Senior Research Assistant

Location – Orkney Reserve

Hours – Full time - 37.5 per week

Salary – £19,602 - £21,236 per annum

Basis – 4 months – Fixed term contract

Closing date – 11 February 2019

Interview Date – 21 February 2019

We are looking for an enthusiastic field worker with exceptional communication and people skills to lead a team of three seasonal research assistants this spring/summer for the Orkney Native Wildlife Project.

You will be responsible for helping deliver the scientific monitoring aspect of the “Citizen Science and Native Wildlife Monitoring” component of the project which aims to increase knowledge of species population trends in Orkney through delivering native species surveys across the county. Focus species/groups will include the Orkney vole, meadow pipit, skylark, waders, birds of prey and seabirds. This data will help provide a baseline of data before the stoat eradication begins.

Other key tasks will include:

- Organising and ensuring delivery of a schedule of survey work between late March and late July.

- Ensuring the field team follow strict survey methodologies.

- Working alongside the Conservation Scientist to ensure that any new data collected is accurate and able to be analysed.

- Ensuring land access permissions have been granted for any monitoring work.

- Undertaking surveys: Orkney vole transects (April), meadow pipit / skylark transects (May and July), breeding wader monitoring (site-based) (April – July), and wader nest monitoring (using trail cameras) (April – May) and assessing brood productivity.

- Being responsible for data management and collation from the team.

- Reporting any issues to the ONWP Monitoring Officer and Conservation Scientist.

You will have excellent identification skills and experience undertaking surveys to monitor a range of species. Wader surveys will include nest finding and monitoring to assess nest and chick survival, and ideally the post holder will have previous experience of this. You will have excellent attention to detail and the ability to create and maintain accurate records. You will have the ability to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences in an appropriate and sensitive manner. You will have the skills and experience necessary to motivate and lead a team of three research assistants.

The post holder will need to be physically fit, capable of working under difficult conditions and be available to work flexible hours

For further information and to download an application pack, please visit our website @ https://www.rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb/about-us/rspb-job-vacancies/vacancies-listing/