This is a wonderful opportunity to join a great team saving nature and inspiring people in one of the most wildlife-rich counties in the UK. Orkney is a fantastic place to live and work, and you will be part of a friendly team working from the Stromness office. We are looking for someone who understands and enjoys using machinery and using their practical skills to keep reserve structures in good condition. Someone with real commitment and enthusiasm who understands the practicalities of land management. 

What's the role about?

This post offers a fantastic opportunity to play a major role in the on-the-ground work needed to provide the best conditions we can for the spectacular wildlife, such as breeding waders, seabirds and hen harriers, that call our Orkney reserves their home. We also want our reserves to be great places where people can have great natural experiences, and you will be helping to look after our hides and trails.

Much of the work will involve keeping the habitat in good condition by cutting back vegetation with a range of tools and machinery, and you'll also be helping helping keep our reserves stock proof by building and maintaining fences. 

We recently bought a Soucy Track tractor, and much of your work will involve using this to top our wetter fields and improve them for breeding waders; this will be a great chance to become familiar with some specialist machinery. There will be plenty of variety in work, with the opportunity to be involved in livestock counts, herbicide work, hide maintenance, installing signs, peatland restoration work (removing scrub and installing dams and geotextile matting), improving our meadows with green hay and wildflower seeds, maintaining trails, supervising contractors and also working with our local volunteer teams.

You will lead on and be responsible for estate and all machinery maintenance. We'd like you to keep our machinery and vehicles safe and in good working order and to carry out safety checks on our reserves. Each season will bring a new set of tasks and challenges, and you will be working in beautiful surroundings across various reserves. 

Essentials:

• You will have good practical land management and estate management experience and abilities.
• You will have a good working knowledge of agricultural machinery, vehicles, tools and equipment in operation, servicing and maintenance.
• You will have many practical skills and qualities to help us with our work. You will excel at and enjoy working with tractors, trailers, ATVs, chainsaws and brush-cutters and working outdoors in all weathers. 
• You will also appreciate working with volunteers and visitors, helping them enjoy our wildlife and reserves.
• You will be comfortable living and working on an island and will rise to the challenge of working on terrain that can sometimes be demanding.
• You'll enjoy working as part of a team but also be comfortable working independently.
• You will have a full, manual driving licence that is valid in the UK
• We are looking for someone keen to play a vital part in helping us achieve a busy and varied work programme, keeping our reserves as special places for wildlife and people.

Desirables:

• It would be great if you have an interest in and understanding of wildlife, land management for its benefit, and knowledge and understanding of nature conservation.
• Livestock management
• Surveying of species
• LANTRA or equivalent qualification in tractors, toppers, trailers, chainsaws, brushcutters, ATV, boom sprayer, knapsack sprayer, boats and vehicles. Training will be provided.
• Biological monitoring and recording and data input.

Additional Information

This is a Permanent/Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week. 

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from w/c  31st July 2023. For further information, please get in touch with Elizabeth.Fricker@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 of how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

To give yourself the best chance of being shortlisted, you must do more than tell us what you have done in the past. We want to know how you have applied your skills, knowledge and experience and how this will help you succeed in the role.

Please do get in contact should you require any reasonable adjustments at the application/interview stage.

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 on nature's side and more diverse people. People of colour and disabled people are underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sectors. If you identify as a person of colour and 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 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.