Assistant Warden – Oronsay

Are you ready to apply for what will almost certainly be the most personally, physically and professionally challenging post of your career in land management? Perhaps you are an existing assistant warden looking for livestock experience or a stockperson looking for conservation experience? If so, then the position of Assistant Warden on the spectacular and remote island of Oronsay may be for you!

What’s the role about?

We require a first-class assistant warden with excellent conservation/agricultural land management skills; the success of this site depends on high levels of integrated knowledge and the ability to apply it appropriately.

For someone with the right skill set and motivation this is an ideal role with an enviable mix of hands-on agricultural work in close partnership with high-end conservation delivery and biodiversity monitoring.

Oronsay is in a stunning location with awesome biodiversity that comes with unique and varied challenges: remote, isolated and with a small cohesive team, your approach to life is as important as having the right skills. The ability to live and work in an extreme island setting, often in extreme weather conditions, is therefore essential. You and the small team will form almost the entire population of the island; you will therefore need to be outstandingly committed, have understanding of island living, be resilient, mature and responsible, resourceful, adaptable and practically minded. If this sounds like you, we would really like to hear from you.

You will spend much of your time farming, helping to manage the reserve with our own in-house Luing herd and blackface sheep flock and associated feeding/cultivation/harvest. Your responsibilities range from undertaking most of the machinery and vehicle maintenance to completing the biodiversity monitoring on site too. You will need to have a positive outlook, and be an active team player to be successful in this role.

Essential knowledge, skills & experience:

• Relevant ecological knowledge
• Relevant agriculture and livestock knowledge
• Understanding of Hebridean biodiversity
• Communication and interpersonal skills relevant to a small, intimate community
• Active team player
• Estate management skills
• Record keeping/data management
• Problem solving and practical approach
• Able to comfortably lift objects weighing up to 25kg
• Full, manual driving licence that is valid in the UK

Desirable knowledge, skills & experience:

• Health and safety applicable to site management
• IT and database experience
• Experience Handling livestock
• Experience of some/all of: tractor, telehandler, sit-in ATV, 4×4, and powerboat handling
• A driving licence with trailer towing
• A working knowledge of RSPB systems
• Experience of living and working in a remote island setting

Additional information:

• This role will involve lone working and working in remote locations.
• This role will require weekend, early morning and evening working, so the successful candidate will need to be flexible.

This is a full-time, contract role for 12 months. 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 w/c 16th March, with a start date of 15th of April for the successful candidate. Should you have any queries relating to this vacancy, please email [email protected]

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

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.