Peatland Assistant Project Officer x2

Introduction:

Wales’s peatland landscapes are places of inspiration, adventure and beauty. These treasured landscapes are more than just amazing wild spaces, they are home to rare and special habitats and species, are our most important terrestrial carbon store, protect important drinking water resources and support farming and rural communities.

This role offers a unique opportunity to forge a career in peatland restoration, working to protect and restore these precious habitats for the benefit of nature and people. Based at Lake Vyrnwy, you will become an integral part of RSPB Cymru’s Peatland team, helping to design and deliver our ambitious restoration programmes alongside some of Wales leading practitioners.

Our current programme spans Mid and North Wales, with ambitious plans to complete the restoration on the 10,000ha Lake Vyrnwy estate, while also working across multiple sites adjacent to Lake Vyrnwy, within in the North Wales Moors Priority landscape and the Ellan Valley.
We are looking for someone with an interest in upland ecosystems with the ambition, drive and skills to join a team already setting the standard for peatland restoration within Wales. This is an opportunity to work in some of Wales’s most iconic landscapes, driving RSPB’s ambitious vision for our uplands. 

What's the role about?

You will support in developing, delivering, monitoring and reporting on peatland restoration across Mid and North Wales, helping to ensure that the programme achieves the desired outputs and objectives.

The overall programme of works includes:

• Establishing current baseline condition.
• Developing restoration plans, Peatland Code applications and Funding.
• Delivering habitat restoration through the management of contractors.
• Monitoring of completed work and impact. 

The role will be based at Lake Vyrnwy and report into the existing Peatland team and include the following key focus areas:

• Project development and delivery:
  • Survey work to establish baseline condition and restoration potential.
  • Developing restoration plans with consideration of funding and delivery potential.
  • Contribute to funding applications and good financial management.
  • Support the team to manage contractors and overseeing delivery of works.
  • Following governance structures to keep their projects on track and manage risks.
  • Produce relevant project documentation as directed.

• Build effective relationships with external partners (at appropriate seniority) to build strength, depth and impact of our habitat and species conservation work.
• Building effective internal relationships across departments, regions and countries to support effective project delivery.
• Monitor developments in the external world to inform decisions.
• Develop and deliver appropriate communication activities such as events, media interaction, briefings, talks and production of materials to support the delivery of the project.
• Ensure that risks and issues are highlighted. 

What we need from you:

Essential:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate about the project in a passionate and credible manner. Be able to write technical reports and liaise with colleagues and partners.
• Competent IT user (e.g. MS packages, Outlook etc).
• An interest and knowledge of natural history of the Welsh uplands and understanding of their ecological needs, within their work area.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to find creative solutions.
• Able to work under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Proven time management and organisational skills and attention to detail.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of upland conservation including peatland restoration.
• An understanding of working with contractors.
• An understanding of working in partnerships to achieve shared outcomes.
• Knowledge of GIS packages.
• Experience of volunteering.
• An understanding of the Welsh language and culture

These roles are fixed term contracts until 31st March 2028, Full Time roles for 37.5 hours per week.

The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

For further information please contact [email protected]

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.