Senior Research Ecologist – Climate Change

The BTO is looking for a Senior Research Ecologist to join our Dispersed Threats team. The postholder will be responsible for taking a strategic overview of BTO’s climate change research portfolio that bridges high-impact academic papers and actionable government policy. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of BTO’s climate change work.

BTO’s work on climate change can be divided into three main aims:

• Documenting the impacts of climate change on biodiversity.
• Developing and using approaches for predicting future impacts of climate change to identify the most vulnerable species and habitats.
• Improving the evidence base to inform how conservation needs to adapt to climate change.

The postholder will have a specialist knowledge related to climate change and biodiversity in the UK and Europe and will work strategically within and across BTO’s teams, and with outside organisations to facilitate these aims. Securing funding and building partnerships to develop our research into making landscapes more resilient to environmental change is a current priority.

The postholder will additionally co-lead the Framing Futures action area with the Head of Team, taking particular responsibility for maintaining an overview of, especially terrestrial, climate-change projects across the BTO, developing new project ideas with other scientific staff and line managing staff as required. The postholder will work with the head of the Dispersed Threats team and BTO’s fundraising team to identify and apply for research and grant funding, and maintain and find new collaborations that further this research area. They will also maintain and start strategic collaborations with academic, charitable and governmental organisations to maximise the impact of BTO’s work in this area and put the organisation at the centre of climate change research.

Alongside this the postholder will develop their own portfolio of climate change-related work, manage staff as required, and work to secure funding to support that portfolio.

The successful candidate will have a PhD and 3+ years of post-doctoral experience, ideally in the area of biodiversity and climate change research.

You will report to the Head of the Dispersed Threats team, Prof. Phil Atkinson, and work closely with Prof. James Pearce-Higgins, BTO’s Director of Science.

This position will be based at our HQ in Thetford, Norfolk or one of our country offices in Scotland (Stirling), Wales (Bangor) or Northern Ireland (Lisburn), although you will be able to work from home part of the time on a hybrid working regime and flexible start and finish times can also be accommodated to enable a flexible work-life balance.

You can read the full role description by clicking on the role description under ‘supporting documents’ in the job details on our careers page. Please contact us if you are not sure if you meet all the criteria for the role and would like to discuss the role in more detail.

Please note that, if you are the successful candidate, you will be required to provide documentary evidence of your right to live and work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer visa sponsorship at this time.

What does BTO do?

BTO helps to secure the future for birds and nature, using our science, monitoring and data to inform good environmental decisions, inspiring others with the wonder of birds and empowering them to work with us. Our priority is to make a positive impact for birds, using our strong and objective science in partnership with others. We strive to work sustainably and to welcome everyone.

Our values
We are evidence-led, inclusive, collaborative and empowering.

Birds Science People; it is a powerful combination – will you be part of it?

What we offer

• £44,637.00 per annum
• Annual Leave: 25 days per year (plus bank holidays), increasing with service to 26 days after 5 years, 28 days after 10 years, and 30 days after 15 years (pro rata for part-time staff)
• Paid ‘journey days’ (up to 2 days) to staff who travel on holiday by land or sea instead of flying
• Annual team away days
• Life assurance (four times salary)
• 11% employer pension contribution
• Employee Assistance Programme offering help and advice to staff and their families on matters related to bereavement, wellbeing, finances, relationships, family and more. This includes a number of free counselling sessions
• Enhanced sick pay
• Enhanced Family leave- Maternity, Adoption, and Shared Parental Leave, 12 weeks at full pay. Paternity and Partner leave, 4 weeks at full pay
• Health cash plan which enables staff to claim back some healthcare expenses, such as prescriptions, dental treatment and specialist diagnostic tests. It also offers: Discounts on gym memberships and various retailers, a virtual GP and prescription service, on-demand wellness content (fitness, yoga, meditation, sleep, mindfulness) and access to Health Lens, Eargym, and digital physiotherapy via Phio
• Retail discounts through MyLifestyle
• Cycling friendly employer- gold accredited
• Cycle to work scheme- spread the cost of purchasing a new bike and save money
• Discounts on: BTO books, Bird care from Vine House Farm (10% discount on orders placed on the website) and Opticron (15% off)
• Free access to BTO training courses
• Flexible working- A combination of home and office working and flexible start and finish times (where this meets business needs)
• Free eye tests and a contribution of £49 towards prescription glasses for VDU use only
• Free car parking
• Effective job evaluation policy that recognises where staff increase their level of responsibility over time
• Coaching and mentoring scheme
• Staff groups and forums- First Aiders and mental health first aiders, Coaching and mentoring, Diversity working, Sustainability and Natural Working, Becoming Inclusive, Neurodiversity group, LGBTQ+ group and our staff group creating a positive and welcoming culture to work in
• Commitment to creating an inclusive environment
• Commitment to sustainability.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 23:59, Sunday 26 April 2026. A hybrid option will be offered for interview – these can either be online or in person at BTO’s Thetford HQ on 14th or 15th May 2026. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

If you have a disability or long-term illness that otherwise prevents you from meeting any of the essential criteria, please contact us to discuss whether a reasonable adjustment could be made.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the vacancy.

We recognise that candidates from minority ethnic groups are under-represented in our organisation, and that there are often additional barriers present for people from these groups when applying for roles in the charity sector and beyond. We are committed to taking positive action to expand the diversity of our staff team, and if you meet the essential criteria for a role and are from a minority ethnic background, you’ll be guaranteed a first stage interview.

In cases where we receive a very high volume of applications, we may need to limit the number of Guaranteed Interview Scheme candidates progressing to interview.

Charity No. 216652 (E&W); SC039193 (Scotland)