RSPB
Conservation Scientist
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Conservation Scientist
Reference: AUG20260156
Location: Flexible in England
Contract: 30-month Fixed Term, October 2026 to March 2029
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £40,381.00 - £43,113.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave
We have a fantastic opportunity for a scientist to join the England & Wales team within the RSPB Centre for Conservation Science. We are looking for someone with strong field, analytical and communication skills to lead a programme of research on upland breeding Whinchat.
The location of the role is flexible within the UK, although the post holder will need to be based in a yet to be confirmed location in England (though this is likely to be either Exmoor or the Peak District) for five months in 2027 (April to August) and potentially again in 2028 to undertake fieldwork.
What’s the role about?
Whinchat populations have declined sharply in recent decades, making the species a high conservation priority and a key focus for the RSPB. Although Whinchats are long-distance migrants, processes acting on their breeding grounds are thought to be the primary drivers of the decline. In the UK practical upland management solutions are needed to recover populations, which this project aims to develop.
Through a combination of desk-based analyses and fieldwork, the successful candidate will help address key evidence gaps needed to design a trial management programme for upland Whinchat. The desk-based work will combine nest monitoring and population census data with observed and remotely sensed datasets to determine how current management influences abundance change and how environmental gradients shape spatial variation in breeding productivity. Fieldwork in 2027 and 2028 will provide finer-scale insight by quantifying relationships between land management, Whinchat occurrence, food availability (diet), nestling condition, survival, and overall breeding productivity. In parallel, the successful candidate will develop the details for future trial management work through project workshops.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
As well as providing scientific oversight the successful candidate will communicate their work to internal and external colleagues, and by publishing peer-reviewed scientific papers. Up to two research assistants will report to the post holder during these two periods. Periodic travel to meet team members or collaborators and to run the workshops will be required, including occasional overnight stays.
Essentials:
- Experience designing and delivering ecological or conservation research projects, gained through a PhD or equivalent professional research experience.
- Knowledge of UK conservation issues and practice, and experience applying this knowledge when planning or delivering ecological research projects.
- Able to communicate scientific information clearly to a range of audiences and build collaborative working relationships with colleagues, partners and stakeholders.
- Able to use Microsoft Office, GIS software (such as QGIS or ArcGIS) and R (or equivalent statistical software) to manage, analyse and present ecological data, with the ability to learn new software where required.
- Experience applying mixed modelling, spatial statistics and other appropriate analytical methods to ecological datasets. Experience analysing nest or brood survival data is beneficial.
- Experience using remote sensing data to support ecological research, including acquiring, processing or analysing spatial datasets.
- Experience carrying out ecological field surveys, including habitat surveys, nest finding (ideally passerines) and monitoring breeding success or survival.
- Experience collecting, managing and analysing complex ecological datasets suitable for scientific publication.
- Experience coordinating or supervising field staff to deliver research activities safely and effectively.
- Able to plan and manage research activities, coordinate the work of project staff, prioritise competing work and meet agreed deadlines with minimal supervision.
- Demonstrable experience in scientific writing and publication, including leading peer-reviewed papers in internationally recognised journals to project deadlines.
- Full UK driving licence
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Experience of Whinchat ecology, upland habitats, invertebrate sampling or DNA metabarcoding would be beneficial. We recognise that candidates may have developed relevant expertise through research on other species or ecological systems and will support the successful candidate in developing project-specific knowledge where appropriate. Please use your application to demonstrate how your knowledge and experience are relevant to this role.
Having a current British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) bird ringing licence, with endorsements to ring open nesting passerines, would also be an advantage, so please say if you have this.
Additional Information
This is a full-time role (37.5 hours per week) with a 30-month fixed term contract from October 2026 to March 2029 inclusive. This position is subject to the confirmation of external funding.
Closing date: 23:59, Wednesday 23rd September 2026
Interview date provisionally as the 1st of October.
Interested?
If you would like to apply and find out more about this position, please click the apply button to be directed to our website.
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.
The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
As part of this application process, you will be asked to provide your CV and complete an application form. In your application form please take care to describe how you meet each of the essential criteria listed above.
Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.
No agencies please.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location