Peatland Communications & Engagement Officer

We are looking for an enthusiastic and organised individual to lead and deliver the communications and engagement programme at our RSPB Forsinard Flows Nature Reserve and contribute to the same for the Flow Country Partnership. This post is for someone who enjoys working with people and communities.

The nature reserve lies in the heart of the Flow Country, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of international importance.  An area of expansive, dramatic and inspiring blanket bog set in Sutherland and Caithness in the far north of Scotland. The reserve is important for its size and the scale at which we work, the wildlife that calls it home and the role it plays in carbon storage. The recent inscription of the Flow Country as the world’s first peatland UNESCO World Heritage site exemplifies the global value of this landscape. The opportunity now is to continue to deliver this message to communities, locally, nationally and internationally through our communications and engagement, and to maintain and develop support for this globally important landscape.

Key result areas:

RSPB Forsinard Flows Reserve

• Responsible for producing clear, succinct, targeted and on brand messages from complex work areas to support the delivery of key objectives.
• Project manage and deliver events and activities. Work with colleagues to devise and implement, an engagement programme that raises awareness and understanding of the reserve, its work and peatland.
• Manage requests and deliver group visits and assist with the organisation and delivery of the reserve’s ‘working holidays’ programme.
• Lead on engaging with journalists, other media contacts and partners to increase promotion opportunities for events, pitch stories and secure media coverage.
• Co-ordinate, produce and develop content for RSPB and external publications, RSPB country specific blogs, web pages and social media channels to increase our profile.

Flow Country Partnership (FCP)

• Play a key role in the planning and delivery of the communication and engagement plans for the Flow Country World Heritage Site.

RSPB and FCP

• Assure events and communications are targeted to a variety of audiences, including under-served communities.
• Monitor and review agreed outcomes from communication and event activities so that the effectiveness of work can be assessed and improved.
• Understand and mitigate issues that may give rise to reputational damage to the RSPB and FCP in all communications channels.
• Ensure effective internal communications are delivered so that relevant employees and volunteers are aware of key messages and are informed and briefed on forthcoming and evolving media stories and events.
• Ensure that all activities and actions meet Health and Safety requirements so that the RSPB and FCP meets its legal and policy obligations.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Educated to a degree level or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline.   
• Excellent communication skills - listening, written and verbal. Able to communicate complex topics in a clear manner at all levels to develop shared understanding & impactful stories.  
• Strong social and interpersonal skills, with the gravitas to influence internal and external stakeholders, and engage with a wide range of people face to face.  
• Excellent planning and prioritisation skills, combined with the ability to meet tight deadlines and handle unanticipated workloads.  
• Good basic knowledge of peatland habitats and key species, sufficient to be able to lead public engagement activities in a credible way.  
• Demonstrable experience of delivering media coverage, with experience of writing press releases, blogs, social media and other media materials.
• Demonstrable experience of organisation, delivery and review of events for a range of audiences, including schools and local community groups.
• A full manual driving licence valid in the UK as rural travel will be required for events (or ability to access rural locations without public transport).

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Geographical knowledge of the North Highlands.
• Able and willing to assist with practical management tasks, surveying and work parties as relevant to the post, for example with visiting groups to the reserve.

This role will require:

• Lone working, often in remote locations.
• Occasional weekend and evening working.
• Travel to events, erect marquees and manual handle equipment. You will be required to use an RSPB fleet vehicle as there is limited public transport.
• Occasional travel within the UK and overnight stays away from home.

This is a Fixed-Term role until 31.03.2030 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 18th July 2025. For further information please contact [email protected].

A long application form is used to apply for this position.  A CV is not required.

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.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.