Researcher, Ecosystem Health and Social Dimensions

British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA); Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

33 days annual leave (38 after 5 years

Free entry to wetland centres

Free car parking

Cycle to work scheme

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Job summary

WWT Slimbridge (Centre) in the United Kingdom is seeking an early career scientist to join the Wetland Evidence team and contribute to urban wetlands research. You will help find, extract and summarise data to understand barriers and enablers of Ramsar Wetland City status.

This role focuses on building core research skills, delivering data-driven insights, and working closely with interdisciplinary colleagues in a hybrid setting, with up to one day per week on site.

Qualifications

• Background in conservation, environmental sciences, or related discipline.
• Experience extracting and collating information from reports and webpages.
• Proven track record delivering work to deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to deliver high-quality research.
• Ability to summarise information effectively using figures and tables.
• Problem-solving skills and proactive issue resolution.
• Current knowledge of national and international conservation issues, especially wetlands.
• Desire to apply skills to real-world conservation issues.

Responsibilities

• Find, extract, and summarise relevant data on urban wetlands and Ramsar Wetland City status.
• Identify common challenges, enabling factors, and outcomes.
• Summarise findings using figures and tables.
• Work within the Ecosystem Health and Social Dimensions team to support research.
• Develop research skills in searching, identifying, extracting, and summarising scientific data.

Skills

Conservation background

Data extraction & summarisation

Research skills

Deadline-driven

Independent & team work

Data presentation (figures & tables)

Problem solving

Knowledge of wetlands conservation

Real-world conservation application

Education

Degree in conservation/environmental sciences or related discipline

Job description

WWT Slimbridge (Centre)

South West

Closing date for applications is: 23rd Nov 2026

Contact: Recruitment Team ([e-mail])

Sector: Research

Type: Paid

Contract type: Full-time

Salary: £25,985 per annum, pro rata

About The Role

Are you an early career scientist, looking to gain experience working on real-world conservation issues within a supportive and internationally recognised team of interdisciplinary researchers?

WWT’s Wetland Evidence department are looking to recruit an early career scientist to support our work on urban wetlands. Based in the Ecosystem Health and Social Dimensions team, the successful candidate will play a key role in helping WWT to deliver evidence on the barriers and enablers of urban areas achieving Ramsar Wetland City status, a globally recognised accreditation. The role will focus on finding, extracting, and summarising relevant data that will allow us to understand the experiences of Wetland Cities worldwide. This will include identifying common challenges, enabling factors and outcomes, what makes Wetland City initiatives successful, and how accreditation can translate into meaningful benefits for nature and people.

This role will enable an early career scientist to gain and develop fundamental research skills in searching, identifying, extracting and summarising scientific data.

This is a full-time position, working 37.5 hours per week, for a fixed period until 30th May 2027. The role is suitable for hybrid working, with up to 1 day per week required at Slimbridge Wetland Centre.

About You

The successful candidate will have:

• A background in conservation, environmental sciences, or a related discipline.
• Experience of extracting and collating information from multiple published sources, such as published reports and webpages.
• A proven track record of delivering work to deadlines.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team to deliver high quality research.
• The create ability to summarise information effectively using figures and tables.
• Skills in problem solving, able to independently and proactively find solutions to issues and challenges that arise in your work.
• Current knowledge of national and international conservation issues, especially as they relate to wetlands.
• A desire to apply their skills to real-world conservation issues.

Please view the full job description for all the responsibilities and specifications for the role.

About Us

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

Why you’ll love working at WWT

• Wake up every day knowing your work is helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by our team of passionate, dedicated people
• 33 days annual leave (which goes up to 38 days after 5 years of service) - this includes bank holidays and you have flexibility to take those days whenever you want
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Free car parking and secure bike storage areas
• Colleague discount on shopping and memberships
• Cycle to work scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life Assurance of three times your salary, for peace of mind for your loved ones
• Independent personal, workplace and financial advice from our Employee Assistance Programme

WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.

Registered Charity Number England & Wales, no 1030884 and Scotland, no SC039410