European Solidarity Corps (ESC) Conservation Assistant (Wildlife Crime)

European Solidarity Corps (ESC) vacancies
Application Details
Voluntary position covering accommodation, expenses and allowance

Dates: August 2025 (fixed term of 10 months)
Position: Conservation Assistant (Wildlife Crime)
Number of positions: 1
Location: 57/28, Marina Court, Abate Rigord Street, Ta’ Xbiex

We are looking for a new full-time volunteer to join our international team protecting birds and their habitats and inspiring and educating people about birds and nature in the Maltese Islands. The volunteer will be based in our offices and at our nature reserves in Malta. Those who have previously participated in a long-term Erasmus+ European Voluntary Service (EVS) scheme or long-term Erasmus+ Volunteering scheme are not eligible to apply for this position.

Are you:

• Aged 18-30
• A citizen of one of the programme or partner countries
• Outgoing, friendly, keen to meet new people, socialise, and experience a different culture
• Interested in improving bird, flora and other taxa identification skills
• Interested in inspiring and educating people about birds and the natural world
• Willing to develop administration, time management, numeracy, and interpersonal skills
• Willing to learn and having an adaptable approach in line with the needs of a charitable organisation’s structure including working flexible and occasional long hours, which could include weekends and public holidays.

The European Solidarity Corps programme will provide you:

• Accommodation close to our offices in Ta’ Xbiex/in the northern part of the island close to our nature reserves, or with host families
• Utilities such as electricity, water, gas, and internet
• Reimbursement of the flight and other transport costs (bus, train, metro) to/from Malta, limited according to distance
• €380 monthly allowance
• Private HEALTH insurance provided by Henner

Description of duties:

CONSERVATION ASSISTANT (WILDLIFE CRIME)

There is the opportunity for the volunteer to gain a wide range of experience and skills across the organisation. Specific duties for this position are as follows:

Wildlife crime fieldwork

• Assistance is needed in our fieldwork in relation to ongoing wildlife crime related to hunting, trapping and illegal possession of protected birds. Activities will include ad-hoc monitoring as well as dedicated periods of engagement in wildlife crime investigations such as during our annual Spring Watch and Raptor Camp.
• Candidates would ideally have a good grasp of bird taxonomy, have volunteered in wildlife crime detection activities, know how to handle basic optical equipment and are willing to learn and innovate.

Data handling

• Assistance is needed in data management, providing suitable metrics and statistics to assist the department’s works. Duties will include the filing and maintenance of photographic and video records, creation and maintenance of databases, productions of maps, graphs and other relevant outputs from bird research and monitoring work..
• Candidates would ideally have a good knowledge and experience in the use of ArcGIS software, and can work with various platforms and databases from bird records to sightings to mapping and graphic presentations..

Bird rescue and care

BirdLife Malta runs a 24/7 voluntary injured bird recovery scheme, answering calls made by the public who encounter shot or injured birds in their property or in the countryside.

Accordingly, assistance is required in picking up and ensuring injured birds brought to BirdLife Malta receive urgent veterinary attention, and are rehabilitated with the aim of releasing them back into the wild. Duties will include:

• Answering calls by the public, picking up and ensuring injured birds brought to BirdLife receive urgent veterinary attention and first aid
• Feed and care for injured birds requiring short or long-term rehabilitation through various stages in their recovery so they can be released in to the wild
• Ensure excellent hygiene to minimise health risks to birds and humans
• Provide feedback to people calling BirdLife Malta regarding injured bird cases
• Keep records and case files of all cases of injured birds, reporting to conservation and veterinary team on all cases of wild birds under our care
• Establish and innovate feeding protocols, care and maintenance of injured birds ensuring they can be released at their outmost physical form

Applications close on Monday 16th June 2025 at 23:00 GMT. Zoom/Skype interviews will take place shortly afterwards. Please note that incomplete and/or late applications will not be taken into consideration.