Senior Conservation Scientist, Sandy

Senior Conservation Scientist, Sandy

£  26,500-£30,500    per annum

Full Time 37.5 hours per week

2 year Fixed term contract 

The Tropical Forest Unit is a growing team within The RSPB’s International Directorate with an increasing need to ensure its work is underpinned with rigorous and often novel science. This role will provide that underpinning with a particular emphasis on the areas of tropical forest ecology, forest carbon biomass and interactions of these with forest biodiversity. 

We require a Senior Conservation Scientist with expertise in tropical forest ecology and carbon science to develop, lead and manage a range of research projects, mostly located within the key tropical forest conservation projects that The RSPB is engaged in (currently Gola Rainforest National Park in Sierra Leone and Harapan Rainforest, Sumatra) and to provide support to the Tropical Forest Unit in RSPB’s International Directorate.

You will need to hold a PhD or equivalent experience with some post-doctoral experience as evidenced by a strong scientific publication record. You will need good experience in tropical forest ecology and conservation including strong botanical skills, sampling design, field survey methods and monitoring programmes, excellent analytical skills – including GIS and remote sensing - scientific writing, and the flexibility to acquire skills in new areas. You will need a proven ability to carry through research programmes from conception to completion. Experience and knowledge of Afrotropical and/or southeast Asian forests is essential and specialist knowledge of some taxa is desirable. Experience of working overseas with other cultures, especially in developing countries, is essential, as is a willingness to work in a remote location. This post requires a high degree of diplomacy and cultural awareness.

Closing date:   8 November 2012                                     Interview date:  22 November 2012

For further information and an application pack please visit our website at www.rspb.org.uk/vacancies