Senior Species Recovery Officer

This is an exciting opportunity within the RSPB’s Global Species Recovery team which will embed and deliver the RSPB’s species conservation approach within our programmes of work on the East Atlantic Flyway and within priority conservation programmes and projects in Africa and Asia.

The exact set of projects and priority species being worked on will change and develop over time. Species Recovery projects are delivered by a range of teams within the RSPB. Many also involve working with external partners. The successful candidate will work with a wide range of contacts, both internal and external. Initially the postholder will focus on several workstreams.

So, if you have a passion for species conservation, conservation delivery through partnership working, and want to help ensure RSPB continues its impressive history of recovering some of the most threatened species, then this job is for you!

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• A degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent experience/education.
• Skilled in the use of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook) and information-sharing collaboration software and systems (Sharepoint).
• Knowledge and understanding of the ecology and populations of migratory birds, particularly those in the East Atlantic Flyway.
• Extensive knowledge of conservation issues affecting birds and other wildlife globally; particularly in the East Atlantic Flyway and in Africa and Asia.
• Experience of species conservation work – focussed on the recovery of one or more priority species.
• Experience of working within project teams and partnership working in conservation, and conservation project management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience of writing technical conservation reports or scientific papers and the ability to understand and convey the level of scientific evidence underpinning specific conservation projects or conservation policy positions to a wide range of audiences of varying technical knowledge.
• Ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with a wide range of colleagues, external partners and contacts, who may have varying levels of technical expertise, different viewpoints and different priority objectives; being able and prepared to pro-actively support, influence and encourage as necessary, in order to meet the priority objectives of your role.
• Able to form effective teams (both internal and external), working effectively as a team leader and a team player.
• Good organisation and time management skills, an ability to work to deadlines imposed by the business needs of colleagues, business processes or external partners, self-reliant, self-motivated and an ability to use own initiative to solve problems.
• Ability and willingness to undertake domestic and international travel to visit colleagues, partners and projects.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience of international conservation projects and proven ability to work across different cultures.
• Experience of international partnership conservation project management.
• International conservation field experience and field skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of RSPB; its corporate strategy, range of conservation work, structures and ways of working, and how it works with, and adds value to, its conservation partners.
• Experience of line management of staff and/or volunteers

Additional Information

This is a full-time, permanent role for 37.5 hours per week but flexible working may be considered.

International travel will form part of this role, as and when required, to support species recovery project development and delivery in Europe, Africa and Asia.

We are looking to conduct interviews from 16 February 2026. For further information please contact [email protected]

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and 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.