Seasonal Grey Squirrel Officer

Closing date: Friday 20 January 2023- Salary: £19,838 pro rata per annum
- Contract type: Seasonal / Working hours: Full time- Location: Blairgowrie Business Centre, 9 Reform Street, Blairgowrie, Perth and Kinross, PH10 6BD- CLICK HERE TO APPLYMark Hamblin/2020VISION**Contact details**:
**Title: Seasonal Grey Squirrel Officer (various locations)**

**Status: 35 hours - Full Time, Fixed term (01 February - 31 August 2023)**

**Salary: £19,838 pro rata per annum**

**Location: Various locations (Dunkeld, Strathmore, Strathearn & East Angus)**

**Closing date: 20 January 2023**

**About us**:
For over 60 years, the Scottish Wildlife Trust has worked with its members, partners and supporters in pursuit of healthy, resilient ecosystems across Scotland’s land and seas for the benefit of people and wildlife. The Trust successfully champions the cause of wildlife through policy and campaigning work, demonstrates best practice through practical conservation and innovative partnerships, and inspires people to take positive action through its education and engagement activities.

**The Role**:
Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) is a project to deliver the essential protection measures required to secure the long-term future of red squirrels in Scotland and to ensure that systems are put in place to continue the delivery of these measures over the long term by working with other agencies with a stake in native species conservation and invasive non-native species management. SSRS focuses upon one of our most charismatic and well-loved mammals - the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). Once widespread, red squirrels have undergone a catastrophic population decline primarily due to competition from the non-native invasive, American grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). There is now only c.160,000 red squirrels remaining in the UK of which 120,000 occur in Scotland - 75% of the remaining UK red squirrel population. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) was formed to reverse this decline and create the conditions for this mammal to thrive in future.

As part of this programme we are looking for a self-starter with a love of outdoor working who is experienced in mammal control work and enjoys interacting with people, to fill a Grey Squirrel Officer post. The post will contribute to the project’s co-ordinated landscape-scale approach to reduce grey squirrel numbers in the target areas of** **Dunkeld, Strathmore, Strathearn & East Angus.
- Possess an SVQ/NVQ level 2 or equivalent qualification in Game and Wildlife Management or related discipline **or** relevant experience of game keeping, invasive/non-native mammal or pest control
- Have a good understanding of conservation principles, practices and legislation.
- Have the ability to keep accurate records in Microsoft Excel.
- Be comfortable in lone working situations.
- Experience in relevant trapping with experience of working with foresters, game keepers, landowners/managers and members of the public.
- Have the ability to identify tree species and familiarity with the local area would be advantageous.
- Familiarity with Dunkeld/Blairgowrie-Coupar Angus area

The purpose of this role is to contribute to the implementation of a programme of targeted grey squirrel control to prevent grey squirrel incursion into Scotland’s core “red-only” squirrel populations in highland Scotland in accordance with the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project plan.

Some out of normal hours working will be required and you must possess a full clean driving licence.

**HOW TO APPLY**: