Wessex Curlew Project Officer - RSPB

Reference: JAN

Location:

Winterbourne

Contract:

Fixed-Term,12 months

Hours:

Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £30,075.00 - £32,108.00 Per Annum

Stone-curlews have undergone significant decline across the UK over the last century leaving only two strongholds, the Brecks in East Anglia and Wessex. Thirty years of conservation efforts have seen the population recover. The RSPB works closely with landowners and farmers, including the MoD, to provide habitat for breeding pairs. The population in Wessex is now approaching 150 pairs; however continued recovery relies on monitoring and protection.

We are looking for an individual with skills in farmland wildlife surveys. The ideal candidate will be self-led, experienced in providing advice to farmers and land managers, and have experience with complex and detail-oriented work. Based at RSPB Winterbourne Downs with home working as appropriate.

The postholder will lead a small team working on the Wessex Stone-curlew Project with a particular focus on delivery of monitoring and protection in the key area of Salisbury Plain and surrounding farmland.

Excellent field skills are required for this tricky and inconspicuous bird, including experience with optics and ability to spot minute details from a distance.

• Input into design and delivery of an agreed programme of conservation work, managing risk, meeting objectives, and implementing change
• Recruit and train seasonal field officers and volunteers; ensure team are equipped to deliver stone-curlew monitoring, management & interventions
• Undertake and oversee field work; comply with relevant wildlife and environmental legislation
• Provide specific and timely advice for management of stone curlew plots
• Other work as required in support of RSPB’s objectives

The work has a strong data gathering and analysis component with the need to record measurements quickly and accurately. The Project Officer will be required to manage large and complex databases in Excel spreadsheets. The postholder will often be conducting field work alone using their own initiative and will also be managing two seasonal field officers and a small volunteer team.

Lone working often in remote locations is commonplace in this role. The post holder will need to be comfortable driving a 4x4 vehicle off road and spending multiple hours per day in a vehicle.

There will be occasional overnight stays away from home.

Closing:
Wednesday 4th March 2026

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