Breeding Wader Monitoring Officers x5

Location: Londonderry

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Breeding Wader Monitoring Officers x5
Reference: JAN
Location: Lough Erne, x2 Lough Beg x1 or Antrim Hills x2
Contract: 5x Fixed-Term, 6 months Contracts
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 (pro rata)
Our client is looking for enthusiastic individuals with experience in monitoring breeding birds to fill seasonal posts monitoring breeding wader populations in Lough Erne (2 posts), Lough Beg (1 post) and the Antrim Hills (2 posts). Funded through the PEACEPLUS Nature Programme, these areas are three of the last remaining strongholds for Northern Irish curlews and other breeding waders.
PEACEPLUS is a cross-border funding Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and supported by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland administration.
PEACEPLUS Nature is an ambitious €20.8 million project that will bring together nine partners to tackle the decline in priority species and habitats across Northern Ireland and bordering counties.
The project will work to restore lowland wet grassland and limestone grassland and priority species from breeding waders to Marsh Fritillary Butterfly, as well as support peatland restoration works.
In partnership with Bird Watch Ireland, Butterfly Conservation, Monaghan County Council, River Blackwater Catchment Trust, Truagh Development Association, Lough Neagh Partnership, NI Water and An Taisce - The National Trust for Ireland, our client will work to deliver this.
What's the role about?
Breeding wader species in the UK have seen major population declines due to large-scale landscape changes which have resulted in habitat loss and increased generalist predator numbers. Northern Ireland's curlews have declined by 82% since the 1980 s, with only an estimated 250 pairs left we are in a race against time to stabilise and reverse this population decline. Following the awarding of funding through the EU s PEACEPLUS Nature programme, this charity aims to deliver landscape-scale conservation at Lough Erne, Lough Beg and the Antrim Hills.

This is a fantastic opportunity to play your part in delivering this organisation's conservation work within landscapes rich in wildlife and important for people.
Key activities for all three locations will include:

• Conducting breeding wader surveys following either the modified O'Brien & Smith (Lough Erne and Lough Beg) or Brown and Shepherd (Antrim Hills) methodologies.
• Conducting habitat mapping and assessments.
• Conducting predator scat surveys.
• Data entry and upkeep.
• Developing and maintaining relationships with private land-owners and other stakeholders.

What the employer needs from you
Essential Skills, Knowledge and

Experience:

• You will have working knowledge of the wildlife and habitats of the areas and experience in bird surveys and monitoring.
• Ability to identify a wide range of breeding birds by sight and sound, specifically waders.
• Ability to undertake demanding fieldwork in remote areas for long hours and in poor weather.
• Ability to navigate using a map, compass and GPS.
• Strong data management skills, ensuring accurate and legible record-keeping and data entry.
• A full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and access to a vehicle for the duration of the contract

Desirable Skills, Knowledge and

Experience:

• Experience of undertaking breeding wader surveys
• Practical experience of quantitative habitat surveys.
• Experience of managing volunteers
• Knowledge of conservation delivery mechanisms such as agri-environment schemes.

Additional Information:

• These roles are Fixed-Term Full-Time posts, working 37.5 hours per week for a period of 6 months.
• This employer reserves the right to extend or make these positions permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

Closing date: 23:59, Sunday 8th February 2026
This employer is looking to conduct interviews for these positions from Tuesday 17th February…