Conservation Officer (Kentish Glory Species Champion - Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms)
Job Description
**Would you like to play a key role in conserving the rare and threatened Kentish Glory moth? Do you have the energy and enthusiasm to help us improve the fortunes of this scarce and elusive species?**
We need your help to carry out our plans and fulfil our ambitions for the conservation of Kentish Glory in and around the Cairngorms through the role of Species Champion for Kentish Glory.
The Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms (RIC) project works to conserve, protect, and enhance populations of five rare and threatened invertebrate species within the Cairngorms. We aim to have at least one volunteer Species Champion for each of these five project species. Species Champions use their enthusiasm, energy, and skills to focus on developing conservation plans and supporting the delivery of specific conservation actions for their project species. The RIC project is being organised with support and assistance of the RSPB Species Volunteer Network project, a project that is now running in Scotland thanks to players of People's Postcode Lottery.
As a Kentish Glory Species Champion, you'll be most active in April and May as adults are surveyed and in June and July as egg and caterpillar searches take place. During the rest of the year you will have the opportunity to help with tasks like community outreach, planning or habitat management.
**This role will vary slightly depending on the skills and experience that you bring to the role and the needs of the Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms Project. But the role will include some or all of the following tasks:**
- Surveying, monitoring and mapping the Kentish Glory and its habitat within the Cairngorms, both on your own and with other volunteers.
- Inputting Kentish Glory survey data into a database or making survey records available for someone else to enter.
- Carrying out habitat management to support Kentish Glory.
- Contributing to conservation action plans for Kentish Glory.
- Engaging with communities, volunteers and landowners to foster greater interest and appreciation for Kentish Glory.
- Depending on your interests, there may be the opportunity to get involved with Kentish Glory steering group meetings.
- Administration, such as submitting records and mapping survey efforts on a computer.
**It will require some key general skills, but please note that we will offer full training and induction into this role within the RSPB. You will require the following skills and abilities:**
- Knowledge and enthusiasm for Kentish Glory or a willingness to learn about the species and its ecology.
- The role will require you to visit Kentish Glory sites which are often in remote locations, so you will need a reasonable level of fitness, with the ability to walk up to 2-4 km on uneven and often rough terrain. If physical ability is an issue there may be opportunities to adapt the role to suit your needs, for example co-ordinating other volunteers in carrying out remote surveys.
- Excellent communication skills for engaging with different audiences, internal and external to the RSPB. Experience of using social media or a willingness to learn would be helpful.
- Basic IT skills, including creating word documents or spreadsheets.
- Good organisational skills with the ability to work independently, alongside other volunteers or with the RIC project officer.
- The role is best suited to someone living within or close to the Cairngorms National Park. You will need access to your own transport
This role provides the opportunity to develop hands on experience and skills around insect surveying and monitoring. The role will enable you to build experience in delivering species conservation through working with communities, volunteers, landowners, and other conservation organisations. We will offer training, induction, and ongoing support to ensure that you are prepared for the specific needs of the role. We are a friendly and welcoming team, so you'll have the opportunity to make new friends too.