Warden

The RSPB is seeking a Warden for its Dungeness reserve in Kent, UK. Responsibilities include managing habitat restoration, conducting monitoring of species and habitats, overseeing a team, and ensuring compliance with environmental laws. Essential skills include ecological knowledge, health and safety management, and contractor supervision. The role is full-time, requiring flexibility for occasional weekend and evening work, and involves lone working in remote locations.
The RSPB is looking for a Warden to join the team at its reserve at Dungeness, Kent where you will work to deliver and refine our reserves management plan, ensuring we deliver benefits for nature, water, climate and people.

You will conduct our annual monitoring, recording, and reporting of or priority habitats and species, including Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Lapwing, and rare plants and invertebrates. You will plan and deliver our habitat restoration and management work to improve these protected areas for nature.

You will:
• Be jointly responsible for the implementation of the reserve management plan including habitat management and record keeping ensuring delivery of sites and RSPB objectives and compliance obligations.
• Undertake and oversee species/habitat survey and monitoring work on the sites to ensure delivery of sites’ objectives.
• Manage the team to ensure delivery of the site’s work programme.
• Support the development, delivery and reporting of externally funded projects.
• Ensure the reserve is managed in accordance with best practice with respect to H&S, environmental management and legal compliance of conservation and land management laws.
• Procure and supervise contractors to carry out work on site safely and legally to deliver the management plan targets.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:
• Wet grassland and reedbed management
• Relevant ecological knowledge
• Relevant knowledge of compliance requirements (eg agricultural and environmental legislation with particular reference to grazing livestock)
• Health & Safety applying to site management
• One-on-one and team management skills – proven track record of working within a multi-disciplinary team
• Proven track record of practical habitat, estate and land management
• Record keeping / data management and use of GIS software
• Biological monitoring and surveys
• Procurement and contractor management

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:
• Seabird monitoring and habitat management
• Machinery operations, knowledge of servicing and maintaining vehicles, machinery, tools and equipment

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 31st March 2025. For further information please contact craig.edwards@rspb.org.uk

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.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. 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.