Peatland Project Manager

Introduction

This exciting role within our Argyll area reserve team will lead on project development, implementation and accreditation of large-scale peatland restoration at the RSPB’s Oa nature reserve. Situated on the beautiful Island of Islay in the Inner Hebrides, this is a full-time, fixed-term contract for 3 years.

You’ll be responsible for overseeing and managing a major work programme, funded through a landmark conservation partnership. RSPB Scotland have joined forces with Suntory Global Spirits, Diageo and Glenmorangie to fund an ambitious project of peatland restoration at The Oa. Over 5 years, the distilleries will contribute £1.6 million to restore around 1000 hectares of peatland, returning the landscape to a healthy, thriving blanket bog.

What’s the role about?

We are looking for a highly competent individual to oversee the planning and delivery of our ambitious peatland restoration programme on the RSPB Oa Reserve. The project consists of delivering open hill restoration on over 1000 hectares of modified peatland. The successful candidate will be someone with a proven track record of leadership and project management, with the ability to manage this complex work programme, and deliver truly landscape scale habitat restoration.

The position is line managed by the Oa site manager. You will directly manage a Peatland Field Officer and work closely with RSPB’s wider Scotland Peatland Programme, the reserve team and committed volunteers to help plan and deliver restoration and associated accreditation. Ideally, this role will be based on the Isle of Islay, but a mix of mainland office or homebased working with regular site visits to Islay would be considered.

Please note that, as some of this work will take place in remote moorland terrain and at times in harsh weather conditions, it will at times be physically demanding. Robust health and safety procedures for such work are in place.

Please also look at the key result areas information on our site for more specific details about what is required.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Qualification in a relevant subject or ability to show equivalent work experience.
• Proven experience of project management, including development, delivery, reporting and budget management.
• Knowledge of peatland ecosystems and peatland restoration techniques.
• High level of IT skills for project and data management and mapping.
• Experience of contract management, including tendering and selection.
• Ability to deliver deadline-driven projects and manage both your own and team’s workloads to changing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to persuade and influence a wide range of people, both internally and externally.
• Full, manual driving licence that is valid in the UK, required due to the remote nature of the sites (or ability to access remote locations without public transport).

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience of stakeholder engagement and partnership working.
• Experience of delivering peatland restoration projects.
• Specialist mapping software experience e.g. ArcGIS.
• Understanding of Construction Design Management (CDM) regulations and consenting and planning procedures
• A high level of fitness and ability to confidently and safely access and work in remote upland areas, which can be inaccessible to vehicles, in challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions.

This is a 3 year Fixed-Term, Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week.

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 26/2/26. For further information please contact [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.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.