Location
Northern Ireland

Hours
Full Time - 37.5 hours per week

Salary
£44,315 per annum

About the Role
We are seeking a Senior Conservation Seabird Scientist to join the RSPB’s Conservation Science team. This role offers the opportunity to work at the cutting edge of seabird tagging, tracking, monitoring, research, and policy in Northern Ireland. Funded by PEACEPLUS, the ACCLIMATISE project is a €7.1M cross-border initiative led by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, with RSPB as one of the partners.

The post-holder will help fill evidence gaps for the seas around Northern Ireland and border counties by working alongside scientists specialising in seabirds, dietary analyses, cetaceans, fish, and marine trophic elements. The role includes managing a field worker, undertaking some fieldwork, and spending time away from home.

Key responsibilities include:
- Conducting safe fieldwork to tag and track seabirds from Rathlin Island
- Collecting data on seabird foraging areas and flight behaviour
- Gathering samples for seabird diet analyses
- Collaborating with the British Trust for Ornithology to publish seabird tracking outputs
- Deploying passive acoustic monitoring devices on Rathlin
- Producing a report mapping seabird by-catch risk in seas around Northern Ireland and border counties
- Co-producing cross-border seabird action plans and strategies

The role requires excellent communication skills and the ability to represent RSPB effectively with internal teams, partner organisations, and external stakeholders including the fishing industry.

This is a fixed-term contract until 31st December 2028, starting no earlier than 1st January 2026. The RSPB may extend or make the role permanent depending on business needs.

Experience
- Expertise in trapping seabirds and fitting various tags, particularly GPS
- BTO ringing licence with seabird tag fitting expertise and endorsements
- Knowledge of health and safety procedures for fieldwork at seabird colonies in challenging environments
- Experience downloading, collating, and analysing seabird tracking data
- Proven track record of publishing peer-reviewed scientific work
- Valid UK driving licence
- Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and meet deadlines

About you
- Self-motivated and methodical with a rigorous approach to data collection and management
- Excellent communicator able to engage diverse audiences and represent RSPB professionally
- Comfortable managing staff and working collaboratively with external stakeholders
- Willingness to undertake fieldwork involving time away from home and potentially challenging conditions

Qualifications
- PhD in a relevant subject such as seabird ecology with practical and analytical focus, or equivalent research experience

Desirable Skills and Knowledge
- Experience recruiting and managing staff
- Proficiency in R and ArcGIS for spatial data management and analysis
- Knowledge of seabird by-catch risk, mapping, and working with the fishing industry
- Experience co-producing reports such as species action plans and strategies
- Skilled in cooperative working relationships with external stakeholders