Principal Conservation Scientist - RSPB Cymru

Reference: SEP20252616
Location: Flexible in Wales
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time 37.5 hours per week (flexible working arrangements considered)
Salary: £51,549.00 - £55,035.00 Per Annum 

We are seeking an established ecologist or environmental scientist to lead our scientific work in Wales. The Principal Conservation Scientist will provide the evidence needed by RSPB Cymru to recover species, restore natural habitats and influence environmental policy in Wales. The primary function of the role is to ensure that RSPB’s conservation and engagement work in Wales is underpinned by scientific evidence. 

RSPB Cymru strives to improve the status of priority species including curlew, black grouse, seabirds and woodland birds, and the condition of habitats like peatland, moorland, Atlantic oak woodlands and our seas for the benefit of wildlife and people. We believe that productive land should be managed sustainably balancing the need for food and timber production with the needs of people for a clean and nature-rich landscape providing essential ecosystem services.  

The role involves identifying the key evidence needs of RSPB Cymru and meeting those needs either through synthesis of existing knowledge or by initiating new research. This will require working closely with staff in the RSPB Cymru operations team (including staff managing nature reserves) and with other scientists. Although RSPB has some resource to fund new scientific work, larger projects will require external funding, often in partnership with others. You will be expected to build and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues across RSPB and with external research partners and funders. 

Many of the RSPB’s evidence needs will be ecological in nature understanding for example how best to recover species or restore habitats. There will also be a need to develop multi-disciplinary projects measuring for example the ecosystem services provided by habitat restoration or the social barriers limiting adoption of sympathetic management practices. A key part of the role will be to develop collaborative external funding proposals focused on priority RSPB issues. 

Essential:

• PhD in relevant subject, or equivalent experience.
• Broad knowledge of conservation issues and practice, and conservation science, gained through experience of conducting and managing scientific research.
• Demonstrable ability to design scientific studies to answer applied conservation questions.
• Demonstrable experience of leading to completion multiple scientific research projects including managing staff and budgets.
• A strong record of publication in the peer-reviewed scientific literature.
• Demonstrable ability to develop productive collaborations both internally and externally.
• Demonstrable record of raising external funding for scientific research particularly in applied conservation.
• Ability to communicate scientific principals and research findings to both scientific and general audiences through writing and oral presentations 

Desirable:

• Experience of conducting applied scientific research on the wildlife and habitats of Wales, or in comparable landscapes elsewhere.
• Ability to translate conservation science into conservation practice both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to use scientific evidence to inform and develop conservation policy and to influence policy makers 

Additional Information:

• The successful applicant would be expected to work from home anywhere within Wales although RSPB has some office space for staff in Cardiff and on Anglesey.
• Some travel will be needed across Wales and the UK with occasional nights away from home.
• The role currently involves the line management of one established staff member although this is likely to rise with temporary staff. 

Closing date: Monday 3rd November

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