This is a wonderful opportunity to join a great team saving nature and inspiring people in some of the most wildlife-rich areas of Wales. We think it’s probably one of the best jobs in nature conservation!

We are looking for someone who is passionate about conservation delivery, who sees the big picture and has an eye for detail. Someone with real vision, commitment, a passion for nature and excellent people skills to help deliver conservation work.

What’s the role about 

The post will concentrate on our Priority Landscape work in South Wales, focussing on Elenydd-Mallaen. This priority landscape has some of Wales’ most specular scenery and the species to match. The areas of work the post will focus on are:

• Curlew and other priority species
• Western Atlantic Woodlands
• Upland management
• Landscape scale conservation working towards connectivity for existing habitats from the valley bottom, through the woodlands and ffridd, to the uplands

As a Conservation Officer you will work closely with the Senior Conservation Officer for South Wales, conservation staff, and other RSPB colleagues, including those working on the Curlew LIFE programme, Celtic Rainforest LIFE programme, and reserve staff, to deliver a range of work to help our priority species and habitats.

Key Activities: -

• Organising and taking part in surveys for priority species
• Liaising with external partners and stakeholders across the priority landscapes to develop/manage new and existing conservation projects
• Lead the vision and direction for the Elenydd-Mallaen priority landscape, through the development and delivery of the Landscape plan.
• Developing relationships locally within organisations and communities

You'll work with a range of specialists within and outside of the RSPB. And plenty of exciting and rewarding challenges along the way. The priority landscapes are separated by a significant distance which will require working from a home base in a suitable location.

What we need from you 

As a Conservation Officer for South Wales the majority of your work will be focussed within Elenydd-Mallaen Landscape, developing projects with partners within Elenydd-Mallaen.  You will be responsible for building relationships on the ground, maintaining and creating, through survey work, good ecological knowledge, driving forward and developing a priority landscape plan with partners and community involvement.

**Candidates must be able to relocate to a suitable location to Elenydd-Mallaen and be able to travel between priority landscapes as necessary.

Essential qualifications

Degree level qualification in a relevant subject or ability to show equivalent work experience

Essential knowledge

• Sufficient understanding of species and habitats; landscape scale conservation; land use and management; relevant policy and legislation within Wales
• Sufficient knowledge of a range of delivery mechanisms for conservation work relevant to the operational area of this role to enable recommendation to senior staff of appropriate responses and interventions

Essential skills

• Ability to work effectively as a team player both internally and in external partnerships
• Excellent communications skills (verbal, written and presentational) – including an ability to speak confidently and cogently to a variety of audiences
• Ability to rapidly analyse significant quantities of information, prioritise and balance a diverse workload often to tight deadlines

Essential experience

• Experience of negotiating with the public or private sector, to deliver biodiversity benefits, through both regulatory and voluntary means, especially planning casework.
• Experience of working to survey, protect and/or manage important sites, species or habitats
• Experience of managing staff or volunteers and setting clear work priorities.
• Experience of productive partnership working

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience

• Competency in use of GIS
• Confident advocating a position to landowners and managers, local politicians, members and volunteers who have different views
• Experience of public engagement work
• Effective project management skills
• Specialist conservation knowledge in relevant areas, such as woodland, upland and species conservation.
• Understanding of the concept of landscape scale conservation and the pressures on land use in Wales.

For all application/role inquiries please contact - natalie.thomas@rspb.org.uk

*Potential for extending subject to funding

Please note that you will be required to complete an online application form where you will be able to tell us why you are best suited for this role.

Before applying to this role we would recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert on our careers page.

We are committed to making our organisation diverse and inclusive, and as such are keen to encourage applications from people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, as well as those with disabilities.