Irish Bird Atlas Project Manager

About the Role

BirdWatch Ireland invites applications for an enthusiastic and proactive individual to lead the planning and execution of the Bird Atlas 2027-31 project across the Republic of Ireland. The ideal candidate will possess at least three years of project management experience, solid bird identification abilities, and survey expertise. This role demands strong interpersonal skills and the capability to coordinate a diverse team of staff, contractors, and volunteers.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the comprehensive management and coordination of the Bird Atlas project within the Republic of Ireland, ensuring unified implementation in collaboration with the Atlas Steering Group, funding bodies, lead partners such as BTO, and other stakeholders.
• Recruit and supervise a team comprising three regional coordinators (funding permitting), contract field staff, and volunteer county organizers nationwide to facilitate survey coverage during breeding and winter periods.
• Lead an extensive recruitment and training program for volunteers, maintaining ongoing engagement and support year-round.
• Prepare, monitor, and manage the project budget with collaboration from the Head of Surveys and Monitoring and work alongside the Head of Finance for accurate financial reporting.
• Support senior leadership in fundraising activities, including grant writing, delivering presentations to potential funders, and managing reporting and funding drawdowns.
• Ensure adherence to standardized survey methodologies, perform quality assurance of data, verify records, and manage data entry including digitization of paper records and sensitive data handling.
• Coordinate feedback mechanisms for volunteers, contribute to the development of final Atlas products, prepare maps and textual content, and represent the project in media and public engagements.
• Facilitate the formation and ongoing operation of the Irish Atlas Steering Group, and report project progress to relevant committees.
• Collaborate with other biodiversity surveys and data contributors to integrate supplementary records under guidance.
• Provide assistance to regional atlas initiatives and conduct limited fieldwork that may require travel periods away from home.

Additional Information

Applicants must submit a completed BirdWatch Ireland application form along with a one-page cover letter explaining their suitability for this position. CVs are not accepted. The application deadline is 17:00 on Friday 11th September 2026. Submissions can be sent via email or by postal mail to the addresses provided by BirdWatch Ireland. When applying by email, the subject line should include the applicant's full name followed by the position title.