Saving Wildcats Conservation Project Officer (Release site / Scotland-wide) x 4
Saving Wildcats
Come and work with us on the Saving Wildcats project! Four exciting new opportunities are now available to help prevent Wildcats in Scotland from becoming extinct in the wild.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the wildlife conservation charity that owns both RZSS Edinburgh Zoo and RZSS Highland Wildlife Park, is seeking four Conservation Officers to join our Saving Wildcats team on this unique and vital project to breed and release Wildcats back to their natural habitat. The Saving Wildcats (#SWAforLIFE) project is a partnership between The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland, Cairngorms National Park Authority, Norden’s Ark (Sweden) and Junta De Andalucia (Spain).
The posts have arisen due to a successful funding application to EU LIFE and offer the opportunity to work with a diverse set of teams across a leading conservation organisation nationally and internationally.
The role (s)
To effectively implement field-based activities of the Saving Wildcats
project under direction of the Field Manager (In-situ) and in
collaboration with the veterinary team and other relevant project staff
/ stakeholders and project partners.
3 x Conservation Project Officer (Release site)
Deliver targeted work
at the release site, or other relevant locations, that support threat
mitigation, field surveys, population monitoring, and public engagement
whilst working to international best practice guidance and relevant
national legislation. All in support of RZSS’s Vision and Mission.
1 x Conservation Project Officer (Scotland-wide)
Deliver targeted work at relevant locations across northern Scotland
that support field surveys and public engagement whilst working to
international best practice guidance and relevant national legislation.
All in support of RZSS’s Vision and Mission.
Working under the SWAforLIFE In-situ conservation manager and together with the SWAforLIFE Project team, and with the input of the project partners (NatureScot, Forestry & Land Scotland, Cairngorms National Park Authority, Nordens Ark and Junta de Andalucía), support the development and delivery of the SWAforLIFE project.
- Undertake all field activities in line with best practice standards and relevant legislation / licenses.
- When necessary or as requested by line manager, represent the project at external meetings and communicate regularly with the public.
- Contribute to project communications including interviews and social media etc.
- Responsible for planning specific aspects of field work and contributing to relevant risk assessments.
- Responsible for collection and managing scientific monitoring data with high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- You'll be qualified to degree-level or equivalent experience in ecology, biology or environment related discipline.
- Possess sound knowledge and understanding of species translocations and conservation issues involved in species recovery.
- Good understanding of Scottish conservation issues and land use practices, including species restoration.
- Proficiency in ecological survey and monitoring techniques.
- Data handling and analysis skills, for example including camera-trap data and the use of GIS or R statistical package.
- Ability to engage directly with the local community and key stakeholder groups, including face-to-face communication and public speaking skills.
For further information on what the role involves and essential/desirable criteria – please see the ‘related documents’ section under the site location map.
