Conservation Officer – Carse of Gowrie Orchards

Buglife is seeking a part-time Conservation Officer for the Carse of Gowrie Orchards project, focused on enhancing habitats for pollinators in Perth & Kinross and Dundee. The role involves project management, community engagement, and habitat restoration, working with various partners. The position is home-based with occasional travel to the Stirling office. The contract runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028, with a salary of £27,948.38 per annum.
Hours: Part-time 33.75 hours/week

Contract Type: Fixed Term (1 July 2025 until 30 June 2028)

Salary: £27,948.38 Per Annum (FTE £31,093.75 Per Annum)

Location: Home-based, located in Perth & Kinross, or Dundee, with occasional travel to Stirling office

Are you passionate about the small things that run the planet? We have an exciting opportunity to deliver a new B-Line project to help Scotland’s invertebrates to survive and thrive.

We are looking for a Conservation Officer to deliver our Carse of Gowrie Orchards: People for Pollinators project. This role will deliver a B-Lines project with a focus on orchards (traditional and new) within the Carse of Gowrie B-Line that runs between Perth & Kinross and Dundee.

Through this project, Buglife will work with Tayside Biodiversity Partnership, Orchard Revival and members of Scottish Apple Producers group to engage with landowners and communities to restore traditional and new orchards for insect pollinators through the planting of wildflowers, fruit trees, improved management of sites and creation of insect banks etc at sites in the Carse of Gowrie, including those on the B-Line. Through the project, communities will be engaged across the Carse of Gowrie but also in the urban centres of Perth and Dundee.

The Carse of Gowrie Orchards: People for Pollinators project aims to stop the decline of wild pollinating insects in Perth & Kinross and the surrounding area of Tayside and facilitate the recovery of local insect populations. We will achieve this by:
• Restoring and improving the management of 10 hectares of habitat for insect pollinators creating a pollinator network along the Carse of Gowrie B-Line in Perth & Kinross engaging with farmers, community orchards/groups and others.
• Providing management plans to landowners to ensure the long-term management of sites.
• Raising awareness of the importance of orchards and their associated habitats in supporting pollinators and other invertebrates.
• Delivering a range of events, training and targeted surveys that will provide information on recording species to aid in increasing and improving the recording of invertebrates and other wildlife in the Carse of Gowrie and Perth and Dundee.
• Produce a best practice guide for managing orchards for invertebrates.

This role will include: practical project management and delivery; partnership working; overseeing practical habitat management works including procuring and managing contractors; developing and delivering innovative ideas and solutions to engaging local communities with invertebrates and their conservation; invertebrate surveys; managing volunteers; public relations; financial management and teamwork.

We are looking for someone who has their own area of interest and specialism but can also demonstrate a broad knowledge of invertebrate ecology and a willingness to expand their knowledge and work in new areas.

Carse of Gowrie Orchards: People for Pollinators was made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, MW Topps, Milkywire, Animal Friends Insurance, CHK Foundation and others.

Do you have?
• Knowledge of a range of invertebrate groups;
• Demonstrable dedication to protecting the environment and conserving wildlife;
• Good level of ecological knowledge and understanding of conservation issues;
• Project management, financial knowledge and experience;
• Experience of practical habitat restoration, creation and management;
• Excellent team-working skills, with a confident and persuasive manner;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including collating information, report-writing and producing information resources;
• Experience of raising public awareness of wildlife and environmental issues;
• Experience of organising events and involving the public in projects;
• Some botanical knowledge;
• Full current driving licence and access to a vehicle;
• Experience delivering training to volunteers would be preferable

About Us

Buglife is dedicated to halting the extinction of invertebrate species and achieving sustainable populations of these vital creatures.

We are working hard to achieve this through:
• Promoting the environmental importance of invertebrates and raising awareness about the challenges to their survival;
• Assisting in the development of legislation and policy that will ensure the conservation of invertebrates;
• Developing and disseminating knowledge about how to conserve invertebrates;
• Encouraging and supporting invertebrate conservation initiatives by other organisations in the UK, Europe and worldwide;
• Undertaking practical conservation projects that will contribute to achieving our aim.

Buglife offers a comprehensive benefits package including an Enhanced Pension, Flexible Working arrangements, and 23 days of annual leave (rising to 28 after 3 years of service), in addition to a business closure between Christmas and New Year.

A full job description is available to view or download on our website

Closing date for applications: 1st June 2025

Interviews will be held: week commencing 9th June 2025

Join Buglife today and make a meaningful impact in the preservation of invertebrates and the conservation of our precious wildlife.

Due to the volume of applications, we receive, we may close our vacancies early. It is therefore advisable to apply as early as possible if you would like to be considered for this role.