Overview

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We are recruiting for an Ecology and Monitoring Officer to help deliver Wild Strathfillan, our flagship landscape-scale nature restoration project in the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. This role will involve developing and delivering a monitoring programme for Wild Strathfillan, as well as leading on small research projects and trials into restoration methods, including the propagation of key herbaceous plant species.

Candidates are likely to have a background in ecological monitoring and research, excellent Scottish wildlife identification skills and a commitment to playing their part in addressing the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.

Background

Wild Strathfillan is a landscape-scale nature restoration project located in the north of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The project is led by Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Countryside Trust in partnership with over 30 land managers, community groups, NGOs, and statutory bodies. The Strathfillan landscape features a diverse range of important habitats, including temperate rainforest, Caledonian pinewoods, and montane woodland. It also supports an outstanding assemblage of arctic-alpine flora. The area’s rich biological diversity is recognised through its designated sites, including SSSIs, SACs and the Breadalbane Important Plant Area. All of this is set within a patchwork of land uses, including hill farming, sporting, and forestry.

At present, Strathfillan’s habitats are facing pressures such as fragmentation, overgrazing and invasive non-native species, which are threatening their long-term viability. Our initial restoration work will begin to address these pressures and deliver a suite of restoration projects to kickstart nature recovery in the landscape. The Trust has been successful in securing funding from NatureScot which will enable this initial delivery phase. We are now seeking an Ecology and Monitoring Officer to develop and lead on a monitoring and research programme, which will assess overall landscape condition and the outcomes of habitat management, restoration work and new restoration techniques.

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Countryside Trust is an environmental and community-based charity. We are a small and friendly team working across the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park to address the biodiversity and climate emergencies and enable more sustainable, healthy, and active communities.

The Trust works closely with the National Park Authority, supporting the achievement of its strategic objectives relating to nature, biodiversity and the health and wellbeing of communities. The Trust is now in the process of developing an ambitious portfolio of nature restoration projects, which will play an important part in contributing to the delivery of the Future Nature Strategy for the National Park Authority.

Job purpose

The post-holder will be responsible for the development and delivery of an ecological monitoring programme for Wild Strathfillan, which will enable restoration progress to be monitored. They will also lead on all research elements of the project, including trials of new nature restoration techniques, identifying best practice, and chairing a Scientific Working Group.

Key responsibilities and tasks

• Lead on the development and establishment of a project-wide monitoring framework.
• Lead on the establishment of suitable monitoring plots for a range of survey types, including control plots. Liaise with project partners to plan, set up, and survey these plots.
• Plan and undertake a range of ecological surveys (e.g. vegetation, breeding birds, Black Grouse, lepidoptera, camera trapping, Audio Moth, Habitat Impact Assessment) to i) establish a baseline against which nature restoration progress can be assessed and ii) monitor key species.
• Plan and undertake site surveys to assess suitability for woodland creation or other nature restoration projects, and to gather baseline data.
• Maintain organised and effective databases to ensure data is easily accessible and appropriately labelled.
• Plan and conduct appropriate statistical analyses using programmes such as R or Python.
• Produce concise and accurate survey reports, present findings with relevant figures, maps, methodologies, and photographs.
• Produce maps on ArcGIS of various habitats, projects and ad-hoc maps as required by the Wild Strathfillan project team.
• Organise and manage volunteer activities to assist with project monitoring, e.g. reviewing camera trapping images, undertaking regular butterfly transect surveys.
• Work with The Great Trossachs Forest partnership, the Loch Lomond Rainforest project and the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority to develop a National Park-wide monitoring framework.
• Lead on the development of a Scientific Working Group to position Wild Strathfillan at the forefront of learning and research, enabling the development of Strathfillan as a demonstration landscape and a hub for applied ecological research.
• Identify opportunities to collaborate with other nature restoration projects and academic institutions to expand opportunities for collective learning and ecological research.
• Plan work programmes and oversee undergraduate students undertaking research projects and placements with the Trust.
• Lead on the planning and execution of trials and ecological research projects, supported by the Scientific Working Group; for example, assessing the impacts of a new grazing regime using GPS cattle collars on upland vegetation in a SSSI.
• Lead on the development of a Specialist Plant Working Group to bring together experts and facilitate knowledge-sharing and development of best practice protocols.
• Lead on the collection of and oversee the propagation of key herbaceous plant species such as Twinflower and Globeflower at the Wild Strathfillan specialist plant nurseries.
• Lead on the development of propagation protocols for key plant species, working with project partners and reviewing existing literature.
• Contribute to project communications including press releases and articles for the Trust’s website and e-newsletter, to promote the Wild Strathfillan project and demonstrate the role and importance of landscape-scale nature restoration for climate and biodiversity.
• Undertake ad-hoc surveys as required, for example montane willow surveys.
• Support the wider Wild Strathfillan project team as required.
• Manage small project budgets.

Person specification

Skills – Essential

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; good report writing skills and ability to address a range of audiences, e.g. academic, conservation practitioner, lay-person.
• Excellent analytical skills. Ability to collect, curate and analyse data sets using statistical programmes such as R or Python. Ability to understand, interpret and present data in an accessible way.
• Experience of using GIS mapping software.
• Excellent Scottish wildlife identification skills including in upland and montane habitats; ability to identify Scottish birds by song and call; good botanical identification skills.
• Research project skills: ability to plan and undertake scientifically rigorous, accurate studies, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Excellent organisational skills, including time and workload management.
• Excellent administrative skills.
• Computer literate, confident using the Microsoft Office package.

Skills – Desirable

• writing skills; experience in writing academic papers.

Knowledge, Qualifications and Experience – Essential

• Proven scientific research experience (e.g. MSc, MRes, PhD or managing a similar project).
• Track record of successfully delivering projects from inception/ planning stage through to completion.
• Good knowledge of appropriate data collection methods for a range of species, habitats, and research questions.
• Experience of undertaking ecological surveys such as British Bird Survey (BBS), National Vegetation Classification (NVC), Site Condition Monitoring, Habitat Impact Assessments, and targeted species surveys such as Black Grouse lek surveys, butterfly transects and moth trapping.
• Excellent knowledge of Scottish habitats and species, their natural history/ ecology, including upland and montane species.
• Excellent working knowledge of nature conservation and land management principles and techniques.
• Practical field skills, including ability to work in adverse weather conditions and in remote locations.
• Full UK driving license and access to a vehicle that you can use to carry kit and access remote areas.

Knowledge, Qualifications and Experience – Desirable

• Experience of partnership working.
• Experience in and knowledge of horticulture and/or botany.
• Experience of planning volunteer activities and managing volunteers, including a working knowledge of health and safety requirements.
• Experience of deploying remote monitoring technology such as trail cameras, Audio Moths, and thermal imaging equipment.
• Experience of working on ex-situ plant conservation projects, and/or in a plant nursery.
• A good understanding of land management in Scotland.
• Budget management experience.

Personable attributes – Essential

• Committed to the purpose and aims of the Trust.
• Confident self-starter, happy to work alone and as part of a team.
• High level of physical fitness, able to work in remote places travel reasonable distances by foot (e.g. transect surveys, surveying montane areas) and manage uneven terrain.
• Tactful and sensitive to the needs of individuals and stakeholders.
• Self-motivated and professional with high standards of work.

Full Key responsibilities and tasks and application form are available on their website.

Interviews will be held: Online, week commencing 4th March 2024.

Start date: The successful candidate would ideally start in March 2024.

Application process:

• Your completed application form is to be submitted to: [emailaddress] by the closing date. CVs alone will not be accepted without a completed application form.
• If you have any questions about the role or the application process, contact Marie Harvey. Email: [emailaddress] Telephone: 07784 240270.

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