Head of Science, Species and Site Conservation

BirdLife International is the world’s largest nature conservation partnership. Through our unique local-to-global approach, we deliver high impact and long-term conservation for the benefit of nature and people.  

The Secretariat has its global headquarters in Cambridge and there are six regional offices including Europe and Central Asia (ECA) which supports partners in 45 countries from Iceland in the north to Kazakhstan in the east.

As the nature and climate emergency bites, BirdLife is now developing its new strategy to deliver a step change in impact in this crucial decade. 

Within the ECA region, where one in five bird species are at risk of extinction (according to BirdLife’s recently published European Red List of Birds), we are now defining our contribution to BirdLife’s new strategy and we are looking for an exceptional individual to lead the science, species and site conservation functions.

As part of the ECA Leadership Team and in collaboration with BirdLife partners, the successful candidate will help develop, secure funds for, oversee implementation and review key conservation programmes emerging from BirdLife’s new strategy.  They will ensure that BirdLife’s conservation action, communications, policy and advocacy agenda is underpinned by sound science.

The ideal candidate will have

• The creativity and determination to develop and secure funding for high-impact conservation programmes within the ECA region and across the European and African flyway
• Exceptional knowledge and understanding of key conservation issues (eg science and policy) affecting the ECA region
• The desire and determination to build lasting collaborations within BirdLife partners
• The skill to negotiate with senior stakeholders within the scientific and conservation community
• Experience in developing and leading high performance teams
• High levels personal resilience under pressure
• Superb communication skills

See the full job description.

Application: Applications should include a covering letter summarising the applicant’s suitability for the position, a detailed CV (all in English) and contact details of two referees known to the applicant in a professional capacity. Applications should be sent by email, stating where the advert was seen, to: recruitment.europe@birdlife.org marking your application with “Head of Science, Species and Site Conservation” in the subject line.

Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.

Closing date: 28 November 2021. Please consider that applications received after the closing date will be automatically discarded.

SHORTLISTING AND INTERVIEWS

We’re an equal opportunity employer and the shortlisting is based on the experience visible in the CV and cover letter. Successful candidates will be asked to attend an online interview. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Interviews will be held on Tuesday, 7 December 2021