Assistant Warden (Fixed-Term)

The RSPB is seeking an enthusiastic Assistant Warden for a fixed-term role in England. The position involves habitat and estate management across wet grassland reserves, supporting wildlife conservation efforts. Candidates should have knowledge of wetland management, species surveys, and practical solutions. The role requires flexibility for occasional weekend and evening work. It is a full-time position for 12 months, working 37.5 hours per week, with some lone working in remote locations.
The Norfolk Broads team are looking for an enthusiastic, resilient and resourceful Assistant Warden to help deliver its conservation objectives across our wet grassland reserves. The successful applicant will work across our Buckenham and Cantley Marshes, and Berney Marshes Reserves, assisting in the delivery of our habitat management, estate management and survey work.

The reserves support over 100,000 wintering waterbirds, the most important breeding lapwing, redshank and avocet populations in the Broads National Park, plus bittern, marsh harrier and bearded tit. The Assistant Warden will also support the other local reserves in the Broads, including Strumpshaw Fen and Sutton Fen.

This role will be varied, covering a wide range of tasks, so you will need to be energetic, adaptable and have a desire to achieve. You will have a passion for wildlife, and you will enjoy working outside in all weathers.

What we need from you:

Essential qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:
• Knowledge and experience of wetland management
• Knowledge and experience of breeding wader management
• Maintenance and use of machinery, tools and equipment
• Knowledge and experience of species surveys and biological monitoring
• Problem solving and coming up with well thought through practical solutions
• Ability to communicate verbally with a range of audiences and stakeholders
• Developing and implementing work plans
• Practical habitat and estate management
• Ability to manage oneself and others to prioritise and work to agreed plan
• A full, manual driving licence that is valid in the UK.

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:
• Lantra or equivalent qualification in ATV, tractor, brushcutter and PA1/6 pesticides
• Working with livestock
• Predator management to benefit ground nesting birds
• Requirements of local agri-environment and cross compliance regulations
• Experience of volunteer recruitment and line management
• Implementing and updating health and safety records and assessments.

Additional information:
• This role will involve lone working and working in remote locations.
• This role will require occasional weekend, early morning and evening working so will need someone who is able to be flexible.

We will assess your application based on the essential and desirable criteria for this role. To give yourself the best chance, please make sure your application is clearly structured and demonstrates how you meet each criteria. For the full list of essential and desirable criteria for this role please see the role profile attached to the advert.

This is a Fixed-Term full-time role for 12 months working 37.5 hours per week.

The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 27th May 2025. For further information please contact daniel.hercock@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

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

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.