Expiry date: 23:59, Monday 12th January 2026
Salary: £39,205.00 - £49,813 Per Annum (Pay Band 9) Depending on relevant PQE
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave, RICS membership fees paid.
Attachments: current RSPB Candidate Guidance Notes
Do you want a role where you know you are making a positive difference for nature in Scotland using your professional expertise? From access rights to carbon credit sales and listed buildings to significant acquisitions, you’ll be involved. We know no-one has all the skills and experience detailed, but please drop RSPB an e-mail to explore what might be possible.
We are recruiting for two full-time permanent Rural Surveyors to join the RSPB Scotland’s surveying team, part-time considered. The team includes rural surveyors, a building surveyor, a land management support specialist and a livestock and grazing advisor. You would provide professional advice to reserves in specified geographic areas of Scotland and support the wider country delivery of the departmental casework as required. The location of these roles is flexible within the Scottish mainland and is home-based. Some site visits will involve overnight stays away from home.
The RSPB is passionate about nature and dedicated to saving it. The RSPB’s nature reserves are a vital mechanism to conserving nature and they cover approximately 72,000 hectares in more than 70 locations across Scotland.
Key Responsibilities include:
- Land and Property Management: Carrying out due diligence to identify, mitigate and manage the legal, financial and reputational aspects of rural property including land, buildings, and offices including rent reviews, repairing obligations, landlord consents, land management contracts, compliance with grant conditions. Advising on agricultural property law, forestry and agri-environment agreement work, granting leases/licences e.g. sporting, fishing and grazing;
- Reserve acquisition work: Assessing, negotiating and concluding acquisitions to establish new reserves, extend existing reserves, and acquire property e.g. offices, workshops, and farm buildings by purchase, lease or management agreement and include land and building valuations;
- Land and Property disposal: Assessing, advising and delivering disposals of land, houses, offices and properties that are surplus to operational need;
- Risk management and project support: Supporting the development and implementation of systems to manage the RSPB’s exposure to legal, financial and reputational risk arising from its land and property operations. Undertaking internal audits to ensure compliance with forestry and agri-environment grant schemes. Providing professional support to Area Teams and project managers, and assisting in the production of codes of practice and guidance for staff; &
- Team working: The Scottish Surveying team work together with a strong team ethos, enthusiasm and dedication and share professional expertise, knowledge, and information at regular departmental meetings. You will be encouraged to be out of the office, providing professional advice to staff, to minimise risk and optimise financial returns for the RSPB nature reserves. You will demonstrate initiative, motivation, and flair to spot income opportunities. RSPB will support you in maintaining your Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) professional membership and provide support to meet the associated requirements for continuing professional development (CPD).
Benefits:
- Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave.
- The RSPB will support the successful candidate in maintaining their Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) professional membership and provide time and financial support to meet the associated requirements for continuing professional development (CPD).
- Employees benefit from flexible working while maintaining a sensible home/work balance. There are various options, such as flexitime, TOIL, and parental leave. After 5 years of continuous service, and each 5 years thereafter, all employees are entitled to a 4-week sabbatical. A chance to take time out of your busy day-to-day job to research, volunteer, learn a new skill or travel.
Essential qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:
- Chartered member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS or FRICS) OR of another equivalent professional organisation but capable of gaining RICS chartered membership as a rural surveyor;
- A relevant surveying degree accredited by RICS OR have a relevant degree followed by a minimum 5 years of relevant experience;
- A full UK Driving Licence;
- Recent experience of rural practice in Scotland;
- Demonstrable post qualification knowledge and experience of:
- estate management,
- land and property acquisition and disposal;
- agricultural support schemes and cross compliance requirements; &
- agri-environment and forestry grants.
- Experience of Scotland specific legislation related to rural property;
- Knowledge of project management principles and experience of applying this;
- Ability to clearly communicate verbally and in writing of complex estate management issues to all levels within the RSPB and to external audiences;
- Ability to make quick, pragmatic and practical decisions and formulate recommendations and identify alternatives based on sound analysis and reason;
- Ability to positively influence wider audiences in a credible manner both within and outwith the RSPB;
- Ability to manage and prioritise high volume competing objectives, work alone and as part of a multi-disciplinary team &
- Ability to travel widely including by car and public transport. NB these roles will require occasional overnight stays away from home.
Additional Information
- Permanent/Full-Time roles working 37.5hrs/week or Part-Time considered;
- Closing date for applications is 23:58, Monday 12th January 2026 Date for interview will be w/c Monday 19th January 2026. Please note that we are actively recruiting for this vacancy, and reserve the right to close once sufficient applications have been received.
- For further information please contact – Kirsty Murdoch, Senior Rural Surveyor: Kirsty.murdoch@rspb.org.uk (please note that e-mail will not be read from 17th December 2025 to 6th January 2026).
- As part of this application process, you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.
- We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.
- The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
- This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.
- Please read through the attached candidate guidance notes before applying.
