Overview

The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC) seeks an experienced ecologist to manage an exciting new project, “Recovering the pool frog, England’s rarest amphibian”. Thanks to a substantial award from Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund, ARC is initiating this project to enhance the conservation status of the pool frog (Pelophylax lessonae) in England. The pool frog is currently found at only two sites in Norfolk, having been reintroduced from Sweden after going extinct in the 1990s. This new project will include habitat restoration, captive rearing, monitoring, volunteer engagement, communications, and planning future pool frog reintroductions. It will involve working with a wide range of partners, including regulators, landowners, volunteers and researchers. The post requires an understanding of amphibian conservation as well as project management. The post requires a considerable amount of planning, reporting and financial management, as well as line managing two seasonal posts (Project Officer and Project Assistant, in post for approximately 9 and 6 months respectively.)

The post will be home-based, and the post-holder will be expected to either live in or be able to travel regularly to the Thetford (Norfolk) area for meetings and fieldwork, so own transport is necessary. Some travel will be required within the Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincolnshire area, and occasional visits to ARC’s offices in Surrey and Dorset. Travel expenses and home working expenses will be paid, and IT equipment will be provided.

Salary: £27,500 plus pension
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week,
Contact: Fixed term contract starting as soon as possible and ending 31 March 2022, with possibility of extension subject to funding
Location: Home-based, within easy reach of the Thetford (Norfolk) area
Reporting to: Conservation Director, ARC

The main duties are as follows:

  • Planning and reporting on project progress internally to ARC and to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF).
  • Overseeing the project budget and risk register.
  • Establishing project evaluation methods.
  • Delivering major elements of the project directly, including: leading on captive rearing, monitoring, volunteer engagement, habitat restoration, communications, future reintroduction planning including up-scaling production of pool frog stock and liaison with landowners.
  • Line managing a Project Officer and Project Assistant to deliver, or assist with delivery of, certain elements of the project, focusing on monitoring, captive rearing, and volunteer engagement.

Note: because this post involves captive management and field surveys for legally protected amphibians for which there are particular concerns over pathogen risks, the post would not suit someone who currently keeps non-native amphibians at home, unless they are willing to comply with strict biosecurity protocols.

How to apply: For further information please download the Job Description and Person Specification below.

Please email a covering letter explaining your interest in the role and how you meet the person specification, plus a completed application form to Angela Reynolds at angela.reynolds@arc-trust.org

Closing date: 12.00 midday on Thursday 21 January 2021.

Interviews date: held online in the week commencing 1 February 2021.

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact Jim Foster (jim.foster@arc-trust.org).

Useful documents:

Job Description and Person Specification (PDF)

Application Form (Word Document)

Equal Opportunities Policy (PDF)