Conservation Social Scientist

The RSPB Centre for Conservation Science is looking for a talented Conservation Social Scientist to join our People Conservation Science team to support our International Flyways Conservation Programme in Northern Ghana. This is a new, 12-month fixed-term post, reporting directly to Dr Natasha Constant. You will work primarily with RSPB colleagues in the International Science and Flyways Conservation teams, and the national Birdlife International partner, Ghana Wildlife Society.

What's the role about?

The RSPB’s Flyways Conservation Programme seeks to secure a network of sites and landscape-scale interventions along the East Atlantic Flyway (a bird migration route that extends from the Arctic though Europe and West Africa, to Southern Africa).  Within this flyway, the Guinea savannah of Northern Ghana is a priority landscape for RSPB, where we are working with Ghana Wildlife Society to create high impact nature conservation, supporting livelihoods, wider support for nature and contributing to stabilising the climate.

Integrating livelihood interventions alongside conservation and restoration activities is essential in this landscape, as most of the population live below the poverty line and are directly reliant on natural resources for their income. Although there have been numerous livelihood interventions delivered by government agencies and NGOs, outcomes have been mixed. Before RSPB undertakes any new livelihood interventions in the landscape, it is essential to review and evaluate these previous activities, to understand what has and has not been effective. 

The role will involve undertaking a stakeholder analysis, semi-structured interviews, and a desktop scoping review of livelihood interventions in Northern Ghana. The research will help to identify interventions with the potential to improve community livelihoods and conservation, enabling conditions for success, and potential collaborative partnerships.

The post is desk-based with a flexible location within the U.K. but will require a short trip to Ghana to work with Ghana Wildlife Society, and conduct interviews with local NGOs, universities, and conservation practitioners. Key outputs developed through this project include a report with key recommendations for future livelihood development, a scoping review to be submitted as a peer review article, an online workshop to disseminate key findings, and recommendations of priority partnerships to cultivate into the future.

Essential Criteria

• Proven scientific background (e.g., a PhD or equivalent experience managing and conducting a scientific research project) in a relevant subject (e.g., human geography, anthropology, sociology, development studies) or topic (e.g., livelihood development, rural development).
• Knowledge of the appropriate data collection methods (e.g., face-to-face and online key informant or semi-structured interviews, undertaking systematic or scoping literature reviews), and the ability to develop new ethically sound methods when necessary to answer novel questions.
• Prior experience conducting social science research in international settings, ideally in Africa.
• A methodical and rigorous approach to experimental design, data collection, data management and analysis, ensuring data and results pass international peer-reviewed standards of scrutiny and audit.
• Self-motivated and able to work efficiently within a defined work plan to meet deadlines. This necessitates the ability to plan and organise your own work.
• Able to work in collaboration with external organisations (international NGOs, universities, government actors, community groups) and individuals.
• Willingness to travel abroad to Ghana to conduct social science research in collaboration with local partners.

Desirable Criteria

• Strong interpersonal skills and the empathy and adaptability to quickly understand different points of view and agree mutually beneficial solutions.
• Experience and knowledge of the challenges and success factors influencing conservation livelihood interventions, particularly in Africa or other developing countries.
• Sensitivity to cultural diversity and the ability to work with local communities under traditional governance.
• Experience leading and conducting in-person and online workshops to disseminate research findings.
• Ability to influence others through production of written material
• Ability to give talks, and speak about science to any audience.

This is a 12-month contract, full-time 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.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 14th July 2025 . 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.

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.

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