Wildlife Manager (South West) in Exeter

Our vision is that the nation’s forests will provide the most valuable places for wildlife to thrive and expand in England. You will plan and implement safe and professional wildlife management programmes to protect tree crops and improve ecosystems. You will provide leadership and technical support in the district and through national networks. You will have the opportunity to work with experienced colleagues, passionate about their contribution to sustainable forestry, conservation and the organisation’s overarching strategy. You will help to connect everyone with the nation’s forests, caring for them for people to enjoy, wildlife to flourish and business to grow. You can expect to spend time outdoors, working remotely and you will be expected to manage your own time to maximise efficiency and effectiveness.

Where you’ll work… The postholder will be based in our forest office at Haldon Forest Park, Exeter, Devon (other Forestry England office locations within the district may be considered).

Key responsibilities & accountabilities

• Manage people: Manage the wildlife ranger team in the South West, to meet our high professional standards. Provide technical support in the district and through national networks. Lead by example to promote a positive and inclusive culture, and actively promote collaboration and support across the district and with stakeholders. Demonstrate Forestry England’s organisational values and behaviours and make sure your team does too. Drive improvement in the wildlife team, promoting learning and development opportunities.
• Manage resources: Buy and distribute goods and equipment (including restricted items) in line with Forestry England policy. Arrange and supervise a range of contracts.
• Manage stakeholders: Work with deer officer and other external organisations towards effective landscape-scale mammal management. Represent Forestry England at deer management group and squirrel control group meetings. Contribute to the day-to-day operation of the district as part of the management team. Provide leadership to promote a positive safety culture and plan infrastructure to minimise risk during wildlife management operations. Work with foresters and district ecologists to make sure work programmes are delivered effectively and efficiently. Advise and support the estates team with sporting tenancies and sporting retained rights. Manage deer control licence holders and contractors to achieve deer management plan targets. Help to develop national policy at the request of the lead wildlife manager. Liaise with the police and neighbours on wildlife crime or as directed by the forest management director.
• Manage health and safety: Manage health and safety involving firearms and the wildlife management operations. Control authorising, using, inspecting, and recording firearms and ammunition by the wildlife ranger team, making sure Forestry England complies with legislation and internal policies. Make sure that district's deer larders comply with Forestry England policies, food hygiene regulations, and the British Quality Wild Venison standard. Draft and review risk assessments covering wildlife management activities. Take overall responsibility for rifle zero and practise areas in the south west of the district and the safety of all activities on these sites. Issue and review all firearms cards, maintain the district’s firearm database, and update the national database as required. Issue guidance for safely using equipment and firearms, including managing the wildlife ranger training programmes. Monitor ranger and keeper performance including accompanied stalks, and high seat inspections. Promote reporting tick bites and using mandated deterrents.
• Crop and habitat protection: Create and deliver data-led culling plans based upon population censuses and damage/impact assessments to minimise damage to growing crops and habitats. Maintain wildlife management strategies to comply with UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) and Forestry England policies. Contract deer culling resource where and when needed to effectively deliver culling plans. And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.