Overview

Warden – Middleton Lakes
Reference: DEC20214232
Location: Middleton, Warwickshire
Salary: £25,280 – £28,045 per annum
Benefits: Pension, Life Assurance, 26 days Annual Leave

The Middleton Lakes team are looking for an enthusiastic and resourceful Warden to deliver exciting conservation at our dynamic reserve. Can you help us deliver exceptional work for nature and for people?

The reserve is a mosaic of wetland, woodland and neutral grassland habitats. The wetland conservation efforts focused on breeding waders such as lapwing, redshank and avocet along with migrating waders, wintering wildfowl, wintering and breeding bittern, breeding grasshopper warbler, common tern and a large gull colony.

Our woodland and scrub management focuses on locally important willow tit and lesser spotted woodpecker populations. We are a stronghold for these species in the Tame Valley landscape. We have a fantastic heronry which is a first rate spectacle for visitors and now hosts several little egret nests.

It’s not all about the birds! The grasslands are a mix of plant communities which benefit locally important populations of butterflies such as dingy skipper. The variety of habitat next to pools and ditches mean dragonflies thrive and we have recently been colonised by several new species including white-legged damselfly.

With growing visitor numbers we are adding more for our visitors every year. 2022 will be an exciting year for Middleton Lakes as we develop our visitor experience offer to allow more people to connect with nature. Part of your role will involve supporting our visitor operations team to help deliver close up nature experiences on reserves and engaging the public.

About the role

  • With a proven track record in nature conservation, you will have a good grasp of practical management techniques to lead the delivery of a busy work programme of habitat management and infrastructure tasks
  • No two days are the same, so you need to be organised and prepared to deal with a variety of tasks
  • You will be working with a small experience staff team and large experienced volunteer team. Communication within and between teams is key for the efficient running of the reserve
  • You will be leading several volunteer teams, providing the energy and motivation to get the work done
  • You will be managing and developing a very successful internship programme. Mentoring the next generation of conservationists
  • The role requires taking the lead for health and safety of the operations on the reserve. Including managing and ensuring a safe and compliant workshop area.
  • Ideally the successful candidate will have experience of managing wetland, woodland and grassland habitats for our key species
  • There is a lot of infrastructure to manage on site with the ideal candidate experienced in wooden boardwalk, bridge and fencing maintenance and creation
  • In the Spring and Summer there are a variety of bird and other wildlife surveys to carry out and co-ordinate.
  • You will have experience of managing livestock or be enthusiastic to learn management of cattle and koniks
  • There will be time when supporting the visitor operations is needed whether it be supporting an event or supporting the Welcome Hub team at busy times.
  • Keeping records is a big part of the role. General administration is required to ensure that compliance documents, reports and health and safety is up to date.

Essential knowledge, skills and experience

  • Proven track record of reserve, conservation or land management
  • Relevant ecological knowledge of wetlands, woodlands, scrub and neutral grasslands.
  • Agricultural or livestock knowledge and experience
  • Health & Safety applying to site management (e.g. risk assessments).
  • Relevant knowledge of compliance requirements (eg agricultural and environmental legislation with particular reference to grazing livestock and pesticides).
  • Machinery operations and equipment servicing
  • Tickets to include (but doesn’t have to be all) brushcutter, 4×4, Sit inside or astride ATV, first aid, chainsaw, pesticides (PA1 and PA6aw) trailed loads
  • Able to communicate and engage with a variety of audiences
  • Individual and team management skills.
  • Leading and motivating volunteer teams
  • Estate management including maintenance and creation of fences, paths and boardwalks.
  • Record keeping/data management.
  • Organisational including time management and prioritisation.
  • Problem solving.
  • Biological monitoring especially birds.
  • Working with contractors.

Closing Date: 23:59, 16th January 2022
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 31st January 2022.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

To Apply and for more information:

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No agencies please.