RSPB Rye Meads is a wonderful wetland famous for its up-close views of breeding kingfishers. The sites main habitats are open water lagoons and reedbed and the species that inhabit them (tufted duck, gadwall, shovler, common tern, bittern) are part of the sites SSSI, SPA and Ramsar designation. These designations spread outside the reserve and along with land ownership form the basis for an active partnership with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, Thames Water, Rye Meads Ringing Group, Natural England, Environment Agency and Lee Valley park.

Rye Meads offers huge opportunity to engage with people and connect them to nature. We do this through a schools on reserves programme, variety of family and self-led events.  Our visitor centre and infrastructure support our engagement work to gain visitors vital support which is much needed to continue and grow the conservation work of the RSPB. This post will allow you to make a big impact on nature conservation.

This is a great opportunity to lead the development, integration and delivery of visitor experience at Rye Meads reserve with the aim of creating a high-quality visitor offer that maximises support for nature and connects people with wildlife.

• Would you like to be part of an enthusiastic and dynamic team of nature lovers at RSPB Rye Meads?
• Do you have the ability to engage and inspire a wide variety of people from many different backgrounds?
• Have you got experience providing outstanding customer service in a sometimes hight-pressure environment?
• Are you a ‘people person’ who throve soon a busy and dynamic public facing role?
• Are you an innovative and creative business minded individual?

If you answered yes to these questions, then why not apply for this role?

What’s the role about?

Key activities include:

• Developing and running our profitable events and activity programme
• Ensure the reserve is delivering the highest standards resulting in a high-quality visitor experience
• Using our social media platforms to increase footfall, promote events and the site and work of the RSPB
• Recruit and lead a team of volunteers and staff to deliver a joined up, coherent and high-quality visitor experience for all visitors to the reserve.
• To contribute to the leadership, planning and efficient day to day running of the visitor operation that contributes to the overall success of the reserve.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Computer literate with good verbal and written communication skills
• To be organised, able to plan programmes in advance and prioritise workloads
• Have the ability to develop and deliver strong events programme.
• Experience of delivering a high-quality visitor offer.
• Be able to lead a diverse team of volunteers to explore new ways of engaging with our visitors.
• Have proven ability of working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, managing your time effectively to achieve your KPIs, and meet other targets.
• Have an ability and willingness to work flexibly including weekends, bank holidays and school holidays and some evenings or early mornings
• Ability to manage and respond to customer needs and feedback.
• Understanding H&S

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Ability to create and edit promotional videos
• Ability to use social media as an effective marketing tool and grow our online presence
• Be a great team player who embraces change and inspires others to reach their potential.
• Proven track record of managing a successful visitor project or visitor attraction.

Although experience in a similar role is desirable, we actively encourage anybody who believes that they have the required transferrable skills to apply for this role.

This is a Permanent, Full Time role. We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from week commencing 18th October 2021. For further information please contact Vicky.Buckel@rspb.org.uk.

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete a full application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience requested.

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.