insh Marshes reserve is flanked by the stunning Cairngorm and Monadhliath mountain ranges. The reserve is home to a fantastic array of habitats, including sedge fen, wet grassland and woodland, and an incredible array of wildlife, including breeding waders, spotted crake and osprey, wintering hen harrier and whooper swan, and nationally important populations of invertebrates and plants.

We are looking for an energetic and well organised individual to become a member of our small but dedicated team.

What's the role about?

This role will include delivering wetland and woodland management along with the upkeep of reserve infrastructure which will entail habitat and practical estate management and managing and working with volunteers. Support will be provided by the Insh Marshes wardening team.

You will be an excellent communicator, this role will involve working alongside a wide range of audiences including graziers, neighbours and reserve visitors. The post holder will work closely with (and manage) local and residential volunteers therefore enthusiasm and experience of working with volunteers is essential. The successful candidate will be an important member of a small team, they will need to be organised and a good team player who can be flexible to accommodate a diverse work programme.

The applicant should enjoy working independently or with others as part of a team when required, as well as being able to cope with the physical demands of the role in all weather conditions. 

Key areas of work will include:

  • Habitat management to ensure conservation targets are being met.
  • Maintenance of machinery to ensure they are operating safely and efficiently.
  • Maintenance of buildings and infrastructure for visitors to ensure a positive visitor experience.
  • Monitoring of key species to enable performance to be managed and targets for improvements to be set.
  • Working as part of the team managing the RSPB herd of Konik ponies on the reserve.
  • Managing, leading and developing a high performing team of volunteers and staff.
  • 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.

What we need from you:

Essential knowledge, skills and experience:

  • Maintenance and use of machinery, tools and equipment.
  • Habitat management.
  • Working with livestock.
  • Microsoft Office packages including Word, Excel, and Outlook
  • Working unsupervised for extended periods
  • Communicate verbally with a wide range of audiences.
  • Manage oneself and others to prioritise and work to an agreed plan.
  • Practical land management experience and delivering estate management works.
  • Operating and maintaining machinery, equipment and infrastructure.
  • Full driving licence valid for use in the UK.

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

  • Lantra or equivalent qualifications in ATV, tractor driving, brushcutter, pesticides (City & Guilds/ NPTC 021649 formerly PA1 and C&G/NPTC 021654-152 formerly PAW).
  • Biological recording.
  • Implementing and updating health and safety records and assessments.
  • Organising and volunteer work parties.

Additional information:

  • This is permanent, full-time role for 37.5 hours per week.
  • This role will involve lone working and working in remote locations.
  • This role will require weekend and occasional early morning and evening working so will need someone who is able to be flexible.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 4th September 2025. For further information please contact [email protected] 

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.

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About RSPB

The RSPB is a charity for the conservation of birds and nature. We bring people together who love birds and other wildlife, and who want to take action to restore the health and diversity of the natural world. We carry out conservation on a large scale, protect and restore habitats, and save species from extinction. We’re living in a nature and climate emergency, and we won’t stop whilst the threats persist. We believe our work makes a real difference to the world we live in. It takes a great team to save nature and we need a wide range of skills to make it happen. As an RSPB employee, you will be helping to save nature every time you come to work. There’s never been a more important time to protect our wildlife and wild places, so we want to make sure you feel rewarded for everything you help us to achieve. 

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