Trapper at RSPB, Kirkwall, Orkney Islands

Trapper x 2
Reference: SEP 2026 2135
Location: Field based work, Orkney (ONWP Office, Kirkwall)
Contract: Fixed Term, Until 31 December 2027
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £30,977.00 - £33,037.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave (Pro-Rata)

Orkney is famous for its landscape, history, culture, and nature. The Orkney Native Wildlife Project (ONWP) aims to protect Orkney’s unique and globally important wildlife, and the benefits that it provides for local people, from an invasive non-native predator: the stoat.

Stoats were first reported in Orkney in 2010. They pose a serious threat to the Orkney vole, a species found nowhere else in the world, and many birds including hen harriers, short-eared owls, red-throated divers, waders, and seabirds. This wildlife supports Orkney’s thriving tourism industry and represents a crucial haven for species which are threatened elsewhere in the UK. It is therefore essential that stoats are removed from Orkney before they do major damage to this unique wildlife.

The project works with hundreds of landowners in the local community to undertake the largest stoat eradication of an inhabited area anywhere in the world. We are implementing comprehensive biosecurity measures alongside the eradication, to reduce the risk of reinvasion and secure a long-term and sustainable legacy for the project.

The project is a partnership between RSPB Scotland, NatureScot and Orkney Islands Council, and is generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and EU LIFE and NatureScot, Nature Restoration Fund (NRF).

About the roles

The posts will be based on the Orkney Islands (Mainland) and be predominantly field-based. We are looking for an experienced mammal trapper with excellent organisation and communication skills to help deliver the stoat eradication operation. You will be joining an existing team of trappers and must be able to work with a professional attitude in a close-knit and diverse team. As this is a field-based position, you must be able to work safely for prolonged periods in outdoor environments across challenging terrain and variable weather conditions, and ensure equipment and materials are transported to field sites, with reasonable adjustments where appropriate.

You will be involved in:

• Checking, cleaning and rebaiting DOC200 and DOC150 kill traps across a network of over 10,000 traps on a regular cycle as part of a team. This will include removing and disposing of catches from traps
• Trap deployment and removal
• Implementing trap and vehicle maintenance schedules
• Ensuring that all necessary trap field and maintenance data are collected and captured into a database
• Assisting in stoat monitoring
• Engaging with landowners to maintain and secure land access agreements across the Orkney Mainland and linked isles
• Other tasks appropriate to the project as required

You will enjoy being outdoors and be able to perform a repetitive task to a consistently high standard. You should be passionate about the natural world. You will be a focused individual with attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate records. You will be able to identify issues and risks as they emerge and communicate these effectively to your team and management. You will have the confidence and ability to inspire trust and support for the project. You will be required to drive ONWP fleet vehicles and will have a full driver’s licence. You should also have experience of working with local communities in a collaborative and sensitive way because a key part of your role will be maintaining good relationships with landowners.

What we need from you:

Essentials

• Able to explain the impacts of invasive non-native species on native wildlife and apply appropriate management approaches in a field conservation setting.
• Able to identify and resolve practical field-based issues independently to maintain delivery of planned work programmes.
• Able to work safely for prolonged periods in outdoor environments, including lone working across remote and challenging terrain.
• Able to organise and prioritise workload, work independently to agreed plans and adapt to changing operational requirements.
• Able to collect, record and maintain accurate field and equipment data using project systems and agreed procedures.
• Able to build and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, landowners and local communities to support project delivery and land access.
• Able to demonstrate practical fieldwork skills relevant to wildlife management, such as animal monitoring, navigation, tracking, trapping or other countryside-based field activities.
• Full, valid driving licence with the ability to drive project vehicles across Orkney Mainland and linked isles.
• Able to follow agreed health, safety and biosecurity procedures while working in remote field locations.

Experience of wildlife monitoring, use of trail cameras, identifying field signs, using mobile mapping applications, 4x4 driving or other practical conservation field techniques would be beneficial.

Additional Information

• These are fixed-term roles until 31 December 2027, full-time roles at 37.5 hours per week
• We reserve the right to extend or make these roles permanent without further advertising, depending on business needs at the end of the contract term.

Closing date: 23:59, Sunday 1st November 2026 
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from early November.

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.

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

The successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

No agencies please.