Big Garden Birdwatch Data Scientist

We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and skilled team-member to join the Monitoring Science team at the RSPB Centre for Conservation Science. We are seeking an experienced data scientist with a strong analytical, coding and data visualisation skills, to coordinate the development of Big Garden Birdwatch science for the next two years.

In addition, the postholder will contribute to the Centre’s overall role in establishing the scientific basis of RSPB policy and practice in nature conservation.

What's the role about?

The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch (BGBW) is a large-scale citizen science survey, with fixed protocols, which provides a snapshot of garden bird populations in winter. Originally launched as an annual activity for RSPB youth members in 1979, BGBW was opened to the wider public in 2001. Over a long weekend every January, participants survey their gardens for birds following a structured 1-hour count. With over 300,000 surveys now submitted annually, BGBW is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey.

The BGBW dataset now holds over seven million surveys, representing more than 300 million species counts and we are looking for a Senior Conservation Scientist to coordinate the design, development and publication of BGBW science. This unique new role will:

• build on the existing findings by the development of summary statistics and through spatiotemporal analysis of species counts and trends,
• unlock the power of this huge dataset to investigate ecological and environmental drivers of species trends and apply this knowledge to guide conservation action,
• publish findings in peer-reviewed journals,
• enhance participant engagement by investigating and implementing innovative data summary and visualisation tools and accessible and attractive scientific outputs,
• develop and implement an analytical pipeline to generate annual results and associated outputs,
• develop recommendations to inform and enhance the survey design and experience,
• collaborate closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure integration and impact.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

1. You will have a PhD in a relevant subject (e.g. ecology, biology, geography, applied statistics) with a strong analytical focus, or equivalent experience, and substantial additional experience doing relevant research.
2. You will have specialist and up-to-date knowledge of how to use and apply ecological models, such as time-series or spatiotemporal analysis, including complex analytical procedures, to enable innovative, robust analysis and interpretation to data.
3. You will have strong coding skills, including fluency in R, high standards of reproducible research, experience producing analytical pipelines and ability to learn new approaches or languages.
4. Knowledge of how to provide practical and scientific leadership and guidance in a particular scientific area.
5. You will be self-motivated and able to work efficiently under pressure to meet deadlines, and prioritise your own working schedule. This necessitates the ability to plan and organise your own work.
6. You will have a methodical and rigorous approach to experimental design, data collection, data management and analysis, ensuring data and results pass peer-reviewed standards of scrutiny and audit.
7. You will be a skilled collaborative, adaptable worker and communicator, with experience working with a range of stakeholders.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

1. You will have experience in collecting, curating and analysing large complex data sets, preferably citizen science or biodiversity monitoring data.
2. You will have experience in developing novel approaches to audience appropriate data visualisation.
3. You will exhibit project design to a robust scientific standard, forecasting the necessary time scales, which could range from weeks to years.
4. You will be an effective communicator, tailoring high quality written and visual materials for a range of audiences and using a range of communications channels to share ideas and project results.
5. You will have a demonstrable track record of scientific publication.
6. You will have knowledge of garden bird ecology and factors impacting their populations, set in a broader knowledge of ecological principles and current scientific issues relevant to conservation.

Additional Information:

• The location of the role is flexible within the UK; however, occasional travel to meet team members or collaborators, often at the RSPB HQ in Bedfordshire or in Cambridge, would be expected.
• This is a Fixed-Term, Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week, for 2 years.
• The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.
• Benefits: Pension scheme (7%), Life Assurance scheme, 26 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays)

Closing date: 23:59, Tuesday, 9th September 2025
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from late-September.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

As part of this application process, you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

No agencies please.