Warden, North Wales Wetland & Island Reserves

We are offering a chance to join a team developing and looking after six nature reserves on the glorious Isle of Anglesey and the coastal fringes of Snowdonia. There are four wetlands, including Cors Ddyga and Valley Wetlands whose reedbeds have been instrumental in returning Bitterns and Marsh Harriers back to Wales as breeding birds and attracting Great Egrets to breed in Wales for the first time, and whose grasslands support 15% of Wales’s Lapwing and some of the last remaining lowland Curlew. They are also rich in wetland mammals, aquatic plants and invertebrates.

There are also two tern colonies including the largest Arctic Tern colony in the UK.

We are seeking a capable full-time Warden to join us in managing these rich and treasured places.

What’s the role about?

The Warden role is focused on ensuring that the wetland & tern reserves are run efficiently and in a cost-effective way. You will take lead responsibility for one wetland reserve (Valley Wetlands) and, in due course, one tern colony (The Skerries), but within our changing and developing team specific responsibilities may change & flexibility is needed. You will also be expected to be involved in all sites & areas of our work; leading on some key work tasks and assisting with others.

The intention is for all staff to be able to at least assist in all key work areas to act as stand-ins, or to provide support for each other when a task becomes an urgent priority. Assigning lead roles for sites and key work tasks, will be done based on skills, experience and development needs, once the whole team is formed.

Key work task areas are

• Writing and implementation of management plans
• Line-management and logistical support for contract tern wardens
• Reedbed / wetland management for bittern, marsh harrier, aquatic plants etc
• Grassland sward and wet feature management for breeding waders
• Procuring & supervising contractors (plant hire, fencing etc)
• Budget setting & management
• Ensure grazing meets ecological objectives and that legal consents, cross compliance & agricultural scheme requirements are met
• Monitoring key breeding and wintering birds, and other taxa
• Managing, maintaining and replacing five anti-predator fences
• Managing predation of wader and tern populations including authorising lethal control
• Leading volunteer work parties as required
• Summer and Autumn agricultural machinery work
• Timely completion of annual reports
• Data management
• Ensuring all H & S and compliance protocols are followed and are up to date
• Machinery and infrastructure maintenance
• Liaison with key stakeholders such as NRW, MoD and Trinity House
• Assisting with off-site work as appropriate

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience of wetland creation & management.
• Relevant ecological knowledge.
• Relevant knowledge of compliance requirements (eg agricultural and environmental legislation).
• A proactive and conscientious approach to applying Health & Safety to site management.
• One-on-one and team management skills.
• You will have knowledge and experience of practical habitat and estate management.
• Record keeping / data management and use of GIS software.
• Biological monitoring and survey skills.
• Experience of procurement and contractor management.
• You will have a proven track record of completing work alone and working within a varied team.
• Comfortable line-managing seasonal staff.
• Reasonable birdwatching knowledge and experience of biological surveys
• Be willing to assist with predator control to benefit ground nesting birds & other wildlife
• Full, manual driving licence that is valid in the UK or ability to access remote locations without public transport

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

• Welsh speaker
• Experience of tern colony management
• Lantra or equivalent qualification in using equipment such as brushcutter, tractor, PA1/6 pesticides, and chainsaw.
• Knowledge of servicing and maintaining vehicles, machinery, tools and equipment to agreed standards.
• Experience of staff and volunteer recruitment.
• Writing, implementing and updating health and safety records and assessments.
• Experience of report writing.

Additional information:

• This role will involve lone working and working in remote locations.
• This role will require occasionally working anti-social hours and so will need someone who is able to be flexible.

This is a permanent role working 37.5 hours per week. For further information please contact Ian Hawkins at [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 requested

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.