Landscape Restoration and Monitoring Ecologist

• Location: Thetford
• Earnings: £37509.00 to £37509.00

BTO office in Thetford, Stirling or Bangor, Hybrid or Remote

Full time, Permanent.

Part time is also considered, over 3 days a week.

£37,509 per annum + 11% employer pension contribution

We are seeking a research ecologist to develop and apply methods for analysing large-scale passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) datasets, and to lead work on the collection and analysis of restoration and rewilding data.

The post sits within our Framing Futures Action Area, spanning landscape restoration, rewilding, climate change and disease ecology. The role carries a strong bioacoustics element and offers the opportunity to work across an unusually broad evidence base: BTO’s own long-term monitoring data alongside datasets collected from restoration and rewilding landscapes and data on habitat, vegetation, climate, protected areas, and bird and other species monitoring schemes from across the UK and Europe.

• PhD in ecology, statistics or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Demonstrable experience managing and analysing large numerical datasets
• Proficiency in Python and/or R for ecological analysis
• A track record of delivering research projects from data collection through to publication
• Strong written and spoken communication skills, including scientific writing, writing for public audiences, and presenting at conferences
• A record of peer-reviewed publications
• Capacity to acquire new analytical methods and tools as required

• Experience in bioacoustics
• Experience in survey design and the management of fieldwork projects
• Understanding of population processes in birds, bats or invertebrates, and familiarity with British avian and/or chiropteran ecology
• Experience with machine-learning approaches to processing environmental data
• Success in securing research funding, and initiative in developing independent research ideas

This position can be based at our HQ in Thetford office, Sterling in our Scotland office, Bangor in our Wales office or hybrid or remote working. Flexible start and finish times can also be accommodated to ensure a good work-life balance.

The heart of BTO encompasses three key areas: birds, science, people. We work to secure a better future for birds and nature, using our science, monitoring and data to inform good environmental decisions, inspiring others with the wonder of birds and empowering them to work with us. Our priority is to make a positive impact for birds, using our strong and objective science in partnership with other organisations, members and volunteers.

We strive to work sustainably and to welcome everyone.

We are evidence-led, inclusive, collaborative and empowering.

Birds Science People; it is a powerful combination - will you be part of it?

• £37,509 per annum
• Annual Leave: 25 days per year (plus bank holidays), increasing with service to 26 days after 5 years, 28 days after 10 years, and 30 days after 15 years (pro rata for part-time staff).
• Paid 'journey days' (up to 2 days) to staff who travel on holiday by land or sea instead of flying.
• Annual team away days
• Life assurance (four times salary)
• 11% employer pension contribution
• Employee Assistance Programme offering help and advice to staff and their families on matters related to bereavement, wellbeing, finances, relationships, family and more. This includes a number of free counselling sessions.
• Enhanced sick pay
• Enhanced Family leave
  - Maternity, Adoption, and Shared Parental Leave, 12 weeks at full pay. Paternity and Partner leave, 4 weeks at full pay.
• Health cash plan which enables staff to claim back some healthcare expenses, such as prescriptions, dental…