Location
Lisburn, Northern Ireland

Hours
Full Time - 37 hours per week

Salary
£36,789 per annum (Senior Research Ecologist)
£33,294 per annum (Research Ecologist)

Contract
36 month fixed term contract starting January 2026

About the Role
The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is seeking two passionate individuals to join our team in Northern Ireland to contribute to impactful bird conservation work. These positions are supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), as part of the ACCLIMATISE project led by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI). BTO leads Work Package 2, focusing on Transboundary Conservation Strategies and Sustainable Management of Marine Predators, including seabird tracking, diet analysis, at-sea surveys, passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), and developing conservation strategies and action plans for priority threatened seabird species.

You will work closely with the Wetland and Marine Research Team and be line-managed by the Senior Research Ecologist for BTO Northern Ireland. The roles require adaptability to work across a range of projects, strong organisational skills, and the ability to communicate scientific results to diverse audiences. A valid UK driving licence is essential. These positions are based at the BTO NI office in Lisburn.

Experience
Senior Research Ecologist: PhD or equivalent experience in ecology or related field. Proven ability in handling birds and use of specialised methods. Experience designing field-based projects and leading field teams. Strong statistical knowledge and application of statistical techniques.

Research Ecologist: Postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience in ecology or related field. Proven ability in handling birds, preferably with some experience in specialised methods. Experience in field-based projects. Good statistical knowledge with ability to learn and implement new programming languages and analysis methods.

About you
Well-organised, adaptable, and able to work on a variety of projects. Strong communication skills to convey results to different audiences. Passionate about bird conservation and working collaboratively within a research team.

A valid UK driving licence is essential for both roles.

Qualifications
Senior Research Ecologist: PhD or equivalent experience in ecology or related area.
Research Ecologist: Postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience in ecology or related area.