Tayside Reserves Warden (Secondment Opportunity)

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated person to join our team for a fantastic 6 month opportunity. The Warden will contribute to all aspects of work on our Tayside Reserves - Loch Leven, Loch of Kinnordy and the Tay Reedbeds.

The reserves offer unique habitats and excellent wildlife spectacles, including pink-footed geese, beavers and bearded tits, and, as such, each comes with its own challenges and rewards. Loch Leven is a visitor attraction near Kinross which has a visitor centre and a busy trail network. Loch of Kinnordy, near Kirriemuir, is a low-key visitor site providing excellent close views of wildlife, while the Tay Reedbeds, between Perth and Dundee, is a quiet refuge for reedbed specialists.

The role will involve working closely with the Estate Operations Manager and Estate Worker to deliver the land management and monitoring on the 3 sites. Work will include supporting our volunteer teams to help our efforts, lead on monitoring, as well as contributing to visitor experience operations. 

Your regular work days will be Monday to Friday with occasional weekend work.

The post is based at Loch Leven and would require a driving licence to reach the other reserves.

What we need from you:

Essential knowledge:

• Land especially conservation management.
• Relevant ecological knowledge.
• Agricultural or livestock knowledge where relevant.
• Health & Safety applying to site management (e.g. risk assessments).
• Relevant knowledge of compliance requirements (eg agricultural and environmental legislation with particular reference to grazing livestock where relevant).

Essential skills:

• Communication and interpersonal skills.
• Individual and team management skills.
• Estate management.
• Record keeping/data management.
• Organisational including time management and prioritisation.

Problem solving

Essential experience:

• Proven track record of reserve or land management.
• Biological monitoring.
• Working with graziers.
• Working with contractors.
• Working with staff or volunteers

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

• Machinery operations, equipment servicing.
• Working with visitors.
• IT and database (Merlin).

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 Fixed-Term, full time role for 6 months at 37.5 hours per week and may be suitable as a secondment opportunity.

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 on 10th November. For further information please contact [email protected] (Estate Operations Manger) or [email protected] (Senior Site Manager).

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.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes.