Conservation Detection Dog Handler
Location: Orkney Native Wildlife Project – Kirkwall Office
Salary: £30,075.00 - £32,108.00 Per Annum
Contract: Fixed-Term until 31st December 2029
Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week
The Orkney Native Wildlife Project aims to safeguard the unique and internationally important native wildlife of Orkney and the benefits it provides for local people and the economy by addressing the threat it faces from an invasive non-native predator: the stoat.
What's the role about?
Stoat detection dogs are an integral part of the project. We are looking for experienced conservation detection dog handlers.
Key tasks include:
* The homing, day to day care, welfare, and ongoing training of one or two stoat scat detection dogs.
* Performing searches for signs of stoats for biosecurity on islands presumed to be stoat-free
* Performing search and track operations as part of the eradication in collaboration with the Trapping Team.
* Collaboration, and working the dogs with members of the trap team who are trained to search with the dogs.
* Close and careful communication with landowners to access permission to perform dog searches.
* Contributing towards protocols, methodologies and welfare documents
* Close liaison with port authorities and hauliers, in collaboration with the project Biosecurity Manager. At times this may involve working ‘out of hours’ or at one of the mainland Scotland ports connecting with Orkney.
* Providing dog demonstrations to community groups in collaboration with other members of the project
* Working with the Communications Manager to provide content for publicity using the dogs.
What we need from you:
Essentials:
* Experience of handling a working dog, ideally in detection work.
* Strong navigational skills including GPS use and ability to read OS maps.
* Comfortable walking long distances over difficult terrain and working for prolonged periods in the field.
* Willing to undertake surveys independently on remote islands, including overnight stays.
* Ability to use own initiative to solve day-to-day problems in the field.
* Willing to work flexible hours, be self-motivated and work efficiently within a defined work plan.
* Able to work positively and collaboratively within a team
* Skilled use of Microsoft office and ability to accurately collect and manage field data.
* Verbal communication skills to develop and maintain good relations with colleagues, landowners, local communities and members of the public.
* Full Drivers Licence valid for use in the UK
Closing date: 23:59, Mon, 28th Jul 2025
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from early August.
Apply HERE
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