Deer Management Officer

Are you ready to make a difference at one of the most crucial landscapes in southern England? The Board of the Conservators of Ashdown Forest have an opportunity to appoint a Deer Management Officer to help protect the future of Ashdown Forest.

About the roles: This part-time position, until April 2026, with the intention to extend subject to successful funding. The role will be a vital member of the team, driving the day-to-day operation, monitoring and coordination of deer management across the Forest and surrounding landscape. With excellent deer management experience and knowledge and strong interpersonal and communication skills, this role will enable us to further improve our deer management programme and venison offer.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated person with a passion for deer management, wildlife conservation, heathland and woodland management and public engagement to deliver the work programme across the Ashdown Forest landscape. This will involve working with a range of neighbouring landowners, stakeholders and partners to ascertain population levels, implement monitoring, and manage the deer population with a target of ensuring a sustainable favourable condition of the SSSI woodlands within Ashdown Forest.

About the Forest: Originally a deer hunting forest, Ashdown Forest is now one of the largest free public access spaces in the Southeast and an internationally important heathland. The responsibility for managing Ashdown Forest on behalf of the Owner, who since 1988 has been the Ashdown Forest Trust, lies with an independent body, the Board of Conservators of Ashdown Forest. The Board, created in 1885, has been regulated under a series of Acts of Parliament, the most recent being the Ashdown Forest Act 1974.

The Board has a strategic vision to protect, conserve, and enhance the nature and culture of Ashdown Forest, the most extensive biodiverse heathland and open space in Sussex, for the enjoyment, education, health, and recreation of all.

Working under the Head of Countryside, you will supervise and coordinate a team of volunteer deer managers. You will also be the lead on the sourcing of sustainable and ethical outlets for venison. This involves oversight of all legislative compliance around meat hygiene and firearms safety ensuring best practice is undertaken. Additional responsibilities will include assisting with the delivery of habitat and species monitoring and being part of a wider programme for the humane despatch and disposal of injured deer, as well as providing a uniformed, mobile presence on the Forest that welcomes and advises visitors.

This role will require some out-of-hours work and occasional weekend work. This role must have the ability to drive.

For an application form and information pack (in word format), please click here

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 20th July 2025.

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