This is an exciting, new opportunity to play an important role in helping to reduce fire risk at a stunning yet fragile landscape on the edge of the Peak District National Park. If you would love to play your part in helping to look after this precious landscape, and the nature that calls it home, then read on.

What is the role about?

Since 2010 the RSPB has worked in partnership with United Utilities to manage 4000 hectares of land around Dove Stone and the Longdendale Valley. One main focus of this work has been the restoration of around 2500 hectares of internationally important peatland habitat known as blanket bog.

Years of pollution, grazing and burning have left this precious habitat in a fragile and vulnerable state, but we are gradually restoring it to be wet and green again, with huge benefits for wildlife, climate change and water quality.

We have recently been successful in securing a Nature for Climate Fund grant to enhance and continue this vital restoration work.

An important aspect of this work is to protect this fragile landscape from fire. The funding has allowed us to invest annually in 2 seasonal Fire Rangers to cover the spring and summer months (February to September 2022 - 2025) when the risk of fire is greatest.

This is a new role for us and involves providing a high profile on-site presence on RSPB/United Utilities partnership land in the Longdendale Valley (mainly around Crowden and Arnfield) and at Dove Stone – a popular beauty spot owned by United Utilities and managed by the RSPB in partnership with them.

The main focus of this role will be the delivery of positive public engagement both onsite and through community outreach (in partnership with other organisations such as the Police and local Council), litter picking and the recruitment and management of a team of Fire Watch Volunteers who will support the role and provide an additional early warning system to reduce fire risk.

This role will involve working most evenings, weekends and bank holidays as this is when the site is busiest and therefore the fire risk highest. You will need a current driving licence in order to access the different areas to be covered, some of which may be remote.

Key activities will include:

• Providing a high-profile onsite presence at Dove Stone and around the Longdendale Valley, patrolling both areas, deterring and reporting issues such as BBQs, camp fires or behaviour that increases fire risk
• Carrying out positive face-to-face engagement to educate visitors about fire risk and fire reporting and to discourage behaviour that may lead to fires such as having BBQs and dropping litter
• Litter picking around both areas, especially the removal of glass and flammable items
• Recruiting and managing a team of fire watch volunteers to support the role and help provide a quick response to moorland fires. This will include managing a rota system, and working collaboratively with others e.g. National Trust to link to similar local schemes
• Working collaboratively with others including the reserve team, partners, stakeholders and emergency services to maximise joint efforts to reduce fire risk caused by visitor behaviour, this may include joint community outreach sessions (especially in wet weather)
• Occasional other wet weather activities such as brush cutting vegetation to create fire breaks

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• A confident, approachable, diplomatic, level-headed nature
• Previous experience in a similar role/environment and of dealing with challenging or confrontational behaviour
• A proven track record in people engagement
• Experience of managing volunteers
• Computer literate with the ability to carry out basic record keeping and general admin tasks such as completing timesheets, reports and rotas

• Practical experience such as use of brush cutters

This is a Contract, Full Time role for 6 months, with scope for returning in following years. 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 mid January 2022. For further information please contact Miriam.Biran@rspb.org.uk

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.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.