Willow Tit Research Officer

Location: Rainton Meadows, DH4 6PU
Term: Full time for 3 months.

We are pleased to offer this exciting role at the heart of the national fight to save Britain’s fastest declining resident bird species.

Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme has awarded funding to launch the first truly national-scale response to the decline of the Willow Tit in England. The funding comes at a critical moment for Britain’s second fastest-declining bird. The Willow Tit has declined by 96% since 1975, and emerging evidence suggests the species could disappear from Britain within decades without effective intervention. This is the first time partners have come together to tackle the species’ decline at a genuinely national scale, spanning study areas in Cheshire and Lancashire, the West Midlands, Derbyshire, County Durham and Cornwall.

Durham Wildlife Trust, the northeast England partner in this programme is seeking to appoint a Willow Tit Research Officer for an initial 3-month period through the autumn of 2026. This is a critical role for the project and as the Willow Tit Research Officer you will undertake key ringing activities of Willow Tit adults and juveniles at three sites in Wearside and Durham.

You will be expected to be able to identify Willow Tit and plan and undertake ringing activity through the deployment of mist netting. You will be expected to hold a BTO ringing license at C level or above with ability to catch passerines in mist nets.

Main responsibilities

Ecological Survey, Monitoring & Recording

• Set up initial autumn population monitoring on agreed sites in County Durham and Tyne & Wear
• Undertake the initial autumn population monitoring through mist netting and ringing of Willow Tit adults and juveniles.
• Maintain appropriate records of activity planning, delivery and results to prescribed standards.

Volunteer development and support

• Work alongside and lead volunteers where appropriate

Communications

• Contribute towards content for social media/blogs/articles and promotion of volunteer opportunities.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary.
• Pension: Minimum employee contribution 3% of salary, employer contribution 6% of qualifying salary (Employees can decide to opt out).
• Employee support package – online GP appointments, access to helplines.
• Holidays: 25 days (for full time) plus Bank and Statutory Holidays. After two years continuous employment, entitled to one extra paid day of leave per year worked up to a maximum of five extra days per year.
• Years of service in another role at DWT, or any other member organisation of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, will count towards holiday entitlement.
• Hybrid-working arrangements, with a mix of site, office-based and working from home as set out in a rota.

Closing Date: 28th August, 2026