Biosecurity For Scotland Coordinator (Fixed-Term)

Following in the footsteps of the successful Biosecurity for LIFE project, which is coming to an end this July, is the exciting new Biosecurity for Scotland initiative funded by the Nature Recovery Fund. Biosecurity for Scotland will work with key stakeholders across Scotland to build, with the lead of RSPB Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland and NatureScot, a lasting island biosecurity partnership that will take forward an ambitious long-term national island biosecurity programme.
The aims of Biosecurity for Scotland and the long-term programme are to put in place and maintain cost-effective biosecurity systems utilizing innovative technology, conservation detection dogs and citizen science to permanently reduce the threat introduced non-native predators pose to seabirds breeding on Scotland’s islands. We want to see biosecurity part of business-as-usual on seabird islands and a community of stakeholders actively engaged in biosecurity implementation, supported by a well-resourced team of biosecurity experts and trained biosecurity volunteers.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Biosecurity for Scotland team as a Biosecurity coordinator – someone to lead on Biosecurity for Scotland’s activities to connect, upskill and motivate a growing community of seabird island biosecurity practitioners across Scotland. This role is based in Scotland and frequent travel within Scotland will be required.
What's the role about?
The Coordinator will be the main contact point for Biosecurity for Scotland and is responsible for the planning, coordination and delivery of Biosecurity for Scotland actions working together with a Biosecurity officer (line-managed by the Coordinator) and others.
The main areas of delivery for this role are to:

• Plan and organize awareness-raising events, biosecurity pop-in sessions, community engagement events, training days, biosecurity volunteering activities and other public-facing activities.
• Inspire and engage volunteers, site managers, island residents, boat owners, harbour masters and other key stakeholders to take part in biosecurity activities.
• Create a sense of community, to direct people to the right advice and resources, to gather stakeholder feedback and to communicate wider Biosecurity for Scotland objectives.
• Contribute to building a Scotland-wide island biosecurity partnership and to foster links with other similar initiatives across GB and internationally.

Skills
Please explain in your application how you meet the essential and desirable skills, knowledge and experience for this role
If this sounds inspiring, we would love to hear from you.
Essential skills, knowledge and experience::

• Experience of managing staff or volunteers and setting clear work priorities.
• Understanding of the concept of invasive species management and island biosecurity.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and presentational) - including an ability to speak confidently and cogently in public to a variety of audiences.
• Working experience of island biosecurity, citizen science, or managing conservation volunteering programmes
• Competent user of core MS Office programmes.
• Experience of public engagement work e.g. attendance at county shows.
• Understanding of the business practices that we are seeking to influence e.g. boat tour operations, fish farm operations, waste management on islands.
• Ability to form effective teams (both internal and partnership) and work effectively as a team player.
• Confident advocating a position to landowners and managers, local politicians, members and volunteers who have different views.
• Demonstrable experience of working with multiple stakeholders.

Desirable Skills, Knowledge And Experience

• Proven ability to influence others and negotiate desired outcomes
• Experience of working to survey, protect and/or manage important sites, species or habitats.
• Experience of productive partnership working.
• Sufficient knowledge of a range of delivery mechanisms for island biosecurity
• Understanding of the pressures on land use and other economic pressures on Scottish islands.
• Excellent knowledge of seabird predator ecology, species and habitats

This is a Fixed-Term role for 30-37.5 hours per week (negotiable). 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.
Interviews for this position will be held between 31st May and 7th June 2023. For further information please contact [email protected]
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.