Estate Worker

RSPB is hiring an Estate Worker for conservation tasks at Campfield Marsh, Cumbria. The role involves practical habitat management, using machinery, and maintaining visitor infrastructure. Candidates should have experience in estate management, teamwork, and communication skills. A valid UK driving license is required. The position is full-time (37.5 hours/week) and includes benefits like a pension scheme and annual leave. Flexibility in working hours is necessary.
Reference:

MAY20257943

Expiry date:

23:59, Sun, 15th Jun 2025

Location:

Campfield Marsh

Salary:

£24,571.00 – £26,231.00 Per Annum

Benefits:

Pension scheme (7%), Life Assurance scheme, 26 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays)

Attachments:

RSPBCandidateGuidanceNotes-2025.pdf

We are looking for an enthusiastic and practical person to help deliver a program of estate and conservation work at our Cumbria Coast Reserves, based at Campfield Marsh. This reserve comprises 360 hectares of peat bog, fen, wet grassland and saltmarsh on the south shore of the Solway Estuary. Work will also be required at Hodbarrow and St. Bees Head reserves as required, including scrub management, fencing, brushcutting and other practical tasks to help maintain the internationally important seabird colonies and habitats at these sites.

The role will involve use of powered and tractor-mounted machinery. Working with the team to maintain and look after fences and paths as well as habitat work on a variety of Habitats. Competency in administration tasks and computer use would be an advantage.

The successful applicant will join a small team working on the reserves and will need to be adaptable to undertake work as required. The timing of the work during the week will be flexible, though some tasks will need to be specifically timed to fit in with other staff and work requirements.

Campfield Marsh attracts around 12,000 visitors per year, and the modest visitor infrastructure including a hide, paths, screens and viewpoints will be regularly maintained to a high standard by the post holder.

As well as a wide set of practical skills, the post holder will also need to be a good team worker with good communication, organisational and inter-personal skills

Essential knowledge, skills and experience:
• You will have knowledge and experience of practical habitat and estate management
• You will have a proven track record of working and completing work alone and working within a varied team
• Comfortable working with volunteers from a range of backgrounds
• A manual driving licence that is valid in the UK, allowing you to drive RSPB fleet vehicles on UK public roads

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:
• Lantra or equivalent qualification in using equipment such as brushcutter, tractor and ATV, PA1/6 pesticides
• Knowledge of servicing and maintaining vehicles, machinery, tools and equipment to agreed standards
• Experience volunteer recruitment and line management
• Implementing and updating health and safety records and assessments
• Reasonable birdwatching knowledge and experience of biological surveys

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.

This is a Permanent Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week. We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 2nd July 2025. For further information please contact mhairi.maclauchlan@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.