About us

For more than 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.

As Knowledge and Evidence Officer you will…

• Lead on the development of ArcGIS Online (AGOL) tools to support information collection, collation, dissemination and use.
• Manage conservation data throughout the entire data life cycle.
• Manage the data and maps request support service: producing guidance, data analysis, maps and web maps as necessary.
• Train and support staff in the use of Trust systems.
• Maintain the Trust’s conservation data systems, licences, documentation, protocols/guidelines and data holdings.
• Provide open access to appropriate Trust data via the website, AGOL and NBN Atlas.
• Line manage K&E support volunteers.
• Keep informed of data management best practice, policies and initiatives.
• Support the Knowledge and Evidence Manager by proactively managing team structures, processes, and reporting.
• Otherwise as necessary.

The successful candidate will have:

• A relevant degree or at least 2 years of matched professional experience.
• Experience in using ArcGIS Pro to visualise, analyse, edit and share spatial data.
• Experience in ArcGIS Online (AGOL) Apps such as ArcGIS Hub, Survey123, Field Maps, StoryMaps, Dashboards and Experience Builder.
• Expert knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
• Experience of training and supporting people with a range of GIS/IT knowledge.
• Experience of Dashboard implementation and reporting techniques.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office 365, particularly Word, Power BI and SharePoint.
• Experience in handling and manipulating complex and varied datasets, including quality assurance.
• Experience in the use of evidence to evaluate and inform decision making.

We are looking for an organised and motivated individual with a keen interest in community engagement and nature restoration to carry out initial scoping work in preparation for the delivery of the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Nature Pioneers Programme in Dundee. This free skills development programme will be delivered as the Trust’s contribution to ‘Nature Connections and Recovery’, a partnership project led by the Eden Project.

Through a combination of desk-based and in-situ research you will play a key role in ensuring the Pioneers Programme meets the needs of established and aspiring community leaders across Dundee.

This flexible role can be carried out from home, the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Montrose Basin Visitor Centre or the Eden Project’s Dundee office, with some travel around Dundee city expected.

Main objectives:

1. Conduct desk-based and on-location research to map opportunities for the delivery of the Trust’s Pioneers Programme in Dundee.
2. Carry out initial listening exercises with communities to gain an understanding of their needs and interests in relation to community-led nature recovery in Dundee.
3. Identify opportunities to improve the Pioneers Programme learning materials and resources, to provide established and aspiring community leaders in Dundee with the skills and resources they need to organise action for nature in their community.

The successful candidate will ideally have:

• Experience conducting desk-based research
• Experience in community engagement and/or consultation
• Experience developing learning and/or skills development resources
• Experience in events planning and delivery
• Basic knowledge and understanding of urban wildlife conservation
• Familiarity with Dundee city and its local communities

About us

For more than 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.

The benefits

• Flexi time/Hybrid working
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and pension schemes
• Weekly wellness hour
• Generous Sick pay allowance
• Enhanced maternity/paternity pay
• Training and Development focus

As Scotland’s leading nature conservation charity, we welcome applications from individuals who are looking to join us in our journey of protecting Scotland’s wildlife for the future.

From major species and landscape restoration projects, to managing our network of wildlife reserves and campaigning for nature, we work for Scotland’s wildlife year-round.

We give a voice to wildlife through our policy and campaigning work, demonstrate best practice through practical conservation work, engage with people to take positive action through our education programmes and events, and so much more.

The Role:

The Senior Monitoring and Control Officer will contribute to the protection of the Highland Line (HL), a coast-to-coast control zone which aims to prevent grey squirrels from moving north from Central Scotland into the red strongholds of the Highlands and Grampians. Progressed through a programme of targeted grey squirrel monitoring and control, you’ll help support the protection and expansion of red squirrel populations in accordance with the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels strategy. This role requires an approachable individual with experience in mammal control work and line management that enjoys working outdoors and interacting with people.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Delivering responsive and strategic grey squirrel control in the region primarily from the shores and islands of Loch Lomond, heading east to Callander and the Teith Valley to Doune; line managing Monitoring and Control Officers (MCO’s) to carry out effective grey squirrel control and develop regional Rapid Response Monitoring networks in their regions; and coordinating the project trap-loan scheme.

Specifically this includes:

1. Line manage and support three MCO’s covering Argyll to Strathmore
2. Carry out responsive and strategic grey squirrel control through trapping and targeted shooting in priority areas
3. Coordinate and oversee the delivery and expansion of the project trap-loan scheme
4. Coordinate and support the development and expansion of a regional Rapid Response Monitoring (RRM) networks
5. Assist with recruiting and provide appropriate training to volunteers and external partners in grey squirrel control, monitoring and detection methods
6. Where required, carry out Operational Monitoring (OM) to assess squirrel presence e.g. feeder boxes and/or camera traps
7. Monitor the spread of the squirrel pox virus through the Central Lowlands by carrying out trapping and testing in sampling survey squares
8. Collect and maintain records on monitoring and trapping efforts using Excel, ArcGIS and the SSRS Hub (database) and contribute to reporting on project performance.
9. Encourage interest in local red squirrel conservation with relevant local communities through media and events

The successful candidate will have:

• A degree or equivalent qualification in ecology, countryside management or related discipline plus a minimum two years’ experience in a relevant field, including practical wildlife management/ invasive non-native species control.
• Experience in line management, oversight of operations and collecting, maintaining and reporting standardised ecological data is essential.
• Relevant previous experience of working with landowners, gamekeepers, foresters and the public and recruiting, training and supporting volunteers to undertake active conservation work is also essential.
• Good understanding of conservation principles, practices and legislation would be desirable.
• Knowledge of native tree species and familiarity with the Trossachs and Stirlingshire area would be advantageous.

There may occasionally be a requirement to work out of normal working hours.

You must possess a full clean driving licence.

You must possess or be willing and eligible to obtain, a Firearms licence.