We are seeking a Conservation Officer to work across our Morecambe Bay & Ribble and Lake District Priority Landscapes. They will be responsible for helping to deliver the work of RSPB's conservation teams within the North West and Northeast and Cumbria operational areas, to ensure delivery of the relevant outcomes of RSPB's Saving Nature Strategy.

Conservation Officer - North West, Morecambe Bay and Cumbria
Reference number: 7daZd-2
Location: Lancaster Office – covering North West
Salary Range: currently £25,463 to £27,585 per annum (increasing to £26,212 to £29,320 with effect from 1st April 2020)
Hours: Full time
Contract: Permanent

Conservation Officers have a key role in hands-on land management advisory work, managing and delivering projects, in association with RSPB colleagues. This includes those led by RSPB and RSPB's delivery in wider partnerships, particularly within priority landscapes. The role has an important external element, building positive relationships with key partners and stakeholders so that our collective policies and messages are understood and furthered within and outwith Cumbria.

The role will help to deliver a work programme focused on the relevant priority landscapes, species and habitats. This will be achieved by deploying the appropriate conservation tools to ensure we achieve our conservation objectives. This may include land management advice, site safeguard casework, species recovery, conservation projects and engagement in land use policy.

The post-holder will help to monitor and report on the work plan and to develop further work plans and/or project ideas. They will also be expected to contribute operational experience to RSPB's policy and advocacy work and contribute to the delivery of RSPB funding and communications objectives, particularly through communicating our conservation message

The area around Morecambe Bay is one of the UK's most important biodiversity hotspots. The diverse geology and landscape features and coastal and climatic influences have created an extraordinary diversity of habitats, which are home to internationally significant populations of birds, flora and invertebrates. The key habitats of importance include:

• Coastal and floodplain wetlands- saltmarshes, lowland raised bogs and freshwater wetlands in valleys.
• Farmland.
• Species rich grasslands - on coastal headlands and limestone escarpments.
• Native woodlands- supporting rare butterflies, plants and woodland birds.

The transitions between these habitats contributes to the area's outstanding diversity, as within a short distance it is possible to move from inter-tidal habitat to saltmarsh to terrestrial habitats such as unimproved grasslands, heath, swamp, fen, mire, woodland and scrub.

Cumbria and the Lake District are unique, the county contains the highest mountains and deepest lakes in England the variety and extent of its habitats are well known. Key habitats include:

• Coastal and floodplain wetlands- lakeshore wetlands, saltmarshes, lowland raised bogs and freshwater wetlands in valleys.
• Species rich coastal heath and dunes.
• Both lowland and upland native woodland communities.
• Upland habitats including; bog, heath, cliff, crag, screes and arctic-alpine communities and;
• Farmland.

RSPB has a strong reserve presence in the area including; Leighton Moss and Morecambe Bay, The Lyth Valley, Hodbarrow, Haweswater, Geltsdale, St Bees and Campfield all of which is in addition to our advisory, community engagement and education work.

Closing date: 14 April 2020
Interview date: 5 May 2020

TO APPLY AND FOR MORE INFORMATION:

If you would like to find out more about this position and to apply, please click the Apply button to be directed to our website where you can download the role profile and application details.

When you make your application please ensure that you include reference number 7daZd-2 on any correspondence.

This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. You will be asked to declare unspent convictions and cautions at offer of employment stage.

No agencies please.