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Nature is in crisis, and we want to save it through people – all people. We’d love you to join us.

People holding and inspecting wildflowers.
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As an RSPB employee, you will be helping to save nature every time you come to work. There’s never been a more important time to protect our wildlife and wild places, so we want to make sure you feel rewarded for everything you help us to achieve.

Financial benefits

When you work for the RSPB you will receive competitive salary and alongside this we offer some other financial benefits:

Life Assurance: If you’re aged 18 or over and under 75, we protect you with a death in service benefit of five times your annual salary.  Pension contribution match: It’s never too early to start planning for your future, and our defined contribution scheme available to all UK employees makes that easy. The RSPB will match your contributions up to 7%.    Green Loans: Looking to travel in a more environmentally-friendly way? We can offer you interest-free loans to buy a bicycle, a season ticket for public transport.   Discounts: You can receive up to 20% off eligible purchases in our cafes, shops and online stores. Our Staff Association often negotiate discounts on a wide variety of goods and services, including on premium outdoor wear.  Free entry to RSPB nature reserves: With over 170 nature reserves around the UK, we encourage you to take a break in nature by offering free entry to our sites. 
A member of RSPB staff talking to a member of the public with trees in the background.

Family and work-life balance

Flexible working 
We understand the importance of work-life balance and we want your work to suit you. We are advocates of flexible working practices wherever possible. Some roles naturally provide a greater opportunity for flexibility, and we are open to discuss any flexible working arrangement that meets both our needs. Examples include part-time hours, flexible start and finish times, hybrid working, remote working in the UK and compressed hours. 

Carer’s leave 
The RSPB recognises the challenges that carers face while trying to balance the demands of caring, work and looking after their own health. As an organisation, we are committed to doing what we can to help to ensure that the health and wellbeing of employees with caring responsibilities is looked after. You will be entitled to up to five working days (pro-rata if part time) of carer’s leave in any 12-month rolling period. This can be taken in one continuous block, as individual days or as half days. 

Family leave 
The RSPB recognises that balancing family and work can be challenging. We have a range of family friendly policies to support work-life balance and wellbeing. Following 26 weeks of continuous employment with the RSPB, you will be entitled to up to 52 weeks of maternity leave and adoption leave, and two weeks of paternity/partner leave. After one year of continuous employment, employees are entitled to 18 weeks of total shared parental leave per child. We also offer up to five days of family leave for special circumstances. 

Special leave 
The RSPB recognises that, at times, your personal responsibilities may impact on your ability to fulfil your work responsibilities. You will be entitled to paid compassionate leave for up to 10 working days, parental bereavement leave for up to 10 working days, domestic leave of up to two working days and other paid leave of up to five working days. All leave entitlements are pro-rata for part-time employees.

Your holidays

If you are an RSPB employee, your annual leave entitlement includes Public Holidays, which means you can choose to use your Bank Holiday days when it suits you. Our only exceptions are on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and during the December office closures (employees affected will be notified in advance).    We offer leave entitlement above the statutory amount and the opportunity to gain extra days throughout your employment:  Up to three years' service – 34 days total leave per annum   Between three and five years' service – 36 days total leave per annum   Over five years' service – 38 days total leave per annum  Annual leave is prorated for part time employees and for those who start part-way through the year. 
RSPB Conservation Scientist undertaking seabird monitoring work, sat on a cliff with a telescope.

Wellbeing and inclusion

We are committed to making wellbeing an important part of all decision-making in the organisation. We have a dedicated Wellbeing team who strive to identify and understand the causes of impact to wellbeing across the organisation and create solutions to them. 

Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) underpins the work we do to save nature, and it is embedded in our 2030 strategy. We’re committed to making the RSPB somewhere everyone can thrive and live our shared values. 

The RSPB wants to support you to be the best you can be, so we can create a world richer in nature together. As an RSPB employee, you will have access to: 

RSPBeWell Supporters 
The RSPBeWell Supporters are a group of trained and trusted colleagues who can provide one-to-one listening and signpost support for any mental health challenges or workplace wellbeing issues you may face. 

Staff networks and support groups  
The RSPB staff and volunteer networks offer opportunities for colleagues with similar experiences or backgrounds to come together to offer support and advocacy. We have a range of networks and groups, such as our Disability Staff Network, ADHD/ADD Support Group, Beyond Differences: People of Colour Network and our Starlings LGBTQIA+ Staff Network. 

Employee Assistance Programme
Free and confidential assistance for you (and your family members) to help with personal problems. such as physical and mental health, relationships, work, financial or legal issues. This can include up to 10 counselling sessions, as well as access to an online GP service, free will writing and an online app. 

Sickness absence
The RSPB operates an Occupational Sick Pay scheme in addition to Statutory Sick Pay based on length of service, starting at six weeks full pay for the first year of service. 

Health benefits
If you do not qualify for a free flu vaccine, the RSPB will cover your costs. If you’re a VDU user, we will pay for regular eye tests and, where corrective lenses are required, contribute the maximum cost of a basic pair of glasses. 

Volunteering Day 
Everyone gets an extra day of paid leave each year to spend volunteering. This can be for any charity or voluntary organisation – not just for the RSPB. 

Access to nature
With over 170 nature reserves around the UK, we encourage you to take a break in nature by offering free entry to our sites. 

Staff Association
The Staff Association are an independent group of elected employees officially recognised by Management Board and Council. Their purpose is to work with the RSPB to ensure that the organisation cares for its staff and effectively communicates, recognises and rewards, in a way that motivates them.  They advocate for you to use your skills and knowledge for the benefit of the RSPB and its charitable aims. 

At the RSPB we recognise that supporting your own and each other's wellbeing really does make a difference. We are committed to enabling you to be the best you can be, so together we can create a world richer in nature".

Jenny Barrett, Wellbeing Manager

A pair of ducklings stood amongst grass and flowers.

Connection to Nature 

We believe that keeping our people connected to our cause and to nature is fundamental to our success and do this by:   

  • Twice yearly organisation wide updates hosted by our CEO Beccy Speight 

  • Regular spotlight talks from subject matter experts on a wide range of topics and conservation areas 

  • Open sessions with a rotating member of RSPB’s Board providing opportunities to engage and ask questions in small, informal group settings

Career and personal development

We want you to grow while you’re working at the RSPB, and so we offer opportunities for you to develop: ​​​​​

Regular development and performance conversations: You will have scheduled time with your manager to promote open conversations about your goals and progress. This can include support with a high-level qualification or apprenticeship.  eLearning and skills-based training: You will have access to our eLearning platform and will have the opportunity to complete role-related training.  Sabbatical: After five years' continuous service, and each five years thereafter, you will be entitled to a four week sabbatical. This is a unique opportunity to take time away from your day-to-day job to do something different that benefits you, the RSPB or conservation generally. Your sabbatical is a chance for personal and professional growth. The opportunities vary widely: from front-line conservation, and reserves work, to self-led-learning and desk-based projects.   Secondment: This is an opportunity to take on a fixed-term contract to bolster your skills and potentially progress your career, while having the security of a job to return to. Management development pathway: If you’re a new manager in the RSPB, you will take part in our ‘Core Four’ Management Development pathway. This will support your launch into being an RSPB Manager, and will cover coaching skills, guidance on managing performance and HR skills for managers.
You might also be interested in
  1. How the RSPB is run
  2. What we do
  3. How to apply

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