Project Officer - Identifying the impact of recent fragmentation of common toads in England

Job title:

Project officer ‘Identifying the impact of recent fragmentation of common toad (Bufo bufo) populations in England’ (part time, 0.8FT role, flexible working hours are available)

Salary:

£30,000 pro rata (0.8 FT = £24,000) p.a. plus pension scheme

Fixed term contract:

18 months from 1 October 2026 to 30 April 2028

To be employed by:

Amphibian and Reptile Groups of UK (ARG UK)

Location:

flexible

Reporting to:

Coordinator, ARG UK; Science Officer, Froglife (plus collaborating with modellers at UKCEH)

An exciting new opportunity has arisen as part of our joint conservation programme for the common toad. Amphibian and Reptile Groups of UK (ARG UK) and Froglife are seeking a project officer to lead on a new Natural England funded Species Recovery Programme (SRP) project, ‘Identifying the impact of recent fragmentation of common toad (Bufo bufo) populations in England’. You will work closely with ARG UK, Froglife, the modelling team at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), volunteers from local amphibian and reptile groups (ARGs), and Froglife’s ‘Toads on Roads’ toad patrollers.

The project will quantify changes in the number of breeding ponds and terrestrial habitat of a declining native amphibian, the common toad, in five counties in England from the 1990s to the present day. Known breeding ponds will be mapped and historic and current aquatic habitat, terrestrial habitat and aquatic-terrestrial connection measured and modelled. Changes in study landscapes within each region of the country will be compared with regional changes in common toad populations. The project officer will also coordinate and support local citizen scientists and ARG volunteers to survey known breeding ponds to establish their present day use by the common toad and other amphibians.

You will need to have experience of modelling, statistics and spatial data processing, notably working with R and GIS, have excellent communication and organisation skills and enjoy working with people.

The post will involve some day and night-time amphibian and pond survey fieldwork at sites in each of the five counties and workshops at scientific meetings, which will involve occasional overnight stays, so the ability to travel to remote sites is essential.

How to apply

A full job description and person specification are set out below. If you think this meets your skills, please write a cover letter explaining why you would like to be considered for this role and enclose a copy of your CV, and return it to Angela Julian ([email protected]) by Monday 24^th August at 17:00.

Please complete the subject box of the email with: FCTP followed by your full name

We expect to hold initial interviews on Friday 18^th September 2026 by Zoom.

If you have any questions about the role please contact Angela Julian ([email protected]).

Job Description

The role will encompass the following activities:

• Establishing the status of historic common toad ponds, to determine whether they continue to be used by common toads.


• Map historic breeding ponds and current ponds and model connectivity with terrestrial landscapes using the amph4pop model (https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/documents/579dde20-47ae-4e32-ad24-037fadd8da25)  to determine the degree of fragmentation of aquatic-terrestrial habitat connectivity for common toad breeding populations.


• Compare changes in connectivity in each region with regional changes in common toad populations based on data from Froglife’s Toads on Roads project and other amphibian recording schemes.


• Liaise with land owners and land managers to enable volunteers to access pond sites for amphibian survey and monitoring purposes.


• Liaise with volunteers and citizen scientists to identify ponds for survey, and support access and surveying, including ensuring health and safety and other safeguarding considerations are met.


• Liaise with line managers concerning project administration and budgeting. Presenting monthly expenses and payments to line managers and the FCTP steering group.


• Providing line managers and the FCTP steering group with monthly email updates, and quarterly reporting on activities undertaken by the project.


• Undertake occasional day and night-time amphibian and pond surveys at sites in each of the five counties mainly during the toad migration period.


• Co-ordinate, set up and staff project workshops at three or more scientific meetings.

Person Specification:

Essential

• A degree to at least undergraduate level in a biological, conservation or environmental science subject.


• Experience in computer modelling and use and understanding of GIS and the R statistical package.


• First rate communication skills.


• Experience of working with volunteers and the wider public and an understanding of the contribution volunteering makes to the charity sector.


• Experience of developing, organising and delivering training activities.


• Proven project management skills.


• To be a self-starting and positive team player, who is accessible and communicative.


• Able to complete field and aquatic surveys in sometimes remote locations across the UK.


• To apply, you must have the demonstrable legal right to work in the UK. We are unable to sponsor visas for this role.

Desirable

• A knowledge of and passion for amphibians and reptiles.


• Experience of terrestrial and aquatic ecological surveys, preferably including field experience of amphibian surveys.


• Ability to find creative solutions to problems, to be influential and persuasive.


• Experience of working in voluntary/NGO sector.


• Track record of partnership projects in nature conservation.


• Current driving licence and use of a vehicle for business purposes.

About ARG UK

Amphibian and Reptile Groups of UK (ARG UK) is a registered charity (number 1165504) committed to the conservation of native amphibians and reptiles and their natural environment by supporting the development of a network of independent volunteer amphibian and reptile groups (ARGs).

About Froglife

Froglife is a national wildlife conservation charity registered charity in England & Wales (no. 1093372) and Scotland (no. SC041854), concerned with the conservation of the UK’s reptile and amphibian species and their associated habitats. Our holistic approach to nature conservation enables us to take individuals on a wildlife journey, whilst also delivering amazing results for our amphibian and reptile species.

About UKCEH

The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology is a world-leading independent research institute, carrying out excellent environmental science with impact. We have a long history of investigating, monitoring and modelling environmental change, generating evidence-driven solutions to complex environmental challenges.