Introduction
This is a great opportunity for someone looking to develop their estate and team management skills in a wildlife-rich lowland farmland setting. You will be leading the warden team to deliver management plan and agri-environmental scheme operations across RSPB’s Wiltshire Chalk reserves.
What’s the role about?
You will be joining a small friendly team based at RSPB Winterbourne Downs set in the picturesque rolling downlands close to Stonehenge and Salisbury Plain. You will be delivering management to reconnect the landscape for the stone-curlew and iconic chalk downland wildlife, from corn buntings and lapwings to green-winged orchids and Adonis blue butterflies.
Working alongside a site manager, reserves warden and Assistant Warden this will involve using your experience to lead on development of 5-year management plans and delivery of management plan prescriptions. This will involve transcribing into relevant agri-environmental schemes. You will also be responsible for wider estate management and liaising with the grazier for management plan delivery and agricultural compliance.
You will ensure that the reserves are managed in accordance to best practice with respect to Health & Safety, environmental management and legal compliance of conservation and land management operations.
You will arrive at an exciting time when we are taking on the management of an ex-dairy farm for Wiltshire Council to create the Roundbarrow nature reserve. This will involve the creation of new chalk grasslands and the opportunity to oversee the transformation of a new downland nature reserve.
Essential skills, knowledge and experience:
1. Extensive knowledge of estate management, agricultural practice and conservation management needs.
2. Good practical land management skills, machinery maintenance and operation.
3. Up to date knowledge of current legislation codes of practice etc applicable to RSPB operations and their application to grazing operations.
4. Good standard of written and spoken English and an ability to give clear verbal and written communications.
5. Ability to write reports in a timely manner, make clear and firm recommendations for managers.
6. Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels of management in RSPB and with officials from external agencies, government offices.
7. Line management and team building experience.
8. Ability to work under own initiative and motivate self.
Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:
1. Training and facilitation skills.
2. Preparing agri-environmental agreements and translating into delivery plans.
This is a Permanent Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week.
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 07/05/2025. For further information please contact patrick.cashman@rspb.org.uk.
As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and 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.
The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. 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.
Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to CandidateGuidanceNotes2023.pdf.
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