Would you like to work across two priority landscapes?  The dry sandy soils of the Brecks and the wet peat of the Fens looking after some amazing and iconic species like stone curlews and cranes?  If so then this might be the job for you.

The Lakenheath Fen team are seeking to recruit a new Warden to lead on management of our Cavenham Quarry site and to assist in the management of Lakenheath Fen.  Cavenham is a restored quarry working of 70 hectares in size.  Most of the site is dry acid grassland and supports a significant population of breeding stone curlews.  Lakenheath Fen is a wetland RSPB created from arable farmland over the last 25 years and its reedbeds support bitterns, marsh harriers and cranes in nationally important numbers.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and resourceful person to join our small team.  The successful candidate would lead on the management of the Cavenham site and would assist in the management at Lakenheath.  Applicants should have a good natural history knowledge especially of dry grassland and wetland and be able to quickly and effectively integrate into a small team.  You would have good organisational skills and experience of running and working with volunteers.  This is a full time post with occasional weekend working in the visitor centre at Lakenheath.

At Cavenham key work will include delivering the new Countryside Stewardship agreement, both options and capital works.  This will involve working with the grazier and contractors.  Ensuring the predator fence is maintained and effective, monitoring key breeding species notably stone curlew and managing deer control on site and liaising with neighbours.  Other habitat management will include scrub control both with contractors and volunteer groups and working with Natural England on bare ground creation.

At Lakenheath you will be working with the rest of the team on the full range of habitat management, monitoring and visitor services.  This will include assisting with reedbed, wet grassland and woodland management.  Lakenheath is currently undertaking a significant habitat creation project which also involves carbon credits and biodiversity net gain and you will be involved in helping the site manager deliver this work.  With a small team everyone takes turns in duty manager work at weekend in the visitor centre.

Essential Skill, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of dry grassland and associated species management and some knowledge of wetland habitat management notably reedbeds and wet grassland and associated species including bitterns, cranes and marsh harriers.
• Experience of practical land management in grasslands and wetlands.
• Experience in the safe operation and maintenance of machinery, tools, equipment and the health and safety associated including risk assessments record keeping.
• Experience of leading, managing and motivating volunteers.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Proven time management and organisational skills.
• Working unsupervised for extended periods, as part of a team or leading a team.
• A full, manual driving licence that is valid in the UK to drive the reserve pickup trucks between the two reserves.
• LANTRA or equivalent qualification for ATV, chainsaw, brushcutter and pesticide certification PA1 and PA6AW.
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office packages including Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Problem solving skills, creating well thought through practical solutions.

Desirable Skills

• Experience of GIS mapping software and report writing.
• LANTRA clearing saw, weed wiper and tractor driving.
• Knowledge of Agri-Environment schemes especially Countryside Stewardship.
• Experience of predator control including fox and north American mink.

This is a Permanent Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week with occasional weekend working as you will be required to act as duty manager in the visitor centre at Lakenheath Fen.  The role will involve lone working in remote locations as well as early morning survey work. 

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on 25 April 2024.  For further information please contact david.rogers@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.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

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