Turtle Dove Conservation Advisor (Kent)

The Turtle Dove is the UK’s fastest declining bird species. While promising progress has been made to cease the unsustainable hunting of Turtle Doves in Europe, suitable habitat and food availability is declining in their UK breeding ground. We are working hard with partner organisations, farmers and land owners to provide vital feeding and breeding areas. Would you like to join our team to lead the recovery of the Turtle Dove?

About the Role

This maternity cover position offers the chance to play an important role in Turtle Dove recovery in east Kent (the geographic focus).  We're seeking a confident and proactive Turtle Dove Conservation Advisor to build and maintain relationships and create and enhance Turtle Dove feeding and nesting areas.

You'll work directly with farmers and land managers, providing tailored conservation advice to support Turtle Dove recovery.  You'll also manage a small team of volunteers, oversee monitoring and help shape land-management strategies.

You will need to be motivated and able to undertake independent learning, ensuring that you keep up to date with current grant schemes and best ecological practices relating to land management.  Working together with counterparts to share ideas and knowledge. You will need to be based in or close to Kent.

Key activities include

• Build and maintain relationships with farmers, landowners and managers providing tailored conservation advice
• Stay up to date with current grant schemes and funding
• Provide advice and training such as bird identification and habitat management
• Provide conservation information and specialist knowledge 
• Influence the development and implementation of land-management guidance and agri-environment schemes
• Build positive relationships with key external partners and stakeholders
• Supporting casework to protect key Turtle Doves sites
• Lead and manage surveys, data collection and reporting
• Manage and develop volunteers

Essential skills, knowledge and experience

• Ability to engage with and advise farmers, landowners/managers
• Ability to prioritise and work independently
• Knowledge of the land management practices we are seeking to influence
• Confident negotiator and ability to influence
• Knowledge of farmland birds, especially Turtle Dove
• Experience of partnership working
• Background in advisory work, farming or transferable skills
• Confidence in advocating a position to those who may have different views
• Survey work experience
• Desirable: experience managing volunteers
• Excellent communication skills
• Competent with GIS and MS Office
• Full UK driving licence 

Additional Information

This position is full-time working 37.5 hours per week to cover Maternity.

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.

For further information please contact: [email protected]

As part of this application process, you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and 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.