Natural Environment and Coast Manager (Kent County Council) in Maidstone

Kent has some of the most important natural environments in the country, from its iconic coastline and internationally significant habitats to its extensive network of woodlands, grasslands and freshwater environments. However, these valuable assets face increasing pressures from climate change, development and biodiversity decline.

If you have the vision, expertise and passion to help reverse these trends, we have an exciting opportunity to join us as Natural Environment and Coast Manager. Leading the Natural Environment and Coast Team, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering Kent County Council’s priorities for nature recovery, ensuring that the county realises the environmental, economic and social benefits that come from a healthy and thriving natural environment.

Working with local authorities, government agencies, environmental organisations, landowners and other key stakeholders, you will lead the delivery of the Kent and Medway Local Nature Recovery Strategy, helping to embed nature recovery into decision‑making, land management and action across the county. You will develop strategic policies, projects and partnerships that recover species, restore our terrestrial, freshwater and coastal habitats, and maximise opportunities presented through Biodiversity Net Gain and green investment.

This is a high‑profile and influential role, providing strategic leadership on some of Kent’s most important environmental priorities. You will lead a talented team with a real passion and dedication for Kent’s biodiversity, shape the future direction of the service and work closely with senior officers and elected Members to ensure nature recovery is at the heart of Kent’s future.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated leader with a strong track record in environmental policy, strategy development and partnership working. You will be an excellent communicator and relationship builder, capable of bringing organisations together behind shared environmental ambitions and influencing decision‑making across a complex landscape of interests. This full‑time role will benefit from hybrid working options with a mixture of working from the office and from home. The office base will be Sessions House, Maidstone.

As part of the interview process for this role you may be required to complete additional testing.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer‑facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.