Seasonal Community Engagement Officer

The RSPB Mull of Galloway reserve sits at the southernmost point of Scotland, with a breath-taking cliff top vista of Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, England, and the south coast of Scotland. The reserve hosts important seabird colonies and is designated for its maritime heath habitat. There is an explosion of life and colour in the Spring as the flowers bloom and the birds start their breeding season. Thousands of people visit the site every year, coming not only for the wildlife, but to visit the fantastic café and lighthouse compound.

As Community Engagement Officer, you will be welcoming these visitors and showing them the sights and sounds of the reserve, in addition to working with our partners and the local community to get people excited and inspired by the natural world. You will engage members of the public in meaningful conversations about conservation and the work of the RSPB, inspiring them to become RSPB members. You'll need to be confident talking to people, knowledgeable about wildlife, and passionate about the work of the RSPB. There is something new to experience every season at the Mull of Galloway, from vibrant flowers on the cliff tops, to views of passing marine mammals in the seas below, and the wonder of thousands of migrating birds soaring over the reserve.

What's the role about?

In this role you will be the face of the RSPB, building support for nature conservation and our wider work among the local community and visitors to the site. You will be responsible for the day-to-day management of our Visitor Centre where you will welcome visitors to the reserve. Through engaging conversations with our visitors you will inspire people to become RSPB members. You will be responsible for organising and delivering an exciting events programme both on reserve and off-site within our local communities. We would like you to help develop a volunteer team on reserve, promoting volunteering to new people and ensuring our existing volunteers have an excellent experience. Partnership working is an important aspect of the role, and you will need to be able to facilitate and develop good relations with our neighbours and partners. You will also ensure that all the activities you carry out are in line with our brand guidelines and our health and safety requirements.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Good basic knowledge of UK wildlife, habitats and key species, particularly those present in and around the reserve locale.
• Confidence speaking with members of the public and engaging them with nature.
• Experience of organising and delivering events for a wide variety of audiences.
• Knowledge of relevant Health and Safety requirements and experience of maintaining records.
• Computer literacy including Microsoft Office.
• Ability to work under own initiative, motivating themselves and others.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Able to perform administrative tasks and to deliver accurate reporting to given timescales, including cash-handling.
• Membership recruitment/ involved with charitable fundraising via face-to-face methods and working to targets.
• Understanding of how to use social media to promote key messages and cause.
• Experience of promotion, marketing and production of interpretive material.
• Partnership working.
• Geographical knowledge of location.

Please note: The Mull of Galloway reserve is in a remote location with no public transport links so you will need access to a vehicle.

This is a Fixed-Term role for 37.5 hours per week for 6 months. This role will involve regular weekend and bank holiday working.

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 Monday 16th February 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.

This role will require completion of a PVGI in addition to the standard pre-employment checks.

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.