Something for the weekend: Charity organisation the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has started its search for a ferret trapping co-ordinator for a small island off the north coast of Northern Ireland.
The job is part of the seabird restoration project Rathlin Acting for Tomorrow, based at the nature reserve on Rathlin Island, which is only six miles wide and one mile long, and home to around 150 people. Ferrets were introduced in the 1980s as a way to combat the rabbit population, but have since been the cause of the island’s bird population numbers declining.
Over the course of two years, the successful candidate will spend extended time on the island throughout the project, particularly during the winter months, and work as part of a team to deliver ferret eradication.
They will review trapping data and adapt the project as required, routinely audit trap locations, condition, use and checks by the ferret team, review health and safety requirements and practices to ensure all staff and volunteers are working to regulations, provide reports on progress, and assist with final reporting and preparation of publications.
In order to be considered as a ferret trapping co-ordinator for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, applicants should have experience working and living on islands with small communities or in isolated locations, and be prepared to adapt to all kinds of weather and changes in work schedules. A degree or equivalent relevant work experience in the area of specialism is also required, while a keenness to embrace new techniques to facilitate the development of the island’s restoration will be looked upon favourably.
Benefits include a salary of between £26,180 and £29,043 per annum, a pension, life assurance and annual leave.
Here at Employee Benefits, we think this job will be ideal for someone with a nose for sniffing out pests, and who enjoys the bracing benefits of small island life!