Salary: £30,000.
Hours: 5 days per week (35 hours)
Duration: Fixed term contract: 20 months (1st Dec 2026- 31st Jul 2028)
Location: Flexible – home-based with some time at a work base at University Centre Cornwall College, Newquay.
This is a fantastic opportunity to work within a successful charity developing a growing Science and Research portfolio. This post is the key team member in a new Natural England funded project working on adders in Cornwall. The project has a steering group who advise and guide the project lead. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to be involved in a wide range of duties within Froglife, including supporting the Head of Science & Research and other members of the research team.
The main focus of the role will be:
- management and successful completion of the Natural England research projects
- identification of sampling sites across Cornwall
- obtaining permission to sample
- training to ensure safe handling of adders and collection of scale clippings
- storage and organisation of samples for different sites and packaging for genetic analysis
- habitat assessment at refugia sites and adder preferences
- creation of 'adders in Cornwall' website
- creation of information about adders for farmers, landowners, gardeners, schools, developers, dog walkers, tourists and the general public
- generation of press and social media material about the project and about adders to enhance their conservation
The post involves co-ordinating collection of scale clippings from 4 different individuals at 30 different sites plus collection of fresh slough material from the general public.
Applicants will be expected to meet the following essential criteria:
- Hold a graduate qualification or have experience of field surveys for snakes
- Experience of managing research projects
- Experience of working in isolation and within a team
- Knowledge of the UK's reptiles and amphibians
- Ability to travel to remote locations in Cornwall to set-up artificial refugia and sample adders
- Understanding of the legislation surrounding UK reptiles and amphibians
- A DBS with no convictions, cautions or warnings
Applications will be strengthened by the following desirable criteria:
- Experience of working with adders in the field
- Experience of field surveys using artificial refugia
- Experience working with landowners and other stakeholders, ideally in Cornwall
- Knowledge and use of QGIS
- Experience of using EXCEL spreadsheets and statistics packages such as R for managing data
- Experience of awareness raising through delivery at conferences or workshops and websites and online material
Further info
This is a fantastic opportunity to work within a successful charity developing a growing Science and Research portfolio. This post is the key team member in a new Natural England funded project working on adders in Cornwall. The project has a steering group who advise and guide the project lead. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to be involved in a wide range of duties within Froglife, including supporting the Head of Science & Research and other members of the research team.
Deadline for applications: 17:00 Monday 5th October 2026
Interview date: Thursday 22nd October 2026 online
Start date: 1st December 2026
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including under-represented groups. We are happy to discuss flexible working options and job-share opportunities and may be able to 'flex' the start date depending on the selection outcome.
Please complete our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion survey here.
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Project Lead: Adders in Cornwall in England employer: El Bichólogo
As a leading conservation employer, we are dedicated to protecting Scotland's vital wildlife habitats while fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Our commitment to employee growth is reflected in our training and development focus, alongside benefits like flexible working hours and generous parental leave, making us an excellent choice for those passionate about environmental conservation. Join us in making a meaningful impact on nature and the communities we serve.
