Two research contracts are offered in a European project for the recovery of European birds

Both positions, which are full-time and have a duration of 2 and a half years, are associated with a technical assistance for the European Commission focused on the recovery of European bird species in non-secure conservation status.

The Research Group in Game Resources and Wildlife Management of the Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC – CSIC, UCLM, JCCM) offers 2 research contracts, to join its headquarters in Ciudad Real (Spain), within the framework of the service contract with the European Commission " Supporting the recovery of bird species of Annex II of the Birds Directive in non-secure conservation status” (REF.: 09.0201/2022/886665/SER/ENV.D.3). This technical assistance led by the IREC will address the study of 42 species from Annex II of the Birds Directive that are in non-secure conservation status, that is, they are in decline, or their population stability is not considered secure enough.

 

Both positions, which are full-time and have a duration of 2 and a half years, are associated with a technical assistance for the European Commission focused on the recovery of European bird species in non-secure conservation status.

Contract for the preparation of reports and scientific-technical works

The main duty of this contract will be to contribute to the successful implementation of the contract. Specific tasks include:

• To liaise with collaborators in different countries and help compile and complete available information on population size, trends, demography (survival, productivity, recruitment), and conservation needs of the 42 relevant species, as well as hunting bag data from the competent authorities of the Member States and other potential sources.
• To compile and analyse information received from Member States about action taken for the conservation of the focus species.
• To draft technical reports, information and supporting documents, particularly focusing on the science-policy interface.
• To participate in meetings with decision makers and stakeholders; to prepare background documentation for those meetings, as well as reports.
• To assist with the general coordination of the contract management consortium, helping ensure the effective and timely completion of all the tasks according to the contract terms.

We are seeking someone with high level of English (written, spoken) and the capacity to work to tight deadlines, with initiative to work independently but knowing when to look for assistance, able to synthesise information searching for general patterns and skilled at dealing with people from different backgrounds and responsibilities, ideally with biological background and knowledgeable about hunting and conservation.

This 2,5-year research contract is linked to an annual gross salary of 33,000 – 39,000 €, depending on qualifications and experience. Interested candidates, please send a CV and motivation letter to carles.carboneras@csic.es and beatriz.arroyo@uclm.es by 14 April, 2023.

Postdoctoral research position

The main duty of this contract will be to assess the sustainability of hunting levels for a variety of migratory game species, including the development of population models (such as Integrated Population Models) to assess population impacts of different hypothetical hunting scenarios.

The researcher will be also based at IREC, but work will be done in close collaboration with the Office Français de la Biodiversité (France) and the University of Aarthus (Denmark), thus it is expected that the recruited person will spend time each year in the OFB offices in France.

The recruited person must hold a PhD in ecology, conservation biology or equivalent, and should have good quantitative ecology background, ideally with experience in population modelling and specifically Integrative Population Models. We are seeking a highly motivated person with strong interest in applied ecology and science-based management, and a neutral and unemotional approach to hunting.

This 2-year research contract is linked to an annual gross salary of 40.000 €. Interested candidates, please send a CV and motivation letter to beatriz.arroyo@uclm.es before 7 April, 2023.