Flyways Science Officer

BirdLife International; Milton; Hybrid; GBP 31,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

An international environmental organization based in the UK seeks a Flyways Science Officer to contribute to the Global Flyways Programme. Responsibilities include conducting research on migratory birds, providing scientific input, and developing guidance tools. The ideal candidate should have a Master's or PhD in biological or environmental subjects and a strong understanding of biodiversity conservation. The role offers a hybrid working model and a competitive salary along with attractive benefits.

Benefits

Hybrid working model

12% company pension contribution

25 days annual leave

Access to LinkedIn Learning

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in relevant field or equivalent experience.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• High level of fluency in English; other languages beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Support scientific, technical and policy work for conservation.
• Conduct research on migratory birds and conservation issues.
• Lead research efforts and collaborate with partners.

Skills

Good knowledge of global biodiversity conservation

Proficiency in data analysis methods

Strong communication skills

Experience with GIS (preferably ArcMap)

Experience in report-writing

Understanding of spatial data

Education

Master's, or preferably PhD in biological or environmental subjects

Tools

R

Job description

Application deadline: Saturday 10January 2026– 23:59 BST/GMT
Location:Cambridge, UK (hybrid working, minimum one day per week in Cambridge)

Full-time: 35 hours per week
Contract: 1 year fixed term contract with the possibility to extend

Salary: £31,000 - £34,000 per annum depending on skills/experience, plus competitive 12% pension benefit
Annual Leave: 25 days pro rata

We’re BirdLife International, the only global Partnership conserving birds and all life on our planet. We exist to give one voice to nature, and to unite and strengthen conservation across borders.

We are looking for a Flyways Science Officer to support BirdLife’s scientific, technical and science-policy work, relevant to BirdLife’s Global Flyways Programme. In this role you will be providing scientific and technical support to the programme, its initiatives and flyways relevant policy, conducting scientific research to understand the causes of decline and conservation issues for migratory birds, developing guidance tools and reports, and enhancing BirdLife’s data on migratory species and their ecological networks.

How you will do this:

Provide scientific and technical input to the global Flyways Programme and its projects, including initiatives:

• Addressing illegal killing and unsustainable bird taking and other threats and conserving migratory birds, and securing ecological networks.
• Prioritising conservation efforts and securing key sites and ecological networks for migratory birds.
• Leading/contributing to research and analyses, working with collaborators, and publishing findings.
• Supporting science-policy work with international policy agreements to influence relevant policy agendas and government actions.
• Improving BirdLife’s data and develop tools, reports and guidance to support decision-making across a range of users.
• Contributing to scientific and technical support and capacity building re: the flyways work of BirdLife Partners.
• Contributing to contract delivery and reporting for specific flyways relevant contracts.

What we are looking for:

• A Master's, or preferably a PhD in biological or environmental subjects, or equivalent professional experience.
• Good knowledge of global biodiversity conservation issues, specific knowledge of birds would be desirable.
• Understanding of spatial data use in conservation and planning.
• Proficiency in data analysis methods.
• Experience in report-writing, developing research questions and authoring academic papers.
• Proven track record of building and maintaining stakeholder relationships.
• Experience of GIS (preferably ArcMap) and statistical packages like R.
• Understanding of environmental policy is desirable.
• Strong organisational skills, the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in performing repetitive tasks.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written; high level of fluency in English - other languages such as French, Spanish, Arabic beneficial, but not essential.

This role will require occasional travel.

See the full job description here.

Some of our benefits:

• We are able to offer a hybrid model of working on-site and from home/remote for most roles, which helps to ensure a flexible work-life balance.
• A chance to work in the award-winning David Attenborough Building, which brings together much of the Cambridge-based conservation community on a ‘conservation campus.’
• A generous pension scheme, up to 12% company contribution.
• Holiday starting at 25 days excluding Bank Holidays and increasing for every year of service up to a maximum of 28 days.
• Full access to LinkedIn Learning with access to more than 13,000 high-quality, on-demand courses.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme, including access to Health Assured online health portal (webinars, nutritional advice, 4-week programmes, financial wellbeing and more).

BirdLife values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Find out more about our Diversity statement.

We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive and supportive culture, a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We aim to promote a more inclusive environment, which attracts all candidates and signals our commitment to celebrate and promote diversity.

We will consider putting into place appropriate reasonable adjustments for candidates who have a disability.

Interviews:

Interviews will be held online during the weeks of 19 and 26 January 2026.