Long-term Conservation Volunteer Placement - RSPB South Essex Marshes
RSPB
Join us as a Conservation Volunteer!
We are looking for a motivated individual to join our team for a part-time, 6-month conservation volunteer placement. You will work alongside our warden team at 6 RSPB nature reserves in South Essex, helping to deliver essential conservation work and make a real difference for wildlife.
Delivering our reserve work programme over the spring and summer will provide many chances to develop your knowledge of managing habitats for wildlife conservation as well a large variety of opportunities to develop your practical skills. You will gain firsthand experience of working in a range of habitats that include lowland wet grassland, grazing marsh, reedbed, scrub grassland, estuarine and brownfield.
You will be helping the team to collect and analyse data throughout the survey season, which involves monitoring a wide range of wildlife. You will be working outdoors almost every day of your placement on RSPB reserves along the beautiful Thames Estuary landscape, using your developing practical skills to achieve essential habitat and estate management targets. Along with giving you as much hands-on experience as possible, this placement is also designed to propel you into your first conservation career.
What will this placement provide?
- Experience of Habitat Management: Learn and carry out best practices for maintaining wet grasslands, enhancing reedbeds, and managing scrub. You will be supporting bird species such as Lapwing, Avocet, and Redshank, and help rare insects like the Shrill Carder Bumblebee.
- Survey Skills: Get hands-on experience conducting surveys of birds, bees, butterflies, reptiles, and water voles throughout the survey season.
- GIS Training: Use our internal GIS software to create maps and record biological data.
- Gain Qualifications: Attend training sessions and earn certifications like First Aid at Work and Brushcutter training.
- Machinery Use: Learn to safely operate and maintain various equipment and machinery.
- Knowledge of Nature Reserve Management: Understand the broader context of managing reserves, including water level management, livestock grazing, and compliance with environmental schemes.
- Contributing to a productive team: Collaborate with our site team on estate management tasks, such as building fencing. You will also get to work with, and lead, other volunteers on practical tasks.
Details:
- Start Date: From week commencing 17/03/2025 , in position by end of March latest
- Duration: 6 months
- Work Schedule: Flexible 3 days per week (7.5 hours/day, Monday to Friday) Exact days and hours will be decided on an individual basis subject to being offered the role.
- Travel Expenses: There is a budget available for subsidising travel costs up to a reasonable distance if required, which will be decided on an individual basis subject to being offered the role
What do we need from you?
- This is a part-time, voluntary position and you must be over 18.
- A full, clean UK Driver’s License is essential to drive our fleet vehicles (no need for your own car, as our office has good public transport links).
- Enthusiasm and passion for the natural world and a desire to succeed in a career in the field of conservation
- Prepared to take on physical manual labour and work outdoors in all weather conditions
- Ability to work well in a team, communicate effectively, and take responsibility for independent tasks.
This is an entry level role, and all training will be given so no previous experience is necessary, however some knowledge of wildlife or ecology is useful.
What's In It For You?
- We will support your career development with a personal development plan, regular coaching, and opportunities to practice interview techniques and draft job applications.
- You will receive practical training and formal qualifications, including First Aid at Work and Brushcutter training.
- We will provide you with a branded uniform, wet-weather gear, and personal protective equipment for the duration of your placement.
This project is funded by the Government's Species Survival Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.
Please submit your application by Monday 17th February 2025 to be considered for this volunteer role.
About RSPB
The RSPB is a charity for the conservation of birds and nature. We bring people together who love birds and other wildlife, and who want to take action to restore the health and diversity of the natural world. We carry out conservation on a large scale, protect and restore habitats, and save species from extinction. We’re living in a nature and climate emergency, and we won’t stop whilst the threats persist.
We believe our work makes a real difference to the world we live in. It takes a great team to
save nature and we need a wide range of skills to make it happen.
As an RSPB employee, you will be helping to save nature every time you come to work. There’s never been a more important time to protect our wildlife and wild places, so we want to make sure you feel rewarded for everything you help us to achieve.
The RSPB is a charity for the conservation of birds and nature. We bring people together who love birds and other wildlife, and who want to take action to restore the health and diversity of the natural world. We carry out conservation on a large scale, protect and restore habitats, and save species from extinction. We’re living in a nature and climate emergency, and we won’t stop whilst the threats persist. We believe our work makes a real difference to the world we live in. It takes a great team to save nature and we need a wide range of skills to make it happen. As an RSPB employee, you will be helping to save nature every time you come to work. There’s never been a more important time to protect our wildlife and wild places, so we want to make sure you feel rewarded for everything you help us to achieve.
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