Project Lead: Adders in Cornwall

This is a fantastic opportunity to work within a successful charity developing a growing Science and Research portfolio. This post is the key team member in a new Natural England funded project working on adders in Cornwall. The project has a steering group who advise and guide the project lead. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to be involved in a wide range of duties within Froglife, including supporting the Head of Science & Research and other members of the research team.

The main focus of the role will be:

• management and successful completion of the Natural England research projects
• identification of sampling sites across Cornwall
• obtaining permission to sample
• training to ensure safe handling of adders and collection of scale clippings
• storage and organisation of samples for different sites and packaging for genetic analysis
• habitat assessment at refugia sites and adder preferences
• creation of ‘adders in Cornwall’ website
• creation of information about adders for farmers, landowners, gardeners, schools, developers, dog walkers, tourists and the general public
• generation of press and social media material about the project and about adders to enhance their conservation

The post involves co-ordinating collection of scale clippings from 4 different individuals at 30 different sites plus collection of fresh slough material from the general public.

Applicants will be expected to meet the following essential criteria:

• Hold a graduate qualification or have experience of field surveys for snakes
• Experience of managing research projects
• Experience of working in isolation and within a team
• Knowledge of the UK’s reptiles and amphibians
• Ability to travel to remote locations in Cornwall to set-up artificial refugia and sample adders
• Understanding of the legislation surrounding UK reptiles and amphibians
• A DBS with no convictions, cautions or warnings

Applications will be strengthened by the following desirable criteria:

• Experience of working with adders in the field
• Experience of field surveys using artificial refugia
• Experience working with landowners and other stakeholders, ideally in Cornwall
• Knowledge and use of QGIS
• Experience of using EXCEL spreadsheets and statistics packages such as R for managing data
• Experience of awareness raising through delivery at conferences or workshops and websites and online material

Please visit our website for the Job Description and Person Specification.

Deadline for applications: 17:00 Monday 5th October 2026

Interview date: Thursday 22nd October 2026 [online]

Start date: 1st December 2026

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including under-represented groups.

We are happy to discuss flexible working options and job-share opportunities and may be able to ‘flex’ the start date depending on the selection outcome.