We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced fieldworker who is good at engaging a diverse range of people and communities to lead a small team of fieldworkers on a research project to help us understand how land use influences Swift diet and breeding outcome. Swifts are a high priority bird species in the UK following declines of around 50% in the last 30 years which has recently seen them Red listed, and this project contributes to efforts to understand the causes of decline.

About the role

You will lead a small field team to undertake fieldwork during the 2022 Swift breeding season. This is a challenging project, and at times will involve long hours. Due to the activity patterns of Swifts some evening work will be required. You will help manage two Research Assistants, and volunteers. Overall the project will work at breeding colonies in three regions of Britain, to be determined, with you covering one area and the Research Assistants each covering another area. You will help identify suitable colonies to work with, with some travel between areas. You will need to be well organised and manage your own timetable and data, and develop and maintain good relations with the residents and communities with the study colonies and local stakeholders. Study colonies are expected to be mainly on houses, and you will be expected to lead on arranging permission for access. Towards the end of post you will be responsible for some data manipulation and interpretation tasks.

The key tasks include:

• Identifying and arranging access to study sites in urban and rural areas; colonies on people's homes and businesses suitable to fulfil the project aims.
• Monitoring swift nests and adult provisioning by observation, nest inspections and with cameras.
• Capturing, ringing and fitting/retrieving GPS tags to adult swifts.
• Collection of samples for laboratory analysis.
• Managing data.

The RSPB will provide a vehicle for the fieldwork. Desk based activities will be done remotely from a home base (equipment will be provided). When visiting other study areas overnight subsistence costs will be covered by the project.

What we need from you 

Essential skills, knowledge and experience

• A relevant degree or equivalent experience.
• Experience of planning fieldwork and supervising field assistants, training and supporting them.
• Experience of ecological or advocacy work within urban communities.
• Practical experience of monitoring nests.
• A BTO or equivalent bird ringing license covering adult and nestling Swifts and operation of mist nets.
• Consistently and accurately record data in the field and collate and maintain electronic data, skilled in the use of Microsoft Office applications.
• Verbal and written communication skills to develop and maintain good relations with householders and communities, and other RSPB staff and local stakeholders.
• Knowledge of, and adherence to, legal and practical requirements on protected species and health and safety.
• Self-reliant, self-motivated with an ability to use own initiative to solve day to day problems.
• Willing and able to work flexible and sometimes long hours including some evenings.
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Good knowledge of Swift ecology.
• Experience of working with Swifts.
• Experience of using GIS.

This is a contract, full-time role for 5 months, working 37.5 hours per week, with the view of starting in late April 2022. We are looking to conduct interviews for this position in late February 2022. Interviews will be conducted remotely on Microsoft Teams.

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. 

For further information, please contact Malcolm Burgess (Principal Conservation Scientist) - malcolm.burgess@rspb.org.uk


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

Accommodation is not provided with the role, however, the RSPB will contribute towards the cost of rented accommodation for those having to relocate from a home base elsewhere.

Before applying to this role, we encourage you to read through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.