The Scottish Wildlife Trust is looking for an enthusiastic and dynamic Reserve Officer to help plan, coordinate and deliver practical land conservation management across 4 wildlife reserves across North East Scotland.

Working closely with colleagues, volunteers, contractors and local communities, you will deliver habitat management, ecological monitoring, volunteer leadership and public engagement activities that support the conservation of some of Scotland's most valuable wildlife sites.

Main objectives:

• Plan, deliver and report on practical land management works.
• Assess conservation land management options across a range of habitats and work with the Reserve Manager to produce management plans/statements for reserves.
• Undertake practical reserve management works (including coppicing, felling non – native trees, fencing, planting native trees, path work, invasive species control).
• Undertake and manage the maintenance of tools and equipment for relevant reserves, including machinery.
• Ensure all groundworks are assessed, and where relevant, safely remove (non-aerial) hazardous windblown or storm damaged branches or small trees.
• Assist with the development of new conservation projects on selected reserves.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety of all operations, including safe working practices, premises safety, and reserve safety.
• Carry out the annual programme of site risk assessments, formal reserve inspections and tree safety inspections on allocated reserves.

Reserves Area

The role covers 4 reserves:

• Gight Wood (majority of workload)
• Longhaven Cliffs
• Red Moss of Netherley
• Coulnacriag Meadow

The successful candidate will have:

• Relevant degree or N/SVQ Level 3 / 4 or equivalent relating to countryside management.
• Certificate for trailer, all-terrain vehicles or willingness to undergo relevant training to achieve this.
• 2 years of proven experience of planning, delivering conservation management work and volunteer supervision.
• Demonstrable experience in the safe use and maintenance of hand and power tools.
• Strong natural history knowledge and the ability to relate species and habitats to practical conservation management; specifically native woodlands, lowland peatbogs, wildflower meadows and riparian habitats.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• Chainsaw operator’s certificates to Lantra Standards for crosscutting and maintenance, felling and processing of trees up to 380mm and processing uprooted and windblown trees (desirable).
• Use and maintenance of strimmer’s and brush cutters.
• Herbicide Qualifications PA1 and PA6 (desirable).

Why join us?

This is an excellent opportunity to make a direct contribution to nature recovery in Scotland while working across a diverse range of habitats and engaging with local communities, volunteers and partners.

Join us and help protect and restore Scotland's wildlife.

Scotland’s leading nature conservation charity is looking to co-opt a Trustee with knowledge and experience of nature conservation, land management practices and an understanding of relevant policy. This role includes being part of the Conservation Committee, a sub-committee which reports into our main Board of Trustees (“Council”) and provides vital oversight of conservation at the Trust.

For over 60 years, the Scottish Wildlife Trust has worked with its members, partners and supporters in pursuit of its vision of healthy, resilient ecosystems across Scotland’s land and seas. The Trust successfully champions the cause of wildlife through policy and campaigning work, demonstrates best practice through practical conservation and innovative partnerships, and inspires people to take positive action through its education and engagement activities. The Trust manages a network of over 100 wildlife reserves across Scotland and is a member of the UK-wide Wildlife Trusts movement.

Nature conservation has never been more important, and this is an exceptional opportunity to join a vibrant and committed Board of Trustees, which provides the governance function for the charity. Most members of Council are directly elected by the membership, but this will be a co-opted position.

The successful candidate will have:

• Experience and knowledge of nature conservation and land management practices; additionally, experience focused on the third/charitable sector would be desirable
• An understanding of nature conservation policy relating to Scotland
• Ability to think strategically and differentiate between strategy and operations
• Ability to constructively challenge fellow Trustees and senior management
• A strong personal commitment to environmental issues and the Trust’s mission and values The post is without remuneration, but reasonable out-of-pocket expenses may be reclaimed

If you would like to play a role in achieving the Trust’s vision of a network of healthy, resilient ecosystems across Scotland’s land and seas, we would love to hear from you.

For further details, please refer to the Application Information Pack on the Scottish Wildlife Trust's website.

If you would like more information please contact recruitment@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk.