Senior Land Manager in Leeds

About Environment Bank

Environment Bank is a market-leading organisation focused on restoring natural habitats across England. We work with a diverse team of ecologists, land managers, habitat specialists, geospatial analysts, planning advisors, account managers, digital creatives, legal experts, and more. We are growing our team as we deliver biodiversity gains and enable ecosystems to recover and flourish.

The Role

The Senior Land Manager will lead creation and management of Habitat Banks on a regional basis. Reporting to the Head of Land (North), you will drive the delivery of new Habitat Bank sites by identifying suitable land opportunities, collaborating with landowners and agents, and overseeing onboarding of land for Habitat Bank creation. It is important that you live in the North of England – anywhere from north of Manchester would be ideal. The role requires effective communication, collaboration with internal teams, and engagement with external stakeholders such as farmers, landowners, and Local Authorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Report directly to the Head of Land (North) and collaborate with colleagues in the regional Land and Ecology Teams
• Support the regional Land Managers within the wider Land Team
• Identify and onboard new land opportunities to establish Habitat Banks, liaising with landowners and agents
• Prioritise the creation of Habitat Banks based on Local Authority BNG demand and known purchaser demand, with input from the sales and finance teams
• Maintain a high profile with external property contacts including agents and landowners
• Conduct thorough land studies to identify sites that meet the company’s needs
• Oversee due diligence to assess site suitability for Habitat Bank creation, coordinating with ecology, habitat delivery, legal, and finance
• Manage and execute the planning and consenting processes required for habitat creation
• Prepare and negotiate offers with landowners based on internal assessments and site visits
• Facilitate a smooth landowner process with clear communication of contractual terms, collaborating with the Head of Land and the Land and Ecology Teams via onsite, remote (Teams/phone), and letter/email as appropriate
• Participate in regional and national marketing events to promote Environment Bank and Habitat Bank creation to farmers and landowners

Requirements

• Experience of working directly with farmers and landowners in a professional capacity. MRICS/CAAV or relevant professional qualifications would be advantageous.
• Working knowledge of Farm Business Tenancies and relevant environmental matters related to rural land management
• Proven ability to use Land Registry and other publicly available legal and land management data sources
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written, including presenting to groups and engaging with diverse stakeholders
• Organised and self-starting, capable of managing personal schedule, maintaining records, and prioritising tasks effectively
• Full UK clean driving license and willingness to travel for regional site visits and events
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• Numerate and computer literate with a strong understanding of data analysis and manipulation

Benefits

• Performance-based annual bonus up to 10% of salary
• Pension scheme with employer-matched contributions at 6% of salary
• 30 days of annual leave, plus paid bank holidays, birthday, and wellbeing day
• Option to purchase 5 additional days of annual leave after probation
• Remote and hybrid flexible working options
• Regional and departmental team co-working days
• Expenses-paid whole company meet twice a year
• Team fundraising and charity events
• Ongoing career development with training and mentoring
• Medical cash back scheme to cover everyday healthcare costs
• Employee assistance mental wellbeing support
• Enhanced sickness pay allowance