Job Description:
We are looking for a highly competent individual to oversee the planning and delivery of our ambitious peatland restoration programme at RSPB Forsinard Flows Nature Reserve. Our work programme consists of delivering both future open hill and forest-to-bog peatland restoration projects, as well as assuring that we meet our monitoring and maintenance comitments of previous Peatland Action and Peatland Code projects. Based at the RSPB Forsinard Flows Field Centre, you will be responsible for leading, managing and motivating our Peatland restoration team, comprising of two Peatland Restoration Project Officers and a pool of committed volunteers. You will work closely with RSPB’s wider Scottish Peatland Programme, and be supported by RSPB’s Project Management Framework to help you successfully delivering the outputs and objectives of the RSPB’s national Scotland Peatland Programme. The successful candidate will be someone with a proven track record of team leadership and project management to manage this complex work programme, and deliver truly landscape scale habitat restoration.
Please see the attached Recruitment Pack for further details.
Essentials skills, knowledge & experience:
Qualification in a relevant subject or ability to show equivalent work experience.Knowledge of peatland habitat, function and wildlife, to enable oversight of peatland restoration projects.Proven leadership and line management experience, with track record of managing people and delivering a high performing team.Proven experience of project management, including development, delivery, reporting and budget management.Ability to deliver deadline-driven projects, and manage both your own and team’s workloads to changing priorities.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to persuade and influence a wide range of people, both internally and externally.High level of IT skills for project and data management.Experience of contract management, including tendering and selection.A full, manual driving licence that is valid in the UK is required due to the remote nature of the sites (4x4 training will be provided).Desirable skills, knowledge & experience:
Experience of delivering peatland restoration projects.Experience of funding mechanisms for peatland restoration.Specialist conservation knowledge and experience in upland conservation.Specialist mapping software experience e.g., ArcGISExperience of working with external stakeholders such as statutory agencies and private landowner.A drive to live and work in a remote and challenging environment.
Additional Information
This is a fixed-term contract until 31st March 2028 at 37.5 hours per week. We are looking to conduct interviews for this position in person on Friday 24th October 2025 at the Forsinard Flows Field Centre. For further information please see the attached information pack, or contact peter.gilbert@rspb.org.uk.
In order to apply you will be required to upload a CV and complete an application form. In the cover letter section of the application form please explain how you meet the criteria set above.
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.
The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.
Please note that we are actively recruiting for this vacancy, and reserve the right to close once sufficient applications have been received.
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.