Field Ornithologist

MacArthur Green specialises in providing ecology, ornithology and peat consultancy services for
renewables and grid projects. We are dedicated to helping projects with important benefits to
people and nature succeed, whilst creating a positive environmental legacy through our work.

Our team has strong mix of scientific, commercial and regulatory knowledge and experience. This
ensures that we consistently deliver high quality and pragmatic services and advice.

We require an enthusiastic and knowledgeable ornithologist to join us as a Schedule 1
Licenced Field Ornithologist. The ideal candidate will hold a current or recent
Schedule 1 licence from NatureScot and have a minimum of two years’ worth of relevant
ornithology work experience monitoring Schedule 1 bird species. This role has the potential to
progress to Consultant Ornithologist and whilst it will focus on field work, it will offer
potential desk-based work in future too.

You must have a passion for working outdoors in any weather, and will often be lone working, so
must be confident working independently. Bird survey work involves a mixture of early starts
and late finishes, so you need to be flexible and enjoy variety in your working week. Site
locations can frequently require surveyors to stay away during the week, so you must be
flexible with your time. Accommodation and subsistence expenses will be provided.

You will have experience of, and will carry out the following surveys:

• Breeding raptor and other Schedule 1 species surveys (evidence of holding a current or
  recent Schedule 1 license must be provided);
• Flight activity surveys, breeding bird surveys, black grouse surveys;
• Other specialist ornithological surveys as required.

You may also assist with other types of surveys (training will be provided as necessary):

• Bat surveys;
• Water quality monitoring; and
• Peat depth surveys.

University qualifications are not necessary, but you must be able to demonstrate field
experience, with the following:

• Experience of undertaking ornithology surveys and recording data accurately;
• A current or recent Schedule 1 licence (from NatureScot);
• Experience monitoring Schedule 1 raptors, and other species in Scotland;
• Experience of working in remote outdoor environments (including navigation using compass
  and OS maps);
• Full UK driving license (manual driving essential, 4×4 experience ideal);
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• A flexible and proactive approach to work;
• Self-motivated and keen to learn;
• Live within reasonable commuting distance of the Glasgow office.

The following are not essential but would be beneficial to the role:

• A working knowledge of ornithological guidance, legislation and policy;
• An understanding of the environmental planning system in relation to ornithological impact
  assessments; and
• Strong IT skills including Word and Excel (experience of software such as ArcGIS/QGIS would
  be beneficial).

Benefits

Employment Type: Permanent, full time
Start date: Ideally November or sooner
Salary: Competitive
Holidays: 32 days pro rata
Pension contribution: 3% (based on you contributing the legal minimum of 5%)
Benefits: Life insurance; Income Protection and Critical Illness after one year of service.
Option to take additional unpaid time off (subject to client commitments). Enhanced maternity,
paternity and adoption leave pay.

We devote time and resource to supporting and developing our team. We offer solid training and
career development opportunities, monthly walk and talk catch ups with your line manager, and
annual appraisals. Depending on your passion to progress and the time you have available, we
will work with you to develop your specialism and valuable sector knowledge.

Send your CV and covering letter to: [email protected]

Deadline: Friday 20th September 2024, 12:00

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early. Please submit your application as soon as
possible. No recruitment consultants please.

MacArthur Green is an equal opportunities employer.

A bit more about us

Through the work we do and the way we operate, we aim to have an enduring positive
environmental legacy. We are doing this in three ways: we deliver projects which have a
positive environmental impact, we support research projects relevant to sustainable
development, and we minimise and offset our carbon footprint in a biodiversity positive way. We
have planted a native woodland scheme in Argyll (almost 30,000 trees). This will deliver a
biodiversity rich nature-based solution to tackling the climate emergency.