Candidate Information Pack

Assistant Warden Oronsay/Colonsay

RSPB Scotland

Fancy a job on a spectacular Scottish west coast island, where the only breath you get time to draw is taken away by the beauty of the place? Then read on.

/ JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title / Assistant Warden, Oronsay/Colonsay
Purpose of Job / As part of the Oronsay team to provide assistance in all aspects of the day to day running of the farming & estate management operations both on the reserve and at the management sites on Colonsay. Assist with survey & monitoring on Oronsay & Colonsay including chough, corncrake, waders, geese, raptors, mammals and other important flora and fauna.
Primary Work Base / Isle of Oronsay, Argyll
Line Manager / Andy Knight
Reportees / Volunteers
Main Duties
  1. Assist daily with all aspects of the farming operation, which includes cattle & sheep husbandry, arable and grassland management and estate management in line with the management plan.
  2. Assist with the daily completion of reserve activities in line with the management plan
  3. Assist with breeding and non-breeding bird surveys on Colonsay & Oronsay; species include corncrake, chough, waders and raptors.
  4. Assist with survey of other flora and fauna of conservation interest and maintain accurate records of all monitoring undertaken, assist with collation & submission of results including input of data into database.
  5. Assist the warden with management of up to two residential voluntary wardens, including helping organise work programme and working with volunteers.
  6. Use a wide range of machinery including tractor and implements, work boat, RTV and 4x4.

Other Duties
  1. Other duties as required to ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the reserve and management agreement areas.
  2. With other staff to operate the reserve’s RHIB.
  3. In conjunction with other staff, deal with telephone calls, correspondence and direct enquiries from the public on a daily basis including out of office hours.
  4. In conjunction with other staff, ensure that due regard is given to health and safety legislation and RSPB H&S codes of practice.

Partnership Information
/ PERSON SPECIFICATION
PLEASE ASSUME REQUIREMENT IS ESSENTIAL UNLESS STATED AS DESIRABLE
Education/Qualifications
Literate and numerate to a standard to enable accurate record keeping and good communication.
Educated to at least Higher level
Relevant degree or equivalent / Desirable
Certification for tractor driving/Sit in ATV/chainsaw brushcutter etc / Desirable
Knowledge
Good ecological/general natural history knowledge
Knowledge of upland agriculture, especially grazing.
Knowledge of agricultural land management techniques / Desirable
Some knowledge of land and/or species management. / Desirable
Skills
Good written/oral communication skills
Good ornithological ID skills
Computer skills
Practical estate/conservation work
Networking/ cross-sectoral communication / Desirable
Team building and staff motivation / Desirable
Experience
Conservation work
Land Management
Staff or volunteer management / Desirable
Livestock Management / Desirable
Other
Willingness to work unsociable hours
Physically able to undertake practical work
Self-reliant – able to cope with extreme remote location.
Boat handling skills / Desirable
Island living / Desirable
Open and approachable nature / Desirable
Additional Information
The RSPB works for a healthy environment for all and we therefore expect you to take action in accordance with our Environmental Policy and objectives. Together we can make a positive difference for our world.
You will be expected to apply ‘sound value for money’ principles in undertaking purchasing or supply of goods and services.
In the RSPB volunteers are a major resource and make a vital contribution to the RSPB’s aim to take action for the conservation of wild birds and the environment. You will be expected to encourage, develop and support volunteer involvement in our work.

Living and Working in Oronsay

The Site

The Island of Oronsay, connected to Colonsay by a tidal strand, is just under 600 hectares in size, leased by the RSPB from its owner. Oronsay is a beguiling mix of rugged hill, rolling sand dunes, grassland and machair. Its special nature is reflected in the designations applied to it; SSSI, SPA and SAC with many archaeological sites and scheduled ancient monuments – including an ancient priory. The SSSI and SPA designations mostly apply to chough and corncrake, both of which species depend on positive agricultural management. To manage these requirements, the RSPB runs an in-hand farming operation, with a current herd of 45 native Luing suckler cows and flocks of Scottish black-face & Hebridean sheep.

The 47ha of in-bye grasslands, arable, marsh & enclosed machair provide the winter keep for the cattle & sheep. These late cut grasslands produce an abundant food source for a wide range of species, as well as a wealth of botanical diversity. The extensive grazing regime supports a mosaic of habitats important for a different suite of flora & fauna. Throughout the Hebrides, the tradition of a mixed farming practice is being lost, leading to a loss of biodiversity. It is therefore very important that Oronsay continues to deliver rich mosaic of habitats to support biodiversity through its farming practices.

The chough population in Scotland is declining. Ongoing research will hopefully shed light on reasons for their decline and offer solutions for the future. Oronsay is the main winter feeding ground for the whole of the Colonsay/Oronsay chough population. It is therefore extremely important that Oronsay continues to provide this crucial feeding habitat for chough. This will be achieved through the continuation of targeted mixed livestock grazing regimes with abundant dung & soil invertebrates that support the breeding pairs, non-breeding summering flocks and wintering flocks.

Since the RSPB has managed the farmland on Oronsay, whole field habitat management has resulted in a fantastic increase of corncrake calling males and, since 2000, the number recorded has increased from 4 to 20.

Other species continuing to benefit from the mixed farming regime include twite, linnet & skylark. The late cutting of silage results in a species rich in-bye habitats and machair with a wide botanical diversity, including lesser butterfly orchid and Irish lady’s tresses. These plants will continue to be a very important characteristic of Oronsay. This rich assemblage will continue to support a wide range of invertebrate species. 193 species of moth have been recorded on the reserve and 29 of these are BAP priorities. The marsh fritillary butterfly demonstrated a massive range expansion and now occurs over almost the whole island. Oronsay also sustains two aggregations of the mining bee Colletesfloralis.

Oronsay is host to 60 breeding lapwing pairs and 17 breeding redshank, making it a very important site for breeding waders. Arctic terns breed on the offshore islands of Oronsay and, since the reserve began carrying out rat control methods on these islands in 2011, there has been a large increase in fledged juveniles seen. Little terns will also benefit from this work and in the long term it is hoped that an equally successful little tern colony establishes on Oronsay.

The Assistant Warden role

We need you to help manage this complex site. This is an ideal developmental role with an unusual mix of hands-on agricultural work in close partnership with high-end conservation delivery and biodiversity monitoring. Standards in both these elements are already high and you will be expected to match or exceed those standards. You will contribute to the already impressive work done and the continual enhancementof delivery in both conservation and agricultural terms. As part of the team you will be working to an already in place five-year plan. You will be a member of the Argyll Islands Area team; you will have support from, and give support to, colleagues based on other islands. The closest links are to Islay.

What’s it like living here?

Fantastic – but easy street this is not! Beautiful, uplifting and inspirational though Oronsay is, this is a post defined by hard physical work and extremes of weather. The feeble of limb and faint of heart need not apply! The peace and tranquillity are offset by the remoteness, poor communication infrastructure and significant travel restrictions. Thrice weekly boats from Oban to Colonsay and, perhaps, one from Islay during winter (during which you can expect many disruptions) and up to five sailings in summer are your main route off the island – having got to Colonsay in the first place (don’t forget the tidal strand – but there is a boat you can use!). A twice-weekly flight to Oban is your other route off-island. The rewards for your labour speak for themselves; living and working in a place like this is very special.

Nearest Town: the main connection for Colonsay/Oronsay is Oban via ferry or plane.

Nearest Village: Scalasaig on Colonsay offers a shop, cafe, fuel pumps and a hotel.

There is/are resident doctor/s on Colonsay.

Accommodation will be in a shared semi-detached three-bed, onebathroom cottage (building at the right most of the photo below).


How we expect you to work
The RSPB has seven key competencies that are important to our organisation’s success. We expect all employees to demonstrate the following behaviours in everything that they do:
Direction:
You ensure you have a clear direction and sense of common purpose that guides what you do and how you approach your work.
Energy:
You bring energy and urgency to the RSPB to motivate people to do the best they can.
Capability:
You build your own and other people’s capabilities, directly and indirectly.
Relationships:
You communicate effectively and build productive internal and external relationships
Change:
You support continuous improvement and change and constantly look for way to do things better.
Advocacy:
You act as an advocate for the RSPB.
Performance:
You get things done, achieve ambitious goals and the RSPB’s aims.
In addition, the following behaviours are essential upon appointment to this particular role:
  • Customer focused and forms productive internal partnerships
  • A solutions based approach to problem resolutions
  • Encourages everyone to look at the bigger picture to achieve the RSPB goals over departmental objectives
  • Encourages innovation and allows other peoples ideas to be developed
  • Encourages others to buy into and support change
  • Able to form productive relationships internally and share knowledge, offering co-operation rather that competition
  • Surfaces and deals with conflict constructively

How to Apply

If you have questions about the role please contact Andy Knight on 01951 200367.

We would invite you to complete the application form at the end of the pack and submit it to Liz Hathaway at

Please ensure your application clearly details how your skills/knowledge/experience demonstratesyou are able to deliver on the key result areas.

Our policy is to recruit and employ our employees on the basis of their suitability for the work to be done. An application form allows us to compare individuals based on like for like information and as such we would not accept a CV for this role unless accompanied by a fully completed application.

Closing Date / 16 Oct2015
Interview Date / 22 Oct 2015

Who we are and what we do

The RSPB in a nutshell

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB):

  • Was formed in 1889 to counter the barbaric trade in bird plumes for women’s hats
  • Has since grown into a world-leading wildlife conservation organization and now speak out for all birds and wildlife, tackling the problems which threaten our environment
  • Has over a million members, including more than 200,00 youth members
  • Has more than 2,000 active staff members and almost 18,000 volunteers, who donate more than a million hours of their time – that’s the equivalent of 600 full-time staff
  • Has a NET income available for charitable purposes of £89.3 million
  • Has more than 200 nature reserves covering 143,7800 hectares and home to 80% of our rarest or most threatened bird species
  • Has a UK headquarters, three national offices and eight regional offices
  • Has a network of over 150 local groups and more than 150 youth groups
  • Has an impressive global reach, with active projects and capacity building programmes in 26 countries and 8 UK Overseas Territories
  • Is the UK partner and leading player, in Birdlife International
  • Is the largest charity mail order operation in the UK, and also has the UK’s most successful charity credit card

Volunteers

Volunteers founded the RSPB 125 years ago and remain a vitally important part of the organization today; there are approximately nine volunteers for every paid member of staff

Our volunteers bring a unique range of skills and qualities to the RSPB, help stretch our scarce resources and keep us in touch with grass roots.

Our Strategy, Mission and Cultural Values

Our Strategy

Our vision: A world richer in nature

Imagine this. Wild birds and other wildlife will no longer be declining. Nature is restored, enriching and sustaining the lives of people as a result. Such a world would guarantee that future generations have clean air and water, a stable climate, abundant and diverse wildlife, and a robust, diverse and sustainable economy.

Our long-term purpose: saving nature

We believe that:

  • There is a moral imperative to save nature
  • Nature is crucial for peoples quality of life and the planets life support systems
  • Birds are an integral part of the web of life
  • We are well places to stand up for birds and all nature
  • The is challenge is great, we must work with others to succeed
  • We need growing popular support

Our Mission

By 2020…

Our work is both urgent and important and we need to act now to make a difference. The worlds governments have committed to halting biodiversity loss by 2020 and we will challenge them, as well as businesses, civil society and ourselves, to take the steps necessary to reach this goal, and then go further.

Our Cultural Values

Our cultural values are the way we work with each other and partners:

Bold

We speak out honestly for what we believe in, aiming higher and pushing further for growth. We seek to provide innovative, fun and sociable ways for people to get involved

Focused

We identify where birds and wildlife are most under threat, then act decisively and with commitment to save them and deliver tangible results

Supportive

We support each other and our sector partners in order to flourish, and make sure our supporters receive reward and recognition for their contribution

Together

We work together for the biggest possible impact across the RSPB and with partners across the UK and globally


Working at the RSPB

Hours of work

Normal hours of work for full-time employees are 37.5 hours per week. We are introducing new Flexitime and TOIL frameworks to recognise the commitment of staff and their willingness to be extremely flexible in the interests of conservation and the organisation, with the aim of making flexibility available to as many people as possible.

Leave entitlement

Holiday entitlement in a full year is 26 working days,four of which must be taken during the RSPB’s Christmas shutdown. Public holidays (or days in lieu) are additional to annual leave.Long serving staff receive additional holidays:

3 years continuous service 28 days

7 years continuous service30 days

Part-time staff (which includes part-year staff) are entitled to a pro-rata number of days annual leave.

The RSPB prides itself on being a flexible and supportive employer. We have a range of options available to support our employees including parental, family, and special leave alongside our maternity and paternity leave arrangements. More details of entitlements when working at the RSPB can be found on our intranet page.

Payment during sickness absence

The RSPB operates an Occupational Sick Pay Scheme (OSP) in parallel to the Governments Statutory Sick Pay Scheme. OSP allowances are determined by length of service from 30 days (6 weeks) in your first year up to 180 days (30 weeks) after 5 years service

For part-time employees, OSP is based on the number of days worked per week and paid at the normal part-time rate.

Learning development

The RSPB is committed to supporting new employees. We offer a wide range of learning and development opportunities including on-going training, e-learning and through our induction process.

We have a long standing commitment which has survived the economic downturn, to providing quality learning and development opportunities. We prioritise leadership and management which is key to people motivation and success. Our recent leadership programmes have received the Institute of Leadership and Management accreditation.

The Learning and Development team’s focus and aim is to aid the organisation to succeed.

The RSPB is currently going through a job evaluation review. We just wanted to let you know that all jobs are subject to this review, including our current job vacancies. The results of the job evaluation review and the new payband structure will be implemented across the RSPB later in 2015 and you will be kept fully informed of the outcomes.

Staff benefits

Pension

The RSPB operates a defined benefit pension scheme, called a cash balance scheme. Both members and the RSPB make contributions to the scheme and the RSPB bears the administration costs of running the scheme. The RSPB’s cash balance scheme is contracted in to the State Second Pension.