This is an exciting opportunity within the RSPB’s Global Species Recovery team; helping deliver the Society's species recovery strategic objectives, by developing species actions plans, and by driving forward their identified priority conservation actions for a set of priority species occurring in the East Atlantic Flyway, Africa and Asia.

Initially the postholder will focus on several workstreams:

1. Developing, commissioning and delivering priority species projects outside the UK, along the East Atlantic Flyway, including:
   1. Leading RSPB input to the development of sustainable management approaches for priority species that are huntable, including line-management of an externally-funded Species Recovery Officer contract post focused on information gathering to inform this.
   2. Commissioning and developing partnership projects, and managing associated contracts, with BirdLife and other conservation partners along the East Atlantic Flyway delivering monitoring, research and conservation delivery projects focused on priority species.
2. Developing and commissioning partnership projects, and managing associated contracts, with BirdLife and other conservation partners delivering monitoring, research and conservation delivery projects outside the UK focussed on priority species, including those associated with priority landscapes in Africa and Asia. These could include the Greater Gola Landscape in West Africa, the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative in Khazakhstan and other African and Asian projects.  This will include development of new priority species action plans.
3. Working with colleagues, and BirdLife partners to develop a programme of work focussed on vulture conservation in West Africa, to build on, and align with, other work on vultures already established in South Asia and Southern Africa commissioning partnership projects

Essential skills, knowledge and experience: 

• A degree in a suitable subject, or equivalent experience/education.
• Skilled in the use of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook) and information-sharing collaboration software and systems (Sharepoint).
• Extensive knowledge of conservation issues affecting birds and other wildlife globally; particularly in the East Atlantic Flyway and in Africa and Asia.
• Experience of species conservation work – focused on the recovery of one or more priority species.
• Experience of working within project teams and partnership working in conservation, and conservation project management.
• Excellent communication skills to allow effective working with a wide range of colleagues, external partners and both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Excellent communication skills, including experience of writing technical conservation reports or scientific papers and the ability to understand and convey the level of scientific evidence underpinning specific conservation projects or conservation policy positions.
• Ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with a wide range of colleagues, external partners and contacts, who may have varying levels of technical expertise, different viewpoints and different priority objectives; being able and prepared to pro-actively support, influence, nudge, steer and encourage as necessary, in order to meet the priority objectives of your role.
• Good organisation and time management skills, an ability to work to deadlines imposed by the business needs of colleagues, business processes or external partners, self-reliant, self-motivated and an ability to use own initiative to solve problems.
• Ability and willingness to undertake international travel to visit colleagues, partners and projects.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• A higher education qualification in a subject relevant to wildlife conservation.
• Experience of international conservation projects and proven ability to work across different cultures.
• Experience of international partnership conservation project management.
• International conservation field project experience and field skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of RSPB; its corporate strategy, range of conservation work, structures and ways of working, and how it works with, and adds value to, its conservation partners.
• Experience of team leadership and line management of staff and/or volunteers

This is a Permanent Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week. 

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 12 June. For further information, please contact Jake Zarins (Senior Species Recovery Officer – Africa & Asia) jake.zarins@rspb.org.uk 

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

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.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship.    

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