Species Recovery Officer - Wildcat Feasibility

The team of FE staff and partners in Kielder Forest have a successful heritage of nature recovery and community engagement, supported by our national leads, long-term monitoring and award-winning academic research. This role looks to build on that foundation, and will encompass both ecological and social elements, including wildlife monitoring, public engagement and project management.

It will manage delivery of species recovery efforts in line with our National Forest Wilding Programme priority species, specifically the European wildcat, also known as the woodcat.

This is a species that was once present throughout Britain but has been pushed to the brink of extinction with no viable populations remaining. Reintroduction is the only tool at hand to facilitate the return of the wildcat to its former range and is an option currently being considered for Kielder Forest. As a European Protected Species and mesopredator, it is vital that the potential presence of wildcat in the Borders landscape be considered from a socio-economic as well as ecological angle, reflecting the wide variety of stakeholders and land uses present including protected areas, agriculture, and forestry. This role will also involve working with other protected species that have returned to Kielder and gaining skills with experienced naturalists.

Purpose of Job

Desk-based social, biological and ecological feasibility has recently been completed and indicates Kielder Forest could be a suitable location for European wildcat reintroduction, subject to further site-based feasibility and consultation. The postholder will lead on taking forward recommended next steps. This will include public and stakeholder engagement, ecological monitoring and, dependent on ongoing feasibility outputs, development of reintroduction plans. The postholder is also expected to support staff and partners working on the restoration of other species in line with national and local priorities, such as pine martens and water voles.

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