National Nature Reserve Manager Gloucestershire Cluster (based Worcester, West Midlands)

Do you have a passion for nature and the environment? Do you want to make a real difference and secure significant environmental gains in the present and the future? Do you enjoy working in a team? Can you see yourself advising communities and customers to maximise gains for the Natural Environment? 

If this appeals to you, a career at Natural England offers rewarding opportunities to secure environmental improvements and play your part in creating a better future for people and nature.

The priority work Natural England is delivering includes:

• Establishing a Nature Recovery Network to help wildlife thrive
• Monitoring environmental changes to identify and help reduce the effects of climate change
• Working with farmers and landowners to develop greener food production methods
• Advising on plans for new developments to maximise gains for nature
• Providing ways for people to better connect with nature, including green social prescribing

We are the Government’s advisor for the natural environment, playing a vital role in delivering the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, an ambitious vision which brings new opportunities to protect and enhance and to achieve real outcomes for the environment.

Find out more about the work of Natural England at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england

Job description  

Natural England staff are inclusive, motivated and ambitious to achieve results for our environment, for everyone. We welcome and encourage applications from all communities and we operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the role.

Wherever possible we will accommodate requests for both full-time and part-time hours and other flexible working patterns to help employees achieve a good work/life balance and maintain their health and wellbeing.

From induction to ongoing learning and development, everyone in Natural England is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. Where appropriate there will be offers of training under our apprenticeship schemes.

Typical working pattern will be 37 hours.  Working pattern will cover a seven-day week with weekend working including site patrols, volunteer group tasks and helping with public engagement activities. Participation in an on-call rota system for emergencies outside of working hours will also be required, you will receive additional reimbursement for this in line with Natural England’s Overtime policy.

The role involves a considerable amount of practical management, working with various plant machinery and equipment and outside working in all weathers and on challenging terrain. Tasks include:

• Co-ordinate, manage and deliver, where appropriate, the day- to- day operations across our Nature Reserves in Gloucestershire in accordance with agreed management plans, under the guidance of the Senior Reserve Managers
• Assist with livestock checks, movements, husbandry and handling.
• Co-ordinate and deliver the agreed programme of monitoring and recording of NNR management and its outcomes, including maintaining appropriate corporate recording systems.
• Provide advice and support to the Senior Reserve Manager in producing and revising Management Plans and any annual work programmes.
• Responsible for ‘health and safety’ management including maintaining servicing and records, risk and COSHH assessment.
• Work as part of the team delivering volunteer work on the Reserves – managing, co-ordinating and supervising volunteers, carrying out practical work, engagement, and monitoring.
• Procure, liaise and manage contractors carrying out habitat management and infrastructure works on the reserves in line with Natural England policies and procedures
• Assist with project planning, management and reporting.
• Act as a contact point and provide regular communications with communities and stakeholders, referring complex or contentious issues to the Senior Reserve Managers or Team Leader.
• Develop and undertake programmes of public engagement that build the support of visitors and local communities.
• Work with colleagues to design and deliver work programmes through volunteers and contractors, working within Natural England’s policies and procedures, and supervise delivery of such projects.
• Work with partners to identify, develop and deliver opportunities for joint delivery of engagement opportunities and projects.

The role will also involve assisting with coordination, management and direct delivery of the day-to-day operations and contractors. This will include:

• Habitat management works.
• Access management.
• Species management including pest and invasive species control.
• Basic maintenance of tools and equipment, and safe and efficient running of the NNR workshop.
• Ensuring a high standard of upkeep of the visitor facilities.
• Supervision of contractors regarding any of the above.
• Assisting in the co-ordination of data collection and management and recording of site data and monitoring.
• Assisting research workers, students and others studying on the Reserves.

Additional information

• A Driving Licence is essential for the role.
• The successful candidate must reside or be willing to relocate within 30 minutes of the reserve base: The Ebworth Centre, The Camp, Stroud, Gloucestershire. GL67ES. This is to ensure the ability to participate in the out-of-hours emergency on call rota.