Job Title: Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels

Project Officer North East

Location of Job / Aberdeen: SNH Offices, Torry
Dept/Region / Conservation: Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Project
Reporting to / Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Project Manager

Overall purpose of the job

Lead on the implementation in North East Scotland of the Saving Scotland’sRed Squirrels (SSRS) phase 3 project to protect red squirrels in Aberdeen and surrounding countryside from replacement by grey squirrels.

Main duties

Grey Squirrel Control
  • Co-ordinate the control of grey squirrels in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire to create an integrated grey squirrel control network as outlined in the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project plan.
  • Line manage 3grey squirrel control and survey staff and co-ordinate their activities.
  • Oversee a project trap-loan scheme to assist householders and land managers to carry out grey squirrel control in an integrated control network in North East Scotland, organising training where necessary. Ensure volunteer trapping is reported according to SSRS protocols. Encourage further household uptake of the trap-loan scheme.
  • Support relevantland owners/ managers to renew their Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) funding contracts for grey squirrel control and support them to manage their contracts and report their trapping figures according to SSRS and SRDP protocols
  • Collaborate with control staff to continue a process of innovation and improvement in trapping techniques in the Aberdeen area, working towards maximising the productivity of control staff in working towardsthe long-term aim of eradication of grey squirrels in North East Scotland
Survey and Monitoring
  • Organise annual Spring Presence/Absence Surveys across Aberdeenshire according to the existing protocol and recruit, train and support volunteers to deliver them.
  • Oversee and develop ongoing monitoring using trail cameras and work with staff on innovative approaches for their use in busy urban areas.
  • Identification of squirrel hair samples collected in the surveys and entering survey data into the SSRS spreadsheets.
  • Promote the recording of squirrel distribution records in North East Scotland; check and verify records reported on the SSRS online squirrel reporting page.
  • Organise annual squirrel food abundance surveys to anticipate impacts on grey squirrel abundance.
  • Work with staff to develop a monitoring programme for woodlands affected by the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route
Reporting
  • Ensurecollection and submission of high quality records ontrapping effort and control totals, survey results, landowner co-operation, squirrel distributions and other key information and report these quarterly to the SWT Knowledge & Evidence Officer.
  • Maintain spreadsheets on landowner and householder involvement with the project.
  • Produce update reports for funders to accompany grant claims.
Science-based Recommendations
  • Contribute to the development of analytical techniques to assess effectiveness of the project work in restoring red squirrels to their former range and in reducing grey squirrel occupancy, and to make projections about the timespan to towards complete eradication.
Public Engagement
  • Provide talks, guided walks and training workshops and engage in events to promote active involvement of highly motivated, well-trained volunteers working to carry out practical red squirrel conservation in co-operation with SSRS and sharing their knowledge and skills with others.
  • Undertake publicity to promote understanding among the wider community of red squirrel conservation and grey squirrel control and to encourage the recording and reporting of squirrel sightings.
  • Produce promotional literature and updates in the media, for the project website and Facebook.
Strategy, Organisation and Sustainability
  • Build strong partnership working with project partners and all local stakeholders to deliver the priorities outlined in the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Phase Three project plan.
  • Organise annual meetings of the SSRSNorth East regional steering group.
  • Liaise with Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Project Officers across Scotland, the Scottish Squirrel Group and other national stakeholders to deliver a sustainable Scotland-wide red squirrel conservation strategy.

Key Internal and External Contacts

  • SSRS Project Manager; the SSRS Data Officer and the SWT Knowledge & Evidence Officer
  • SSRS Grey Squirrel Control Officers
  • SSRS Project Officers for Argyll & Trossachs andTayside
  • Scottish Rural Development Programme Case Officers
  • North East Scotland SSRS steering group (includes Forestry Commission Scotland,Scottish Natural Heritage, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, North East Scotland Biodiversity Officer, University of Aberdeen, Scottish Land & Estates, Deeside landowners group, Aberdeen Greenspace
  • Householders, land owners/managers, community councils and local community interest groups, volunteers and individuals.
  • Existing long-term volunteers participating in the trap-loan scheme or annual survey.

Personal specification

Essential Qualifications
  • Degree or equivalent vocational qualification in ecology/countryside management or related discipline.

Essential Experience
  • Minimum two years previous experience in a relevant field and proven ecological field skills
  • Experience in recruiting, motivating, training and supporting volunteer groups and individuals to undertake active conservation work
  • Experience of project development and implementation
  • Experience of standardised surveys and understanding of scientific method.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • Working knowledge of wildlife ecology and conservation, especially mammal population management or invasive species control
  • Excellent organisational and reporting skills: drive and ability to plan and deliver work to deadlines and to monitor progress against targets
  • Ability to work on own initiative and manage own time-table with minimal supervision
  • Maturity to prioritise appropriately, manage difficult issues calmly and maintain an overview of the bigger picture.
  • Highly motivated and able to motivate others
  • Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to communicate with the public, staff and volunteers, colleagues and stakeholders, landowners, estate staff, rangers and foresters.
  • Competent and experienced in using Microsoft Excel
  • Willing to work some evenings and weekends
  • Ability to access and work in woodland sites, some of which are remote
  • Full, clean driving licence.

Advantageous
  • Knowledge of funding applications and claims processes.
  • Staff management experience
  • An aptitude for managing varied datasets with the drive and focus to see that project targets on data collection are met.
  • Experience in the everyday use of mapping software
  • Knowledge of occupancy modelling
  • Experience in PR and working with the media
  • Good writing and reporting skills
  • Knowledge of current legislation relating to mammals

Date / 04/08/16
Author / Mel Tonkin / Project Manager Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels