Project Administrator
Derbyshire Swift Conservation
Background and role: Swift numbers have more than halved in the UK in the last 30 years, placing them on the red list of birds of conservation concern. Swifts nest primarily within the structure of buildings by accessing safe spaces through holes and gaps in the exterior of the building. These holes and gaps result from decay, repeated temperature variations and/or humidity and general deterioration and when buildings are repaired or renovated these gaps are often blocked. This is the main driver of the fall in Swift numbers as such works prevent access to their nests.
Identifying the location of Swift colonies allows us to work with property owners to protect
these colonies as well as provide supplementary nest boxes in these areas. We have a poor
understanding of Swift populations in over 85% of the settlements in the Derbyshire Dales and
this represents a huge logistical challenge if we are to conserve this species. The importance
of this has been recognised by The National Lottery Heritage Fund which is largely funding the
Derbyshire Dales Swift Project.
Role: Working closely with the Project Co-ordinator, the Community Engagement
Coordinator and DSC trustees you will establish a robust administrative framework and provide
essential administrative support for their activities. The successful candidate will:
- determine and structure the administrative requirements of the project in the context of day-to-day operations of Derbyshire Dales Swift Project and Derbyshire Swift Conservation in general.
- design, set-up and manage administrative processes, manage appointments and schedules, data collection and record keeping
- design, set-up and oversee Customer Relationship Management record management
- design, set-up and manage biological record data management
This is an opportunity to make a significant contribution towards increasing our understanding of the status of Swifts in this region as well as establishing a blueprint for Swift conservation in general.
About Derbyshire Swift Conservation
Derbyshire Swift Conservation was formed in response to the massive decline of this iconic bird across Derbyshire and the UK as a whole.
There is evidence to suggest that loss of nest sites is the predominant factor driving the loss of our breeding Swifts and we are working to address this in two ways.
- Firstly, to identify the location of existing nest sites and then ensure they are protected.
- Secondly, to supplement natural sites with artificial nest sites in the form of Swift bricks or boxes, so providing an ever-increasing supply of suitable nest sites for our Swifts on existing and new buildings.
Our Objectives
To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation of the Common Swift in Derbyshire by raising general awareness of the declining status of this species, identifying and protecting existing nest sites and by encouraging the provision of additional nest sites across the county.
Derbyshire Swift Conservation was formed in response to the massive decline of this iconic bird across Derbyshire and the UK as a whole. There is evidence to suggest that loss of nest sites is the predominant factor driving the loss of our breeding Swifts and we are working to address this in two ways. Firstly, to identify the location of existing nest sites and then ensure they are protected. Secondly, to supplement natural sites with artificial nest sites in the form of Swift bricks or boxes, so providing an ever-increasing supply of suitable nest sites for our Swifts on existing and new buildings. Our Objectives To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation of the Common Swift in Derbyshire by raising general awareness of the declining status of this species, identifying and protecting existing nest sites and by encouraging the provision of additional nest sites across the county.
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