About the role:

The evocative call of curlews has heralded the arrival of spring for generations. Sadly, numbers are plummeting in the UK, which holds internationally important numbers of this species. A major part of this role will be to head up our Curlew Recovery Programme, which includes ‘Curlews in Crisis’ – a new £3.6 million LIFE+ project. 

Many of our wader species including redshank, oystercatcher and lapwing are also in decline, suffering from the twin threats of habitat degradation and predation. To address this, we need someone to facilitate the production of a UK wide recovery strategy.  This will require a multi-disciplinary approach covering science, land management, advice and advocacy and will necessitate collaborative working with regional RSPB colleagues in all 4 countries and a wide range of external partners.  

Recognising the enormity of the ecological crisis, the RSPB is committed to engaging and empowering people to help address it.  We have initiated a scheme to train and mobilise volunteers to help provide a lasting legacy for species that we have helped to recover including stone curlew, little tern, cranes and turtle doves.  Our ambition is to grow and expand this project to 2,000 volunteers working on at least 5 priority species. 

Main Responsibilities:

• Within the RSPB you will work with colleagues in Conservation Science, Ecology, Policy, Advisory and delivery staff in the 4 countries of the UK to facilitate the implementation of our curlew recovery programme and to start to develop a wider strategy for breeding waders in the UK.
• You will work closely with the RSPB Country Heads of Species, Heads of Engagement and Volunteer Development Officers to achieve buy-in and roll-out of our Species Recovery Volunteer Network
• You will line manage the Senior Project Manager responsible for our new LIFE project Curlews in Crisis and also a Project Manager (to be appointed) to develop our Species Recovery Volunteer Network
• You will work with a range of external partners including governments, Statutory Conservation Agencies, NGOs, landowners and farmers to achieve a collaborative approach to the conservation and recovery of curlew and other breeding waders.
• You will ensure that the projects for which you have responsibility are run in accordance with our Project Management Framework and submit quarterly highlight reports. You will be responsible for tracking budgets on a monthly basis.

About you:

You’ll be a passionate advocate for species recovery and the conservation of breeding waders. You will have empathy for people and a commitment to affording volunteers opportunities to contribute to species recovery.

You need to be able to create a vision, focus and facilitate effective partnerships to recover some of our priority species in the UK. You must be able to drive and direct change across a wide remit utilizing your skills in facilitation and leadership. You’ll come to us armed with exceptional management skills. You need to be brilliant with people, projects and finance; to know when to delegate and when to take ownership. You’ll need a good working knowledge of UK conservation issues and the conservation toolkit available for species recovery. You’ll understand the issues devolution brings and be adept at building relationships and partnerships.

You will be a team player, taking an interest in the wider work of the RSPB and willing to lend a hand when colleagues are stretched.

Everything you do will be in harmony with our values and ambitions, putting wildlife conservation at the core of our work and in the minds of our supporters.

Essential skills, qualifications and experience:

• a degree in biology, nature conservation or related fields
• an understanding of the conservation ‘toolkit’ and approaches to species recovery.
• a sound knowledge of the principle and practice of project management, including experience of work planning, risk monitoring and project reporting
• a good knowledge of the conservation community within the UK
• experience of managing project budgets, expenditure and financial reporting
• experience of line-management and of working with volunteers
• strong relationship and partnership building skills to work as part of a partnership project team, ideally including coordinating/assisting people who you don’t manage
• accomplished spoken and written communication skills in English using traditional or digital tools
• evident skills in diplomacy and negotiation to negotiate, solve problems and avoid and overcome challenges working with people from diverse sectors and backgrounds
• a flexible and creative approach, with the ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances
• a readiness and ability to travel independently within the UK (when needed and when Covid-19 travel restrictions allow).

This is an exciting established full-time position. Location is negotiable within the UK but you will be expected to make regular trips to RSPB Headquarters in Sandy, Bedfordshire. You will be managed by the Head of Global Species Recovery.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on Wednesday 18th August 2021. Should you have any queries about this vacancy, please contact Andy.Evans@rspb.org.uk.

Please note that in order to be considered for this post you will be required to complete an online application form. Before applying, we would encourage you to read through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.

This is a permanent, full-time role, and is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.