Are you passionate about wildlife? Do you have the skills to share your knowledge with others and help use wildlife to create a nature-based sense of place where they live? RSPB is lead partner in Cumbria Connect www.connectfornature.org.uk, one of the largest nature recovery programmes in the UK. With £4.1 million funding from the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme, this initiative began in 2023 and is starting to restore nature across 42,000 hectares of eastern Cumbria - an area larger than Birmingham - stretching from Penrith to Kendal and encompassing the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. Cumbria Connect is bringing wildlife back: we want our landscapes to be alive with the colour and sound of life. We are reintroducing endangered species such as water voles, black grouse, glow worms and wood ant, recovering species like curlew, marsh fritillary butterfly and red squirrel and looking to expand population of missing species such as pine marten and wild beaver. We are also doing work to manage populations of species having a negative impact on nature like deer and mink. What's the role about? To help us build trust and support in local communities, we are now recruiting for a new role of Community Wildlife Officer. You will be the face of wildlife across our programme area for our key audiences (farmers, residents, visitors and businesses) using your wildlife skills and love for people to make wildlife welcome in the places where people live and involve them in our work. You may have a background in ecology or have come from a social/community sector and combine a personal interest in wildlife with your passion for people. Working with the rest of the Cumbria Connect team and our partners you will develop and deliver a programme of wildlife-centred, community-based activities and initiatives to raise awareness of and support for our work. Essential skills, knowledge and experience: Qualification in a related conservation or social/community subject, or equivalent work experienceKnowledge of UK wildlife, wildlife identification and simple biological survey and monitoring techniques suitable for citizen scienceExperience in community engagement and working with diverse audiencesExperience of delivering events, workshops and training events to different audiences, organising/leading volunteers and dealing with people face to face Knowledge of risk management and safeguarding issues related to working the publicGood organisational, administrative, communication skills (written and verbal), report writing, and IT skills (Microsoft office) design skills (i.e. Canva), familiar with use of social media for communicationsGood interpersonal skills, with a responsible, team-oriented approach to workCurrent full driving licence valid for use in the UK Desirable skills, knowledge and experience: Knowledge of farming, forestry, and other land management and pressures affecting farmers and rural communitiesQualification in wildlife identificationCreation of communications materials via platforms such as website CMS systems, Mass email platforms and printed formatsCurrent First Aid at Work certificateUnderstanding of Social Behavioural Science principles and participatory approaches to community engagement This is a Fixed-Term role for 37.5 hours per week until 31st March 2028. The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term. We are provisionally looking to conduct interviews for this position on 15th May 2025. For further information or to chat about the role please contact Martin Varley - martin.varleyrspb.org.uk or call 07568 116392 As part of this application you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete a short form. If you wish to provide a cover letter with your application, please include this at the end of your CV document upload. We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application. The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.