Seabird Monitoring Support Officer
British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
Seabird Monitoring Support Officer
Thetford, Norfolk
Part time, Temporary (22.5 hours per week, until March 2027)
£28,887 per annum pro rata + 11% employer pension contribution
About the role
The role of Seabird Monitoring Support Officer will focus on supporting the Seabird Monitoring Programme. You will provide support for the coordination of the survey, database maintenance, the production of a wide range of outputs such as reports, promotional materials, and assist in the development of the project and the SMP Online web application. There is scope to support the other teams at BTO through initiatives such as integrated monitoring and to improve survey coverage through outreach and training.
As postholder you will report to the SMP Organiser, Sarah Harris and will liaise with colleagues across BTO and with a range of external organisations, partners and stakeholders. You will be the first point of contact for the Seabird Monitoring Programme participants, and spend the majority of time working both with these fantastic participants and data handling.
About you
We are seeking a detail-oriented individual with a methodical approach and a keen eye for data accuracy. Strong interpersonal skills are essential for effective communication with survey participants, colleagues, and programme partners. Knowledge of seabird survey methods and experience engaging with birders, volunteers, and the general public are highly desirable. The candidate should be confident with IT, understand data confidentiality and ownership, and possess excellent organisational and time management skills. A relevant degree or equivalent experience is required.
The post will be based at the Trust’s Headquarters in Thetford, Norfolk, with remote working and working from a BTO Country Office also being considered. Shared office space is also available at the David Attenborough Building in Cambridge. This is a part-time position, equivalent to three days per week (22.5 hours). We're open to discussing flexible working arrangements and how these hours can be distributed across the week.
You can read the full role description by clicking on the role description under 'supporting documents' in the job details on our careers page. Please contact us if you are not sure if you meet all the criteria for the role and would like to discuss the role in more detail.
Please note that, if you are the successful candidate, you will be required to provide documentary evidence of your right to live and work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer visa sponsorship at this time.
WHAT DOES BTO DO?
BTO helps to secure the future for birds and nature, using our science, monitoring and data to inform good environmental decisions, inspiring others with the wonder of birds and empowering them to work with us. Our priority is to make a positive impact for birds, using our strong and objective science in partnership with others. We strive to work sustainably and to welcome everyone.
Our values
We are evidence-led, inclusive, collaborative and empowering.
Birds Science People; it is a powerful combination – will you be part of it?
WHAT WE OFFER
- £28,887 per annum pro rata
- Annual leave entitlement on starting is 25 days plus bank holidays (pro rata if part time).
- Paid 'journey days' (up to 2 days) to staff who travel on holiday by land or sea instead of flying.
- Life assurance (four times salary)
- 11% employer pension contribution
- Employee Assistance Programme offering help and advice to staff and their families on matters related to bereavement, wellbeing, finances, relationships, family and more. This includes a number of free counselling sessions.
- Enhanced sick pay
- Enhanced Family leave- Maternity, Adoption, and Shared Parental Leave, 12 weeks at full pay. Paternity and Partner leave, 4 weeks at full pay.
- Health cash plan which enables staff to claim back some healthcare expenses, such as prescriptions, dental treatment and specialist diagnostic tests. It also offers: Discounts on gym memberships and various retailers, a virtual GP and prescription service, on-demand wellness content (fitness, yoga,meditation, sleep, mindfulness) and access to Health Lens, Eargym, and digital physiotherapy via Phio.
- Retail discounts through MyLifestyle.
- Cycling friendly employer- gold accredited
- Cycle to work scheme- spread the cost of purchasing a new bike and save money
- Discounts on: BTO books, Bird care from Vine House Farm (10% discount on orders placed on the website) and Opticron (15% off)
- Free access to BTO
training courses
- Flexible working- A combination of home and office working and flexible start and finish times (where this meets business needs)
- Free eye tests and a contribution of £49 towards prescription glasses for VDU use only.
- Free car parking
- Effective job evaluation policy that recognises where staff increase their level of responsibility over time
- Coaching and mentoring scheme
- Staff groups and forums- First Aiders and mental health first aiders, Coaching and mentoring, Diversity working, Sustainability and Natural Working, Becoming Inclusive, Neurodiversity group, LGBTQ+ group and our staff group creating a positive and welcoming culture to work in.
- Commitment to creating an inclusive environment
- Commitment to sustainability
Closing date for receipt of applications is 23:59 (BST) Thursday 24th July and Interviews will be held in Thetford or online on Thursday 7th August.
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] or Sarah Harris, SMP Organiser, at [email protected].
If you have a disability or long-term illness that otherwise prevents you from meeting any of the essential criteria, please contact us to discuss whether a reasonable adjustment could be made.
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the vacancy.
We recognise that candidates from minority ethnic groups are under-represented in our organisation, and that there are often additional barriers present for people from these groups when applying for roles in the charity sector and beyond. We are committed to taking positive action to expand the diversity of our staff team, and if you meet the essential criteria for a role and are from a minority ethnic background, you'll be guaranteed a first stage interview.
In cases where we receive a very high volume of applications, we may need to limit the
number of Guaranteed Interview Scheme candidates progressing to interview.
About British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is a UK charity that focuses on understanding birds and, in particular, how and why bird populations are changing. Our vision is of a world where people are inspired by birds and informed by science.
We strive to achieve this vision by harnessing the skills and passion of thousands of volunteers to advance our understanding of ornithology, in particular, through our bird surveys and schemes. We combine the resulting scientific outputs with interesting stories and powerful images to engage more people in this work and to inspire people to take action. Working in partnership with volunteers we have been monitoring the UK’s birds since 1933 and have extended our coverage to include other wildlife too.
The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is a UK charity that focuses on understanding birds and, in particular, how and why bird populations are changing. Our vision is of a world where people are inspired by birds and informed by science. We strive to achieve this vision by harnessing the skills and passion of thousands of volunteers to advance our understanding of ornithology, in particular, through our bird surveys and schemes. We combine the resulting scientific outputs with interesting stories and powerful images to engage more people in this work and to inspire people to take action. Working in partnership with volunteers we have been monitoring the UK’s birds since 1933 and have extended our coverage to include other wildlife too.
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