RSPB - EFS Monitoring Officer Antrim Plateau

We are looking for a fieldworker to undertake a range of habitat and breeding wader surveys across a range of farmland habitats in the Antrim Hills, one of the last remaining strongholds for breeding waders in Northern Ireland.

What's the role about?

• Undertaking habitat surveys to assess the condition and suitability of breeding wader habitat.
• Conducting modified Brown and Shepard breeding wader surveys to identify and record breeding behaviour of key wader species.
• Timely and accurate reporting of data to an online portal and archiving of paper field sheets.
• Maintaining effective relationships with landowners, tenants and the public, to ensure effective project delivery

This survey work is part of the Antrim Hills Curlew Initiative (AHCI) a Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) funded project to create and maintain suitable breeding wader habitat in the Antrim Hills to safeguard breeding waders.

What we need from you: Essential skills include:

• Degree level qualification in a relevant subject or ability to show equivalent work experience.
• Sufficient understanding of species and habitats of the project area.
• A good knowledge of breeding wader ecology.
• An understanding of the Environmental Farming Scheme/Agri Environment Schemes
• Ability to collect data in the field and record online.
• Ability to work effectively as a team player.
• Proficient at using Microsoft Office packages including Outlook, Excel & Word.
• Full driving licence.

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

• Demonstrable practical field skills of waders in breeding habitat, particularly of Curlew and Lapwing, by sight and sound.
• Competency in use of GIS.
• Understanding of the concept of landscape scale conservation and the pressures on land use in the operational area of this role.