Marine Project Officer

~ Our work is driven by a passionate belief that we all have a responsibility to protect birds and the environment. ~

Bird populations reflect the health of the planet on which our future depends.

The need for an effective bird conservation organisation has never been greater. Climate change, agricultural intensification, expansion of urban areas and transport infrastructure, and over-exploitation of our seas all pose major threats to birds.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) could not exist without its supporters and members. Whether you join us, give a donation, purchase items from us or undertake voluntary work, your support is vital to the future of birds and the places where they live.

Position Overview 

Do you have a passion for marine conservation? Do you have strong knowledge of fisheries interactions with seabirds, marine mammals, sharks and turtles? We are looking for a new member of the BirdLife Marine Programme team, hosted by the RSPB, to examine the effectiveness of a leading fisheries sustainability certification scheme in assessing and tackling impacts on populations of these species.

This is an exciting opportunity to inform the development of a global seafood sustainability standard, to connect with marine conservation experts and to join a dynamic team that has worked to reduce seabird bycatch in fisheries for over a decade.

• Note: This is a full time contract with a duration of seven months
• Position Reference number: A0970517

Responsibilities

• You will carry out a review of non-target species bycatch (covering seabirds, turtles, marine mammals and sharks) in the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification process, particularly considering changes before and after the renewal of their fisheries standard in 2014.
• The review will examine the performance of case study fisheries against the bycatch-relevant 'performance indicators' of the MSC standard, and will investigate the effectiveness of any improvements fisheries have been required to make as part of their certification.
• You will explore the key factors that have driven successful and unsuccessful implementation of these improvements, and make recommendations based on your findings.
• The postholder will also have an important role in communicating the outputs of the review with key stakeholders.
• The review will be guided by a Steering Group of relevant bycatch taxon experts from conservation NGOs and academic institutions, including key BirdLife staff and at least three external advisors.

Compensation: Starting salary range is £19,602 to £21,236 per annum.

To Apply

Please click "Apply" below to email (or mail) application details to Carole Cook at: The RSPB, The Lodge, Potton Road, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, 01767 680551

• Closing date: 6 August 2017
• Interview date: 22 August 2017

Application Details:

You can find more information about the role in the downloads below. Please make sure you include reference number A0970517 on any correspondence.

• Role Profile (Word 260Kb, requires Microsoft Word)
• Additional information (PDF 231Kb, requires Adobe Reader)
• Application details (Word 29Kb, requires Microsoft Word)

Note: For questions about this post, contact Rory Crawford. Glasgow landline: 0141 331 9801