Ecologist (Seabirds & Island Biosecurity)

National Trust for Scotland; Scotland; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated conservation professional to join their mobile team focused on seabird protection. This role involves managing critical projects aimed at enhancing biosecurity and recovery efforts for seabird populations. You will engage with diverse stakeholders, ensuring that conservation efforts are scientifically robust and effectively communicated. If you are passionate about wildlife conservation and eager to make a tangible impact, this role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to vital environmental initiatives.

Qualifications

• Experience in seabird conservation and biosecurity.
• Ability to present scientific findings clearly and engagingly.

Responsibilities

• Conduct high-priority research and operational work for seabird conservation.
• Liaise with various teams to share information and gather input.

Skills

Research Skills

Communication Skills

Data Collection

Project Management

Education

Degree in Environmental Science

Experience in Conservation

Tools

Biologging Technology

Citizen Science Methods

Job description

Hours: 40 hours per week
No. of positions available: 1
Locations: Balnain House and Various NTS Seabird Locations
Salary: £29,975 - £33,095

This role enables the delivery of high priority projects which, together, deliver the Seabird and Island Biosecurity actions in NTS’s ‘Plan for Nature’. These projects are the prioritised list of work for which NTS has identified a critical need to conserve its seabirds and garner wider societal support while we do so. The role fills both skill and capacity gaps in our current workforce by providing a flexible mobile team to carry out operational, research and communication work across our seabird places.

The post-holder will:

Carry out a list of high priority research, operational work and communications projects to progress NTS’s seabird conservation actions across its seabird sites. These include our work to recover seabirds affected by avian influenza, research to understand how to manage visitor pressure on seabirds, citizen science methods to monitor seabirds, developing new technology to improve biosecurity on seabird islands, and specific work such as biologging on NTS’s identified priority species: Leach’s storm petrel, Fulmar, Puffin, Razorbill, European storm petrel and Great Skua.

Present work in clear, accurate, scientifically robust, engaging and timely ways so that conservation evidence can be fast-tracked for use in managing our sites and garnering wider societal support for seabird conservation.

Liaise frequently with the wider seabird ‘community of interest’ at NTS (The senior seabird officer, nature conservation team, rangers, operations managers, marine policy colleagues, communication and fundraising staff) to share information about your work and capture their input into it.

Demonstrate the highest standards of welfare for wild seabird populations while collecting data to inform their conservation.

Work to agreed standard operating procedures while working in island and clifftop environments.

Preferred method of application: Application form - found here

Closing date: Sunday 11/05/2025