Osprey Engagement Assistant

Birds of Poole Harbour (BoPH) is a small Dorset-based charity that was established in 2013. Our vision is to inspire hope for nature through delivering innovative conservation projects and high-quality outreach events that enthuse the public about the exciting environmental work happening in South Dorset.

In the last three years our charity has grown significantly, accelerated by the successes of local reintroduction projects, and we are now connecting more people with Poole Harbour’s birdlife than ever before. Our team is driven by our passion for the local area and its wildlife, recognising the importance of being proactive in response to challenges faced by our sector and the natural world. 

We are looking for an enthusiastic part-time Osprey Engagement Assistant to support our team in delivering our public engagement offer through the Spring and Summer of 2025.

Position: Osprey Engagement Assistant

Hours: 15 hours per week, w/b 14th April – 31st August. Due to the nature of our events, this position will require working regular Saturdays and outside of regular working hours

Salary: £12.60 per hour (Real Living Wage)

Location: Wareham and Poole based

Annual Leave: 33 hours

What you’ll be working on: You’ll be helping our team to deliver an ambitious events schedule through the spring and summer, including our Carey Osprey Tours led in partnership with Careys Secret Garden, as well as our Osprey Cruises during August.

During the spring and early summer you will primarily be responsible for delivering three 2-hour sessions per day to view and interpret the nesting Ospreys at Careys Secret Garden with groups of up to 12 people, informing them about the exciting Poole Harbour Osprey Translocation Project, the nesting pair, and engaging them with the other birdlife that can be found onsite. Later in the summer, you will provide support with spotting and commentary on our award-winning Osprey Cruises around Poole Harbour. This role will be well-suited to an aspiring and enthusiastic ornithologist with excellent communication skills and a good knowledge of British birds.

Job Requirements:

To be successful in this position, these are the skills and experience that are most important:

• Friendly and warm interpersonal style
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively as part of a busy team
• Proactive and self-motivated attitude
• Excellent bird identification skills

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Experience of working with volunteers
• Experience of delivering events
• Knowledge of local birding sites and conservation projects, including the Poole Harbour Osprey Reintroduction Project
• Full driving licence and access to a vehicle

Full training will be provided and more detail on our project work and events can be found here: www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk. Please note that this position will be offered subject to the successful return of the nesting pair of Osprey to Careys Secret Garden, and that we will be unable to fulfil the role if they do not return.

If you would like to apply, please email our Operations Manager Laura at laura@birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk with a CV (2 pages maximum) and a PDF with answers to the following questions:

• What attracted you to apply for this position? (200 words max)
• Why do you believe you are well-suited for the role of Osprey Engagement Assistant with Birds of Poole Harbour? (500 words max)

Closing date: 9am on Monday 3rd March

Interviews commencing W/B 10th March with the option for online interviews available. Please note that the interview will involve a UK bird species identification test.

If you have any questions or queries about the role or application process, please contact our BoPH Manager Liv via liv@birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk. Birds of Poole Harbour are an equal opportunities employer and are happy to provide more information or accommodations within our hiring practices to support applicants with additional needs.