Grey Squirrel Control Officer - Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels

Scottish Wildlife Trust; Castle Douglas; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is seeking a Grey Squirrel Control Officer to deliver targeted grey squirrel control across the Scottish Borders and surrounding areas, supporting Red Squirrel Networks and volunteers. You will work outdoors, engage with landowners and the public, and help protect red squirrel populations under the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels plan.

The role requires practical field skills, collaboration with diverse partners, and the ability to train volunteers in best-practice

Qualifications

• SVQ/NVQ level 2 or equivalent in Game and Wildlife Management or related discipline.
• Good understanding of conservation principles, practices and legislation.
• Ability to keep and maintain accurate records in Word and Excel.
• Experience working with landowners, gamekeepers, foresters and the public is essential.
• Knowledge of forestry/woodland management and native tree species; familiarity with Peebles/Tweeddale and Central Borders PARCs is advantageous.
• There may be occasional requirements to work outside normal hours.
• Must possess a full clean driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Carrying out targeted and strategic grey squirrel control in agreed areas according to the SSRS project’s SOPs.
• Working collaboratively with other Grey Squirrel Control Officers, volunteers and external organisations.
• Assisting with training new volunteers to take on Local Dispatcher, Volunteer Grey Squirrel Officers and Rapid Response Monitor roles.
• Providing trapping and despatch services as required.
• Carrying out monitoring to assess squirrel presence (e.g., feeder box camera traps).
• Delivering training sessions to new SSRS staff, volunteers and land managers in best practice grey squirrel control and monitoring techniques.
• Responding to public enquiries regarding grey squirrel control for red squirrel conservation.

Skills

Outdoor work

Interpersonal skills

Record keeping (Word/Excel)

Public engagement

Education

SVQ/NVQ Level 2 in Game and Wildlife Management

Tools

Word

Excel

Job description

This role requires an individual that likes working outdoors, with experience in mammal control work, who is approachable and enjoys interacting with people.

The Grey Squirrel Control Officer will contribute to a programme of targeted grey squirrel control to protect key populations of Scotland’s red squirrels, in accordance with the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels plan to protect red squirrels in priority landscapes in the Scottish Borders.

Main objectives:

Delivering grey squirrel control, including supporting grey squirrel control volunteers and Red Squirrel Networks in the SSRS Priority Areas for Red squirrel Conservation (PARCs).

The role covers the Scottish Borders with the main areas of responsibility being Peebles and the Tweed Valley to Selkirk and surrounding areas. This includes the wider Tweedale PARC and northern parts of the Central Borders PARCs.

This includes:

• Carrying out targeted and strategic grey squirrel control in agreed areas according to the SSRS project’s Standard Operating Procedures.
• Working collaboratively with other Grey Squirrel Control Officers, area volunteer group(s) and external organisations.
• Assisting with training new volunteers to take on the roles of Local Dispatcher, Volunteer Grey Squirrel Officers and Rapid Response Monitors.
• Providing trapping and despatch services as required.
• Where required, carry out monitoring to assess squirrel presence e.g. feeder box camera traps
• Work with the Lead Control Officer to deliver training sessions, where required, to new SSRS staff, volunteers and/or land managers in all aspects of best practice grey squirrel control, Rapid Response Monitoring and Squirrel Pox Sampling techniques.
• Assist the SSRS Lead Control Officer and SSRS Communications Officer, as needed, in responding to enquiries from the public regarding grey squirrel control for red squirrel conservation.

The successful candidate will have:

• An SVQ/NVQ level 2 or equivalent in Game and Wildlife Management or related discipline or relevant experience of game keeping, invasive/non-native mammal control or pest control.
• Good understanding of conservation principles, practices and legislation.
• The ability to keep and maintain accurate records in Word and Excel.
• Relevant previous experience is essential, together with experience working with landowners, gamekeepers, foresters and the public.
• Knowledge of forestry/woodland management and native tree species and familiarity with the town of Peebles and Tweeddale and Central Borders PARCs would be advantageous.
• There may occasionally be a requirement to work out of normal working hours.
• You must possess a full clean driving licence.