Conservation Social Scientist – Fixed-Term

The RSPB is hiring a Conservation Social Scientist for a 12-month fixed-term role, flexible within the UK. The position involves supporting the International Flyways Conservation Programme in Northern Ghana through stakeholder analysis and research on livelihood interventions. Candidates need a relevant scientific background and experience in international social science research. The role is primarily desk-based but requires a brief trip to Ghana for interviews with local partners.
Reference: MAY20258952

Location: Flexible in UK

Salary: £39,205.00 - £41,856.00 Per Annum

Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave

Contract: 12-month fixed term contract

Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week

The RSPB Centre for Conservation Science is looking for a talented Conservation Social Scientist to join our People Conservation Science team to support our International Flyways Conservation Programme in Northern Ghana.

What's the role about?

The RSPB’s Flyways Conservation Programme seeks to secure a network of sites and landscape-scale interventions along the East Atlantic Flyway (a bird migration route that extends from the Arctic though Europe and West Africa, to Southern Africa). Within this flyway, the Guinea savannah of Northern Ghana is a priority landscape for RSPB, where we are working with Ghana Wildlife Society to create high impact nature conservation, supporting livelihoods, wider support for nature and contributing to stabilising the climate.

The role will involve undertaking a stakeholder analysis, semi-structured interviews, and a desktop scoping review of livelihood interventions in Northern Ghana. The research will help to identify interventions with the potential to improve community livelihoods and conservation, enabling conditions for success, and potential collaborative partnerships.

The post is desk-based with a flexible location within the U.K. but will require a short trip to Ghana to work with Ghana Wildlife Society, and conduct interviews with local NGOs, universities, and conservation practitioners.

Essential Criteria
• Proven scientific background (e.g., a PhD or equivalent experience managing and conducting a scientific research project) in a relevant subject (e.g., human geography, anthropology, sociology, development studies) or topic (e.g., livelihood development, rural development).
• Knowledge of the appropriate data collection methods (e.g., face-to-face and online key informant or semi-structured interviews, undertaking systematic or scoping literature reviews), and the ability to develop new ethically sound methods when necessary to answer novel questions.
• Prior experience conducting social science research in international settings, ideally in Africa.
• A methodical and rigorous approach to experimental design, data collection, data management and analysis, ensuring data and results pass international peer-reviewed standards of scrutiny and audit.
• Self-motivated and able to work efficiently within a defined work plan to meet deadlines. This necessitates the ability to plan and organise your own work.
• Able to work in collaboration with external organisations (international NGOs, universities, government actors, community groups) and individuals.
• Willingness to travel abroad to Ghana to conduct social science research in collaboration with local partners.

Desirable Criteria
• Strong interpersonal skills and the empathy and adaptability to quickly understand different points of view and agree mutually beneficial solutions.
• Experience and knowledge of the challenges and success factors influencing conservation livelihood interventions, particularly in Africa or other developing countries.
• Sensitivity to cultural diversity and the ability to work with local communities under traditional governance.
• Experience leading and conducting in-person and online workshops to disseminate research findings.
• Ability to influence others through production of written material
• Ability to give talks and speak about science to any audience.

Closing date: 23:59, Thu, 19th Jun 2025

Interviews from 14th July 2025