Ecologist

Ecologist

Langholm Initiative: Tarras Valley Nature Reserve

• Hours: Part time - 2 days a week – may be scope to increase to additional days
• Contract: Initial 2-year contract
• Salary: £29 - £32k pro rata
• Accountability: Responsible to Reserve Manager

The Role

We are looking for an ecologist to support the work of the existing Langholm Initiative staff team here at the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve in Langholm. The initial focus of the work will be to carry out the surveys required as part of our annual ecological monitoring work. We hope the successful candidate will also support us in shaping how we can develop a wider ecological monitoring framework for the reserve to help inform decision making and monitor progress in the future. Beyond this we are generally looking for someone to support our whole system’s approach to ecological restoration, provide advice and guidance on our ongoing management and project activity. It is crucial that you are comfortable working in a community setting, are an effective communicator and are willing to be flexible in your way of working. The work will involve a balance between office and site-based work throughout the year.

Principal Duties

The Tarras Valley Ecologist role duties will involve:

• Carrying out ecological surveys which include general habitat assessment, breeding birds, protected species, herbivore impact and grazing impact assessment and invertebrate monitoring.
• Developing and implementing practical ecological monitoring frameworks
• Supporting and developing Citizen Science Monitoring
• Providing advice and guidance for holistic ecological restoration activities across the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve including projects, volunteering and land management.
• Support community engagement and help contribute to Tarras Valley communications and engagement activities around nature and restoration projects.

What can we offer?

We are a very small but friendly and enthusiastic team, managed by an amazing board of volunteers. We are all based in Langholm and whilst we work at home occasionally, the team is very much office based so can best support each other and be present within the local community where we work.

The establishment of the Nature Reserve is high profile following our historic community land buyouts. This is a great opportunity develop your skills in a unique setting to work at scale in one of the UK’s largest community-led ecological restoration projects.

• We offer 35 days annual leave (including bank holidays) pro-rata for part-time
• We operate a dog friendly office
• Employer Pension contribution is 5.5%
• Time in Lieu (TOIL) system is in place alongside flexible working policies