Research Assistant (Merlin)

• Type of appointment: Fixed term, 2 years (1 Oct 2026 - 30 Sep 2028)
• Reporting to: Dr Philip Warren, Senior Scientist
• Location: The Coach House, Eggleston, County Durham
• Hours of work: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week over 5 days, but flexible working required. Annual leave allowance is 27 days plus public holidays
• Salary: £25,000 - £26,000
• Generous pension and medical insurance on completion of probation

Job purpose

The GWCT is seeking a Research Assistant to join our Upland Research team to support the delivery of a new merlin research project in northern England, based out of the Trust’s office in Eggleston, near Barnard Castle. The post will support project delivery through collecting field data, data entry, and the preparation of reports. This position is ideally suited to a graduate in Ecology or a related discipline, or an individual with equivalent practical experience, who is looking to develop hands-on skills in wildlife research. We seek an individual who can demonstrate a high level of professionalism and reliability, can work independently once trained, with proven experience of field research in arduous conditions, and work effectively within a small research team.

Who will you be working with?

• Senior Scientist – Upland Research
• Head of Upland Research
• Upland Research Team, and wider GWCT Research Community
• External partners and stakeholders, including land managers, local raptor workers and Natural England

Key accountabilities and responsibilities

• Support the merlin research project, through field data collection, sample processing, and data handling following agreed protocols and Health and Safety procedures.
• Undertake a wide range of field-based and desk-based survey work, including collecting field measures from merlin breeding habitats, sourcing data on non-burn heather areas, and mapping these in ArcGIS.
• Collating data from GPS-tagged individuals, monitoring movements and survival following agreed protocols and Health and Safety procedures.
• Data entry and management, ensuring accuracy and consistency, contributing to data management, preparation, and extraction to support the preparation of reports and scientific publications.
• With research colleagues, plan and manage day-to-day tasks effectively, balancing fieldwork, data management, and reporting requirements.

Person specification

Essential

• Degree or equivalent academic qualification and experience in Ecology, Environmental Science, Conservation Biology or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
• Willingness and ability to undertake extensive fieldwork in varied conditions, work flexible and unsocial hours (including weekends) and spend time away from home.
• Strong organisational skills, with attention to detail in data collection and management.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and disciplines.
• Basic skills in data handling, reporting and use of databases or spreadsheets.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Experience of ecological field surveys.

Desirable

• Experience using GIS or data management software.
• Familiarity with upland land management with knowledge of contemporary management issues.
• Experience of handling wildlife for research purposes.
• Off-road driving experience/qualifications an advantage.
• UK upland plant identification skills.

How to apply

If you would like to apply for this role, then please send your CV and a supporting email outlining your suitability for the position to Dr Philip Warren, Senior Scientist, at pwarren@gwct.org.ukby Friday 17 July 2026.