EFS Monitoring Officer – Antrim Plateau in Belfast

This organisation is looking for a fieldworker to undertake a range of habitat and breeding wader surveys across a range of farmland habitats in the Antrim Hills, one of the last remaining strongholds for breeding waders in Northern Ireland.

Location: Antrim Hills

Contract: Fixed-term, 4 Months

Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £27,123.00 - £28,956.00 Per Annum, Pro Rata

Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave

What's the role about?

• Undertaking habitat surveys to assess the condition and suitability of breeding wader habitat.
• Conducting modified Brown and Shepard breeding wader surveys to identify and record breeding behaviour of key wader species.
• Timely and accurate reporting of data to an online portal and archiving of paper field sheets.
• Maintaining effective relationships with landowners, tenants and the public, to ensure effective project delivery.

This survey work is part of the Antrim Hills Curlew Initiative (AHCI), a Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) funded project to create and maintain suitable breeding wader habitat in the Antrim Hills to safeguard breeding waders.

What this employer needs from you:

• Degree level qualification in a relevant subject or ability to show equivalent work experience.
• Sufficient understanding of species and habitats of the project area.
• A good knowledge of breeding wader ecology.
• An understanding of the Environmental Farming Scheme/Agri Environment Schemes.
• Ability to collect data in the field and record online.
• Ability to work effectively as a team player.
• Proficient at using Microsoft Office packages including Outlook, Excel & Word.
• Full driving licence.

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

• Demonstrable practical field skills of waders in breeding habitat, particularly of Curlew and Lapwing, by sight and sound.
• Competency in use of GIS.
• Understanding of the concept of landscape scale conservation and the pressures on land use in the operational area of this role.

Additional information:

• This is a Fixed-Term role (4 months) for 37.5 hours per week.
• This role will involve lone working, working in remote locations, across challenging terrain sometimes in inclement weather.
• This role will require weekend, early morning and evening working so will need someone who is able to be flexible.
• This employer reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

Closing date: 23:59, Monday, 9th February 2026

The employer is looking to conduct interviews for this position from 18th February 2026.

Interested? To find out more information, please click the apply button. You will be taken to a simple CHM Recruit form and then redirected to complete your application for this position.

This employer is committed to developing an inclusive and diverse charity, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve their 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, they are particularly interested in receiving your application.

These roles are not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicants will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

Our client is an equal opportunities employer. These roles are covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence of how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above. You will be able to contact to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

No agencies please.