Trapper x 2

RSPB; Kirkwall; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

The Orkney Native Wildlife Project (ONWP) is a field-based role in Orkney (Kirkwall) working to protect wildlife from stoat predation. You will check and rebait traps, deploy equipment, maintain schedules, and collect data, collaborating with landowners and local communities until 31 December 2027.

The role is full-time (37.5 hours/week) with a salary of £30,977–£33,037 per year and requires a full driving licence and strong outdoor fitness.

Qualifications

• Physically fit and able to work outdoors.
• Able to walk long distances over challenging terrain in all weathers.
• Capable of performing repetitive tasks to a high standard.
• Focused with good attention to detail and record-keeping.
• Hold a full driving licence to operate fleet vehicles.
• Experience working with local communities in a collaborative, sensitive way.
• Able to build and maintain good relationships with landowners.

Responsibilities

• Checking, cleaning and rebaiting DOC200 and DOC150 kill traps across a network of over 10,000 traps on a regular cycle as part of a team.
• Trap deployment and removal.
• Implementing trap and vehicle maintenance schedules.
• Ensuring trap field and maintenance data are collected and captured into a database.
• Assisting in stoat monitoring.
• Engaging with landowners to maintain land access agreements across Orkney Mainland and linked isles.
• Other tasks appropriate to the project as required.

Skills

Physically fit

Outdoor work

Attention to detail

Record keeping

Full driver’s licence

Job description

Reference: SEP20262135
Location: Field based work, Orkney (ONWP Office, Kirkwall)
Terms: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, Fixed Term, Until 31 December 2027
Salary: £30,977.00 - £33,037.00 Per Annum

The Orkney Native Wildlife Project (ONWP) aims to protect Orkney’s unique and globally important wildlife, and the benefits that it provides for local people, from an invasive non-native predator: the stoat. Stoats pose a serious threat to the Orkney vole, and many birds including hen harriers, short-eared owls, red-throated divers, waders, and seabirds.

This project works with hundreds of landowners in the local community to undertake the largest stoat eradication of an inhabited area anywhere in the world. We are implementing comprehensive biosecurity measures alongside the eradication, to reduce the risk of reinvasion and secure a long-term and sustainable legacy for the project.

You will be involved in:

• Checking, cleaning and rebaiting DOC200 and DOC150 kill traps across a network of over 10,000 traps on a regular cycle as part of a team. This will include removing and disposing of catches from traps
• Trap deployment and removal
• Implementing trap and vehicle maintenance schedules
• Ensuring that all necessary trap field and maintenance data are collected and captured into a database
• Assisting in stoat monitoring
• Engaging with landowners to maintain and secure land access agreements across the Orkney Mainland and linked isles
• Other tasks appropriate to the project as required

For this position you must be / have

• Physically fit, enjoy being outdoors.
• Able to walk considerable distances over challenging terrain, in all weathers up to five days per week and potentially carry heavy loads.
• Able to perform a repetitive task to a consistently high standard.
• Passionate about the natural world.
• A focussed individual with attention to detail.
• The ability to maintain accurate records.
• Able to identify issues and risks as they emerge and communicate these effectively to your team.
• A full driver’s licence to drive fleet vehicles.
• Experience of working with local communities in a collaborative and sensitive way.
• Ability to maintain good relationships with landowners.

Closing: Sunday 1st November

The project is a partnership between RSPB Scotland, NatureScot and Orkney Islands Council, and is generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and EU LIFE and NatureScot, Nature Restoration Fund (NRF).