Celtic Rainforest LIFE Senior Woodland Bird Monitor

The RSPB is seeking a Senior Woodland Bird Monitor to undertake woodland bird surveys as part of the Celtic rainforest LIFE project.

The Celtic rainforest LIFE project (CRLIFE), is an EU funded project that is restoring protected Western Atlantic oak woods of European importance for nature conservation. These are important habitats for woodland birds, bryophytes, lichens and bats. As part of its monitoring activities the project carried out baseline Common Bird Census surveys in 2019, and these now need to be repeated as the project draws to a close, in order to assess the impact of the project's work on bird populations within the various CRLIFE woodland sites.

This post advertised will be undertaking the woodland bird surveys as part of the project monitoring, as well as managing 3 monitoring assistants which are also currently being recruited.

The work will be physically strenuous, working in habitats and terrain, including steep slopes and dense vegetation, that can be difficult to work in. The work will also need flexibility in working hours in order to carry out surveys during early mornings and in the best available weather.

The surveys will be carried out on four Special Areas of Conservation in Mid and North Wales from Eryri in the North to near Llandovery in the South.

What's the role about?

Surveying woodland birds is reliant on locating and identifying all calling and singing birds, which are seldom seen. The post holder will therefore need to be excellent at identifying woodland birds by sound as well as sight. The surveys will be carried out using territory mapping to record populations of all woodland bird species and applicants will therefore need good spatial awareness and navigational skills, using maps, compass and GPS to locate study plots and accurately map the bird activity and locations. In order to calibrate changes in woodland birds to changes in woodland structure, the post holder will also be undertaking basic woodland structure measurements so an understanding of vegetation structure in woodlands and an ability to identify basic woodland plants, trees and shrubs will be an advantage. Following the surveys in the field, data must be collated and the results entered into spreadsheets. Attention to detail, as well as accuracy and completeness of recording is necessary in the field and during data entry to maximise the value of the data collected.

The post holder will be responsible for undertaking their own share of the surveys for project monitoring, as well as coordinating and line managing 3 woodland bird monitoring assistants, including allocating sites and keeping tabs on progress, overseeing and ensuring accuracy of data entry, and keeping to a timetable that ensures that all surveys are carried out at the required times and that data entry is completed in the time frame.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of bird and wildlife ecology, habitat requirements and identification.
• Ability to identify birds based sound as well as sight.
• Organisational skills eg managing conflicting priorities, staying on top of schedules, sensibly allocating workloads.
• Ability to coordinate a workplan and communicate the workplan effectively.
• Ability to manage others and work effectively as a team player both internally and externally.
• Ability to be diplomatic.
• Experience of working to survey species.
• Ability to manage all relevant data to ensure it can be stored and analysed appropriately.
• A full, manual driving licence that is valid in the UK.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Ability to rapidly analyse significant quantities of information, prioritise and balance a diverse workload often to tight deadlines.
• Knowledge of the wildlife and habitats of the operational area of this role.
• Knowledge/experience of the various areas of Wales where surveys will be carried out.
• Experience of carrying out Common Bird Census (CBC) surveys.

Additional Information:

This is a fixed-term role for 5 months, full-time 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 26 January 2026. 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.