Location
Hayle Estuary and Marazion Marsh nature reserves, West Cornwall. Based at the RSPB Cornwall Reserves office in Penzance.

Hours
Permanent role, 22.50 hours per week. This role requires occasional weekend, early morning, evening, standby, on-call working, and occasional overnight stays away from home.

Salary
£28,940 per annum (pro rata)

About the Role
We are seeking an Assistant Warden to help manage two important nature reserves in West Cornwall: Hayle Estuary, which supports wintering wetland birds and migratory waders, gulls, and terns during spring and autumn, and Marazion Marsh, which contains reedbed habitat supporting a range of breeding and migratory birds including warblers. Working closely with volunteers, colleagues, and local communities, you will contribute to the conservation and day-to-day management of both reserves for wildlife and visitors. Your role will be vital in ensuring these special places are well managed, welcoming, and accessible, while protecting and enhancing their habitats for future generations.

As Assistant Warden, you will work alongside the Site Manager to deliver the reserve management plan and support daily operations. Key responsibilities include developing annual and seasonal work programmes aligned with management plans, supporting safe and compliant site operations with effective risk control, acting as a key contact for communities, visitors, and stakeholders, coordinating and motivating volunteers to deliver practical conservation activities, and maintaining site infrastructure, equipment, and machinery. Your role will involve lone working and travel between sites as required.

Experience
- Demonstrable experience of habitat and estate management, delivering practical land management activities to agreed objectives.
- Experience of leading and recruiting staff and/or volunteer teams.
- Competence in the safe operation, inspection, and maintenance of machinery, vehicles, tools, equipment, and infrastructure.
- Experience implementing health and safety procedures, including maintaining risk assessments, records, and safe systems of work.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook for record keeping, communication, and work planning.
- Lantra certification or equivalent training and demonstrated competence in the use of brushcutters and PA1/PA6W pesticides.
- Ability to travel between sites and locations as required.

About you
- Confident in organising and coordinating a range of activities, ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently, and in line with agreed procedures.
- Strong communication, practical problem-solving, and relationship-building skills.
- Practical, solutions-focused approach committed to creating safe and welcoming environments for people and wildlife.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Qualifications
- Relevant certifications such as Lantra or equivalent for brushcutter and pesticide use.
- Full UK driving licence is desirable to facilitate travel between sites.