Senior Reserve Manager - ( Ref : 6490 )

Job summary

This position is based at Manchester

Job description

Join us in shaping a future where nature and people thrive. Whether you're drawn to hands-on conservation or playing a vital part behind the scenes, your work at Natural England will support lasting benefits for the environment and society.

Our Role

Natural England is the Government’s adviser for the natural environment and the Nature regulator with a wide range of statutory duties and powers. We provide the evidence, expertise and advice to recover Nature and shape better places for people to live. We do this working through and with others.

Strategic Outcomes for Nature

Our strategy is framed through four strategic outcomes. Each of these outcomes reinforces and amplifies the others, and together they address environmental, social and economic actions critical to thriving nature.

• Recovering Nature – Increased scale and quality of places where nature thrives.
• Building Better Places – Greener homes and infrastructure create healthier, more investable places, recognising we live better where nature thrives around us.
• Improving Health and Wellbeing – Build nature into everyday life so people can support, access and benefit from nature, wherever they live.
• Delivering Security through Nature – Nature helps us adapt to the threats of a changing climate and improves our national security, supporting more resilient food production, healthy soils, clean and plentiful water and clean air.

Find out more about the work of Natural England at:

Natural England’s Strategy: Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security - GOV.UK

Job description

The Senior Reserve Manager (SRM) holds a pivotal role in the comprehensive management and enhancement of National Nature Reserves (NNRs), actively promoting Nature Recovery in the broader landscape. The role demands an understanding of land management techniques, biodiversity conservation, and strategic planning combining technical expertise with practical land management knowledge. The Senior Reserve Manager collaborates with staff, volunteers, local communities, and partners, contributing to Nature England's Vision, Mission and Aims. The role will be actively involved in the wider Area Team leadership group, working alongside other Senior staff and Managers.

This Senior Reserve Manager is a site based role and will work with the Area Team to develop Risley, Holcroft and Chat Moss NNR along with key partners and their land holdings, including Natural England’s Moss Side Farm. Moss Side Farm is a recent NE acquisition of a 154 ha lowland peat farm along with associated farm infrastructure and buildings in the heart of the Manchester Mosslands SAC in Wigan and Salford. The role will also manage staff, volunteers and contractors at Rostherne Mere NNR. The SRM will work with key partners and Area Team colleagues including the Tatton Estate on enhancing and supporting this important Ramsar/NNR.

The role will lead the development and implementation of NNR work programs, aligning day-to-day management with a long-term nature recovery vision alongside partners within Great Manchester Wetlands partnership and for Rostherne Mere NNR. The role will be responsible for their own Health & Safety and of staff, visitors, volunteers and contractors on the reserves. They will line manage reserve staff, foster a positive working culture, provide financial management alongside working with colleagues to deliver Area Team priorities and strategic projects.

Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities

• Oversee and support the management and enhancement of Rostherne Mere NNR.
• Lead the development of Moss Side Farm as a National Nature Reserve, working closely with the Area Team and national NNR colleagues using strong project management skills.
• Develop, review and deliver NNR management plans along with Area Team staff and partners and lead the development and implementation of NNR work programmes.
• Establish strong working relationships with partners and stakeholders for nature recovery opportunities.
• Manage budgets and seek external funding and income generating opportunities.
• Provide line management oversight for NNR staff within this cluster (Moss Side Farm and Rostherne Mere) fostering a positive working culture. This role will also play an active role in the Area Leadership Team.
• Support the development of a positive health and safety culture within the reserve team.
• Promote public access and engagement with the natural environment, balancing human needs with conservation objectives.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Applicants should have:

• A relevant degree in an environmental discipline/ conservation or significant practical experience of working in the environmental sector (Essential)
• A broad understanding of England’s biodiversity commitments along with knowledge of relevant European Directives, associated UK/England Regulations, including the legislation relating to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (Essential).
• Experience of managing habitats for nature recovery (Essential)
• Excellent project management skills and the ability to inspire, motivate and work in co-operation with others are essential (Essential)
• Competence in the use of IT, including ability to work with spreadsheets, databases & presentation packages (Desirable)
• The role will require travel to sites and meetings with partners. A driving licence is essential for the role.

The role will be site based at Moss Side Farm in the Cheshire to Lancashire Area.

Benefits

At Natural England, we support a healthy work-life balance by offering full-time, part-time, and flexible working arrangements.

We provide excellent opportunities for career progression, training, and development tailored to your role. This includes ten days annually for personal learning and development, plus three additional days for volunteering.

You’ll receive a generous leave allowance of 33 days per year (pro rata), access to the Civil Service Pension scheme with a 28.97% employer contribution, and a range of benefits such as shopping discounts and a cycle-to-work scheme. Staff can also join the Civil Service Sport club for discounts on sports, leisure activities, and social events.

We are committed to fairness, equality, and inclusivity. Our employee-led diversity networks help foster a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

Pay

It is Natural England policy to employ at the entry point of the salary range.

Leadership

You will become an active member of the relevant local leadership community, the group of senior Natural England staff in each of the localities across England who we ask to provide support and co-ordination for the local group of staff.

How to Apply

We welcome and encourage applications from all communities. Natural England is accredited to the Disability Confident Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the role at the shortlisting stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview.

If you require a reasonable adjustment at interview, or there is anything else you would like the panel to take into consideration, you should notify us of this at application stage where possible, or well in advance of your interview. We now provide primary interview questions in advance for all formal recruitments.

This vacancy uses competency-based assessment. We'll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process:

• Technical skills and knowledge
• Putting people at the heart of the environment
• Working safely
• Work delivery

When completing the application form you should present relevant examples using the STAR format. Give us an example of how you have demonstrated the competency (which can be work related or from another area of your life) and tell us about the Situation, the specific Task you had to undertake, the specific Actions you took, and the Result (both immediate and in a wider context) of your Action.

Please note that STAR format is not required when answering the Technical Skills & Knowledge competency.

Examples should be given in no more than 250 words for each competency.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to attend an interview via MS Teams or a suitable alternative, where you will be asked to give examples for all competencies as set out in the Job Description.

Competencies

Competence 1

Professional competency

Detail

Technical/specialist knowledge/qualifications

Description

• Good understanding of habitat management and ecological knowledge with an ability to translate that to the planning and delivery of nature recovery. (Expert)
  • Identify how a site interacts with the surrounding landscape, habitats and local communities (Practitioner)
  • Understand and be able to successfully engage with stakeholders and partners from a wide variety of organisations to provide effective leadership to support collaborative working (Practitioner)

Competence 2

Professional competency

Detail

Putting people at the heart of the environment

Description

• Understand the importance of people accessing and engaging with the natural environment, and how to balance their needs with nature conservation objectives. (Practitioner)
  • Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience. (Practitioner)

Competence 3

Professional competency

Detail

Working safely

Description

• Understand the duty of care owed to all visitors, contractors or others on our NNRs, and adhere to appropriate legislation and Natural England policies and procedures (Practitioner)
  • Apply the principles of risk management and adopt safe working practices for yourself and the people you work with in everything you do (Practitioner)

Competence 4

Professional competency

Detail

Work Delivery

Description

• Excellent project management skills and the ability to inspire, motivate and work in co-operation with others (Practitioner).
  • Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines (Expert)
  • Oversee work plans that make best use of available resource, review and lead team progress towards targets through the year. (Practitioner)

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Licences

Driving licence

Qualifications

A relevant degree in an environmental discipline/ conservation or significant practical experience of working in the environmental sector

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,660, Natural England contributes £11,489 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Please refer to Job Description

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Dr Amanda Wright
• Email : amanda.wright@naturalengland.org.uk
• Telephone : 07795 121644

Recruitment team

• Email : defra-recruitment-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Further information

https://networkrecruitment.tal.net/vx/appcentre-7/brand-4/spa-1/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/8/opp/6490-6490-Senior-Reserve-Manager/en-GB

Attachments

DEF-001h - Candidate Pack Natural England v2.5 Opens in new window (docx, 424kB)