Atlantic Salmon Trust
Salmon Conservation Biologist
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SALMON CONSERVATION BIOLOGIST
đź“Ť Bridge of Earn, Perthshire | Flexible & hybrid working
đź’· Starting salary of ÂŁ30,000
đź“… Applications close 5pm, 7th September 2026
The full job specification for this role can be found on our website at https://atlanticsalmontrust.org/vacancies/ along with information on how to apply.
Overview of the Role
This role sits within AST's science and evidence team, reporting to the Principal Salmon Conservation Scientist, which is central to generating the evidence base that sits at the heart of our mission to restore salmonid populations and the ecosystems in which they live in the UK and Ireland. You will contribute to delivery of the Trust’s strategic research priorities, helping to fill evidence gaps that genuinely limit recovery, and supporting the restoration team to translate what we already know into large scale restoration action on the ground.
The postholder will also work closely with the data analysis and modelling team and the project managers for restoration work, as well as a wide variety of partners including fisheries and rivers trusts, landowners, academia, public sector bodies and agencies. You will spend time in the field, delivering the long-term monitoring that underpins our Core Rivers Programme, as well as supporting other projects with delivery of their science and monitoring plans. There is also a significant role to play in contributing to turning that data into evidence - interpreting results, writing technical reports, and supporting funding bids and research proposals that secure the resources for restoration to happen.
We are looking for someone with a genuine passion for salmonid conservation and wider habitat and species restoration, who sees this role as a chance to contribute directly to the recovery of the species — not simply to deliver a fieldwork or reporting schedule. You will be someone who asks why a piece of monitoring matters and what it should tell us, not just how to collect it. This is an early-career role, ideal for a biologist with around three years' experience looking to build a career in applied conservation science, working as part of a small, close-knit team where your fieldwork, analysis and writing will feed directly into the Trust’s restoration, policy and advocacy work. The Trust is committed to developing its staff and will work with the successful candidate to identify skills gaps and provide opportunities and training to fill those as appropriate.
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Key Responsibilities
- Deliver fieldwork and data collection for the Core Rivers Programme and other AST projects — including juvenile electrofishing, PIT tagging, eDNA sampling, redd and habitat surveys — working in water and remote locations, and maintaining field equipment to a high standard.
- Support the Principal Salmon Conservation Scientist in designing and implementing long-term science and monitoring strategies, working with the data analysis team to ensure datasets are structured, quality-assured and accessible so they answer the questions AST needs them to.
- Work jointly with AST's data analyst to analyse monitoring and research data, contributing to the interpretation of results and the identification of evidence gaps, and then supporting development of strategic science to fill those evidence gaps.
- Research and write technical and evidence synthesis reports and contribute to scientific publications, conference presentations and other outputs that communicate AST's evidence to funders, partners and policymakers.
- Support the preparation of funding bids and research proposals, providing technical content and evidence to secure resources for AST's restoration work.
- Contribute more broadly to building AST's evidence base, keeping up to date with current salmonid science and bringing that thinking into the Trust's work and support other Trust tasks as required.
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Skills Needed
- Sound, current understanding of aquatic ecology, ideally with a background in salmonid or other anadromous fish ecology, and the ability to apply that understanding practically in fieldwork and analysis.
- Competence in survey and monitoring techniques and in quantitative data analysis, with the judgement to turn raw data into evidence that supports restoration priorities and action, policy and advocacy.
- Ability to communicate technical findings clearly and concisely in written reports and funding proposals, for audiences ranging from technical partners to funders.
- Judgement to prioritise fieldwork and analysis effort toward the evidence gaps that genuinely matter to salmon recovery, rather than collecting data for its own sake.
- Ability to work independently and safely in the field, while contributing effectively within a small, collaborative science team.
- Motivation to see evidence translated into action, and an interest in AST's wider mission beyond the immediate scope of this post.
Essential Requirements
- Degree in a relevant field (e.g. aquatic ecology, environmental science) or equivalent professional experience
- Around three years' relevant experience in fisheries or aquatic ecology, applied research consultancy or conservation
- Experience of survey and monitoring techniques for aquatic species and their supporting habitats
- Working knowledge of statistical analysis (e.g. R or equivalent) with experience of GIS desirable.
- Comfortable working outdoors and in remote or water-based field locations, water safety training desirable.
- Full, clean UK driving licence and ability to travel regularly across the UK (hire vehicle can be provided if required)
Full Job Specification
The full job specification for this role can be found on our website at https://atlanticsalmontrust.org/vacancies/ along with information on how to apply.
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