Job Description

Rattan palms provide the raw materials upon which a multibillion-dollar trade in cane furniture and other woven articles is built. Despite this, rattans are still harvested extensively from the wild, and the sustainability of this practice is in doubt.

In this project, you will work to evaluate the extinction risk of all unassessed rattan species occurring in the high-diversity regions of Borneo, Sulawesi and Vietnam.

Knowing which rattan species are most threatened with extinction will empower stakeholders to make responsible choices in rattan resource utilization, and to take the first steps towards the standards and certification that are required in a truly sustainable rattan industry.

Hours of work

Part time

Part-time hours per week

28.8 hours per week

Contract Type

Fixed Term (FTA)

Contract end date

Until end of August 2026

Salary

\xc2\xa330,200 per annum pro-rata

Directorate

Science

Location

Kew Gardens, Richmond, Hybrid

Closing Date

14/10/2023

Documents

(PDF, 1924.01kb)
(PDF, 122.8kb)

More details

The ideal candidate for this post will have experience in applying the categories and criteria of the IUCN Red List to assess the extinction risk of species. They will be educated to degree level and will have experience of working with specimen collections. The ideal candidate will have a good working knowledge of taxonomy, nomenclature and geography, and the ability to apply such knowledge to make sound judgement on species extinction risk.

The candidate will be joining a close-knit team of conservation scientists at Kew, collaborating regularly with other scientists, particularly rattan experts, at Kew and internationally. The candidate will be a team player but will also be comfortable with working independently to make evidence-based decisions.

This role is based at Kew with the option of regular home working, subject to operational requirements.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a leading plant science institute, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and major visitor attraction. Our mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth.

We are working to end the unprecedented extinction crisis and to help create a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. We will achieve these goals by drawing on our leading scientific research, unrivalled collections of plants and fungi, global network of partners, inspirational gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, and our 260 years of history.

Join us on our journey as protectors of the world\xe2\x80\x99s plants and fungi.

The salary will be \xc2\xa330,200 per annum pro-rata.

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

If you are interested in this position, please submit your application through the online portal, by clicking \xe2\x80\x9cApply for this job\xe2\x80\x9d.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to interviewing all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

No agencies please.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew