Scientific Officer (Ornithology) – Belfast (Clare House).

Position: Scientific Officer – Ornithology Team

Pay Rate: £17.43 per hour

Hours: Full time, 37 hours

The successful candidate will normally be required to work5 days each week, totalling 37 hours (excluding lunch break).On occasions the duties may include some evening and weekend working. DAERA operates a flexi working system

Duration: Until 25/01/2026, with possibility of extension

Start Date: ASAP

Location: These posts are based in Clare House, 303 Airport Road West, Belfast, BT3 9ED.

Application of the NICS Hybrid Working Policy may involve a mixture of home and office working by agreement with management.

Job Duties:

 This post relates to Departmental responsibility for ornithology matters relating to wild bird conservation. This may include: preparing responses to planning or casework consultations, information requests related to dealing with avian influenza in wild birds, undertaking fieldwork (bird counts) on own or as part of a team, adding raw data online or to ArcGIS to display data, attending meetings representing the Department on ornithology matters, responding to other general correspondence related to ornithology.

Essential Criteria:

• 5 GCSE’s A*-C including Maths and English and one science subject (must be able to show evidence)

AND

• 2 years continuous experience gained within the last 8 years in a paid, voluntary or academic capacity associated with the conservation or assessment of our natural terrestrial or freshwater heritage (ecosystems, habitats or species), such as in one or a combination of the following:

  • Knowledge of NI wildlife legislation
  • Experience of species and habitats management/restoration
  • Conducting ecological surveys (including mapping, recording and monitoring of scientific data)
  • Professional standard report writing and preparation

Desired Experience: 

• A good ecological and botanical knowledge base, preferably with some ornithological knowledge relating to Northern Ireland’s avifauna and experience of using ArcGIS to display data.
• Some fieldwork may be required for instance to undertake bird counts so a full driving licence and access to a motor vehicle is desirable.

*The successful applicant will be required to complete an Access NI during registration*

If interested, please send across your CV to anna.quinn@therecruitmentco.uk