This is a great opportunity to work in Shetland and help combat climate change and biodiversity loss through partnership working to conserve and restore Shetland’s peatlands.

It's an exciting time to work in Shetland where the opportunities to protect and enhance our peatlands have never been greater and the scale of the work required needs enthusiastic and dedicated people to help deliver ambitious goals.

What's the role about?

This role involves working with the newly formed Shetland Peatland Partnership to help deliver its aim: ‘to develop and implement a strategic, co-ordinated and collaborative approach to the conservation and restoration of peatland in Shetland, for the benefit of biodiversity, climate, water quality, flood alleviation and people.’ 

The Shetland Peatland Partnership has identified a series of objectives to deliver a strategic approach to peatland conservation. This new role will focus on the objective to develop a Shetland Peatland Strategy and include the following work areas:

• Evaluate existing baseline data on peatland quality, condition and biodiversity to inform the strategy
• Help identify areas of high quality peatland in good condition and ensure their conservation is part of the strategy
• Undertake partner and stakeholder interviews/workshops to facilitate co-design of the strategy and ensure buy-in from stakeholders
• Undertake partner/stakeholder workshops to look at current problems/barriers to upscaling peatland restoration and help identify ways to improve peatland conservation/management and meet ambitious restoration targets
• Collate, interpret and disseminate information/research to partners, including emerging delivery mechanisms/models for peatland restoration
• Help produce a first draft of the Shetland Peatland Strategy in conjunction with partners and key stakeholders
• Act as a central point of contact for partners to ensure a coordinated and well-informed approach to peatland conservation and restoration.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience: 

• Proven ability to work effectively with a wide range of partners/ stakeholders
• Experience of organising and facilitating workshops
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience of gathering, collating and analysing information/data.
• Ability to understand and interpret information and advise others.
• Knowledge of peatland habitats, the species they support and the role they play in the climate and nature crises.
• Degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent experience
• Competent IT user, including MS Office programmes.
• Good time management and organisational skills.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge and experience of landscape scale projects.
• Experience of strategy and report writing.
• Effective project management skills.
• Competency in the use of GIS.
• Good problem-solving skills and ability to find creative solutions.
• Understanding of peatland restoration techniques and funding streams.

This is a Fixed-Term, Full-Time role for 18 months. 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.

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.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 24th August 2022. For further information please contact christine.skene@RSPB.org.uk

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