At a Glance
- Tasks: Help protect Scotland's red squirrels by controlling grey squirrel populations in beautiful outdoor settings.
- Company: Join a passionate team dedicated to wildlife conservation in South West Scotland.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working hours, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and training in wildlife management practices.
- Why this job: Be part of an impactful conservation project while working outdoors and engaging with the community.
- Qualifications: Experience in mammal control or related fields; passion for wildlife conservation is a must.
The predicted salary is between 25095 - 25095 £ per year.
The Grey Squirrel Control Officer will contribute to a programme of targeted grey squirrel control to protect key populations of Scotland’s red squirrels, in accordance with the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels plan to protect red squirrels in priority landscapes in South West Scotland. This role requires an individual with experience in mammal control work who enjoys working outdoors, is approachable, and enjoys interacting with people.
Key Responsibilities and Duties
- Delivering grey squirrel control, including supporting grey squirrel control volunteers and Red Squirrel Networks in the SSRS Priority Areas for Red squirrel Conservation.
- Carrying out targeted and strategic grey squirrel control in agreed areas according to the SSRS project’s Standard Operating Procedures.
- Working collaboratively with other Grey Squirrel Control Officers, area volunteer group(s) and external organisations.
- Assisting with training new volunteers to take on the roles of monitoring and control activities.
- Providing opportunities for new trainees to work with you on your trap‐rounds to ensure they are capable of working to SSRS standards on private or publicly-held land and understand the principles of trapping for grey squirrel management.
- Where required, carrying out monitoring to assess squirrel presence e.g. feederbox camera traps.
- Working with the Lead Control Officer to deliver training sessions, where required, to new SSRS staff, volunteers and/or land managers in all aspects of best practice grey squirrel control, Rapid Response Monitoring and Squirrel Pox Sampling techniques.
- Assisting the SSRS Lead Control Officer and SSRS Communications Officer, as needed, in responding to enquiries from the public regarding grey squirrel control for red squirrel conservation.
The Successful Candidate Will
- Possess an SVQ/NVQ level 2 or equivalent in Game and Wildlife Management or related discipline or relevant experience of game keeping, invasive/non‑native mammal control or pest control.
- Have a good understanding of conservation principles, practices and legislation.
- Be able to keep and maintain accurate records in Word and Excel.
- Have relevant previous experience, together with experience working with landowners, gamekeepers, foresters and the public.
- Possess knowledge of forest and native tree species and familiarity with the Dumfries area.
- Be willing to occasionally work out of normal working hours.
- Possess a full clean driving licence.
We are an equal opportunity employer. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and supported by project partners and the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot.
Grey Squirrel Control Officer in Dumfries employer: Scottish Wildlife Trust
As a Grey Squirrel Control Officer with us, you will be part of a dedicated team committed to the conservation of Scotland's red squirrels in the beautiful landscapes of Dumfries and Galloway. We offer a supportive work culture that values collaboration and community engagement, alongside opportunities for professional growth through training and volunteer coordination. Enjoy the flexibility of working outdoors while making a meaningful impact on local wildlife conservation efforts.
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We think this is how you could land Grey Squirrel Control Officer in Dumfries
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We think you need these skills to ace Grey Squirrel Control Officer in Dumfries
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for a role in environmental engineering tech, make sure to highlight your technical skills like CAD software proficiency, data analysis, or modelling techniques. These are essential for the job and should stand out in your CV and cover letter, showing how you can contribute to projects at Scottish Wildlife Trust.
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Tailor Your Application to the Role:Don't just send a generic CV and cover letter. Make sure to tailor your application to the specific role of Grey Squirrel Control Officer at Scottish Wildlife Trust. Highlight experiences that align directly with the job description and give concrete examples of your work to demonstrate that you’re the right fit for a full-time position.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Scottish Wildlife Trust
✨Brush Up on Environmental Regulations
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest environmental regulations and standards. In an environmental engineering tech role at Scottish Wildlife Trust, you might be asked specific questions about compliance measures, so understanding these will definitely give you an edge.
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Prepare to demonstrate your proficiency with relevant tools and software, such as AutoCAD or GIS. You might be given a practical problem to solve during the interview, so it’s a great idea to brush up on these skills and perhaps even bring a portfolio of your projects to showcase your technical prowess.
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