Job Vacancies

We are currently looking for an Administrative Assistant and an Assistant Conservation Officer to join our team.

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Job Description and Person Specification

Application Form

Assistant Conservation Officer

Fantastic full-time job opportunity for an Assistant Conservation Officer based in Ashburton, Devon, UK.

Would you like to join our team and help conserve Britain’s favourite farmland bird?

The Barn Owl Trust is a small, national, Devon-based charity engaged in practical and advisory work, research, education, and owl care. We respond to 4,000 enquires a year from across the UK.

We’re looking for someone who’s highly motivated, with a keen interest in owls, and a good working knowledge of UK farmland birds and habitats.

The position is full-time and based near Ashburton (Devon). It is an extremely diverse role. It requires the strength and ability to safely lift and erect a 24 kg ladder, a head for heights, and DIY-type skills, alongside excellent communication and IT skills, and a willingness to be office based (mostly screen work, seasonally up to 85% of the time).

Please note: A full UK driving licence is a requirement for this role. Remote working is not an option for this role.

Starting Salary: £24,557.72
Initial 12-month contract (renewable)
Interviews will be held in person on Thursday 2^nd October 2025 at Ashburton, Devon, UK
Closing date for applications: Midnight Sunday 7th September 2025

To apply for the Assistant Conservation Officer role:
Please send your completed application form to kaye@barnowltrust.org.uk.

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Job Description and Person Specification

Application Form

Administrative Assistant

Rewarding part-time opportunity for an Administrative Assistant based in Ashburton, Devon, UK.

Would you like to join our friendly team and help support the conservation of one of Britain’s most iconic birds?

The Barn Owl Trust is a small national charity based in Devon, dedicated to the conservation of Barn Owls and their environment. Our work includes providing information and advice, carrying out practical conservation fieldwork, rehabilitating injured owls, and delivering education initiatives. We also operate a small owl sanctuary, which is not open to the public. Each year, we respond to over 4,000 enquiries from across the UK.

We’re looking for a well-organised and proactive person with great communication and IT skills, a good eye for detail, and a positive attitude. An interest in conservation is desirable, and love of dogs is essential as our offices are dog-friendly.

This is a varied and rewarding role working within a small, supportive admin team. It includes answering calls and emails, managing online orders, running our Friend and Adoption schemes, as well as helping to keep the Trust running smoothly behind the scenes.

Starting Salary: £23,902.68 pro rata
Initial 12-month contract (renewable)
Closing date for applications: Saturday 6^th September, 11.59pm
Interviews will be held in person on Wednesday 17^th September at Waterleat, Ashburton, Devon.

To apply for the Administrative Assistant role:
Please send your completed application form to info@barnowltrust.org.uk.

Volunteering

Volunteers are vital!
Weekly Volunteers generally come in 1 or 2 days a week, covering tasks such as aviary cleaning, car cleaning, woodwork, fieldwork, and grounds maintenance.
Monthly Volunteers join in with monthly conservation tasks in our nature reserve (The Lennon Legacy Project), or office admin.
Seasonal Conservation Work: Come and join our Conservation Team for a day doing practical work in our Lennon Legacy Project wildlife haven, which is managed for Barn Owls and other wildlife. Usually once a month.
See: Conservation Days for more information.
Special Task Volunteers who come in less often to help with things like newsletter mailings, demolition jobs, or helping out at events. We also have a list of ‘owl transport volunteers’ who we can call on if an injured owl needs collecting or taking to the vets.

We are currently on the look out for a gifted cartoonist or illustrator, who could occasionally produce a drawing for us.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us telling us how much time you have available and what sort of things you’d like to do. We will then get in touch when we need you.

Here’s what our volunteers say:

“I collect and deliver injured owls taking them to and from the vets as required, and I also help in the office with things like mailings, packing sales goods, and odd things like wrapping lucky dip prizes. I’ve been an occasional volunteer for many years and enjoy the socialising as well as knowing that I’m doing something useful”. Margaret Rhodes.

“I come in for 1 or 2 days a week depending on my other commitments. I do all sorts of things including cleaning aviaries and cars, going out on fieldwork with the conservation team to navigate and carry ladders, working on the Trust’s land on conservation tasks and even helping out in the office when they need an extra pair of hands. It’s a great thing to do.” Kim Baker

Regular volunteers are a wonderful asset and their help is really appreciated. Having people we can call on to help out occasionally is also very important to us, especially to transport injured owls. If you are close enough you could help us with mailings – twice a year (spring and autumn), or come along on a conservation team day and help out with practical tasks on the Trust’s land – see our Events Diary for dates.

Wherever you live you could run a fundraising event like a coffee morning, a cheese and wine party, a jumble sale, or you could find homes for leaflet dispensers or donation boxes.

Our grateful thanks to all our volunteers – you really help to make a difference!

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Who will you be working with?
Staff & Volunteers
Trustees