Conservation Project Officer

Dr Alison Dunn, in the School of Biology, and Dr Claire Quinn, in the Sustainability Research Institute, direct the project ‘Reducing the risk of the introduction and spread of INNS to and within the river catchments of Yorkshire and across Great Britain’. Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) are major drivers of environmental change and threaten ecosystem services, with increasing economic costs (~£1.7bn p.a. to GB). Once INNS become established it is often impractical and expensive to manage them. The most effective response is robust biosecurity to prevent their introduction and spread. You will work with our environmental partner organisations to identify key invasion risks and pathways, develop effective and pragmatic biosecurity practices and deliver resources and training to slow the spread of invasive species.

You will be part of a multidisciplinary team, with expertise in invasive species impacts, methods of slowing the spread of INNS and in perceptions, knowledge and decision making in relation to biosecurity. You will work in close collaboration with a range of environmental partners including, the Environment Agency (EA), Yorkshire Water (YW), Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT), Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA), Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NAONB), Natural England (NE), Forestry Commission (FC), National Trust (NT), Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust (YDRT), Ribble Rivers Trust (RRT) and Dales to Vale River Network (DVRN).

You will have a first degree/Masters in a relevant area, with a background in conservation. You will work closely and interactively with a team of scientists, environmental managers and practitioners, as such you will need excellent communications skills and strong experience of working with one or more of our environmental partners. You will also have a commitment to publishing scientific papers and/or scientific/conservation reports.

Please note that there is no fixed base for this position; your week will be split between the University of Leeds (2-3 days per week), the offices of Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (1 day per week) and other partner organisations (1-2 days per week). You will also be required to travel regularly between Yorkshire based sites and occasionally, some nationally based sites.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Dr Alison Dunn, Reader in Evolutionary Ecology

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 2856, email: a.dunn@leeds.ac.uk