Nature Services Manager in Milton Keynes

Company The Parks Trust Location Milton Keynes, United Kingdom Functional Area Management

Company Description

Established as an independent charity in 1992, The Parks Trust expertly cares for over 6,000 acres of beautiful and inspirational green space in Milton Keynes including parks, ancient woodlands, lakes, river valleys and 80 miles of landscaped areas along the city’s grid roads.

In most towns and cities, parkland is owned by the local authority, but Milton Keynes’ founders were pioneers and decided to do things differently. Their vision was to create a new town where the parkland and landscapes would be protected forever by a charity that was separate from local government. Doing so would ensure that, as the new town grew, its green spaces would never be compromised or have to fight for funding.

That all became a reality when The Parks Trust was set up in 1992. The new charity was given a 999-year lease on a total of 4,500 acres of Milton Keynes and an endowment of property valued at £20m. Returns on these carefully managed investments generate the primary source of income required to fund the charity’s wide-ranging work today and forever.

Over 100 staff and 240 volunteers deliver the essential work of The Parks Trust. In addition to landscaping and maintenance tasks, that also includes providing valuable recreation and leisure facilities, connecting communities at over 500 outdoor events each year, and advancing public education around the wildlife, biodiversity, and the environment.

As Milton Keynes grows, so does The Parks Trust. Each year, the charity takes on new green spaces and endowments from developers to cover costs in perpetuity. This approach ensures that all new areas of the city benefit from the same quality of inspiring, connected landscape and Milton Keynes remains a great place to live, work and play.

Position

We're looking for an experienced and passionate environmental professional to lead our Nature Services Team and play a pivotal role in delivering our ambitions for biodiversity, nature recovery and ecosystem resilience.

This is a unique opportunity to influence how nature is protected, enhanced and monitored across a diverse and nationally significant portfolio of green spaces. Working closely with senior leaders and a wide range of partners, you will help shape strategy, drive innovation and ensure nature recovery remains at the heart of everything we do.

As Nature Services Manager, you will provide leadership to a specialist team responsible for delivering biodiversity and nature recovery objectives across the Trust.

You will combine strategic thinking with practical delivery, leading the development of policies, plans and projects that achieve measurable environmental outcomes. You will also ensure decisions are informed by high-quality ecological evidence, monitoring and reporting.

The role involves working collaboratively across the organisation and with external partners to identify opportunities, manage priorities and maximise the impact of our work for both people and nature.

Location:

The Pavilion, Campbell Park

Contract Type:

Permanent

Working hours:

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION ATTACHED.

Requirements

We are looking for someone who can bring technical expertise, leadership capability and a genuine passion for nature recovery.

You will have:

• A degree in Ecology, Wildlife Conservation or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience leading or managing a team.
• Strong knowledge of biodiversity conservation, ecological monitoring and nature recovery.
• Experience using environmental data and evidence to inform decision‑making.
• Project and budget management experience.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to engage a wide range of audiences.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to build effective partnerships.
• Membership of CIEEM, or a commitment to achieving membership.
• Personal Attributes

You'll be someone who:

• Thinks strategically and sees the bigger picture.
• Can turn ideas into successful outcomes.
• Builds positive relationships and brings people together.
• Leads with confidence, credibility and integrity.
• Is organised, adaptable and solutions focused.
• Is committed to delivering high-quality environmental outcomes.

Other information

In return, we offer a comprehensive benefits package:

• Ongoing support and training
• Excellent contributory pension scheme (up to 10% employer contribution)
• Income protection and life assurance cover after qualifying period
• Enhanced family friendly policies after qualifying period
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Discounted gym membership
• Salary sacrifice schemes for tech & electric cars
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Wellbeing day off each year
• Buying and Selling option for annual leave
• Medical Cash Plan
• Access to employee wellbeing helpline
• Free eye tests
• Great office in a park land setting with free parking

Application process

Deadline for applications: 22 October 2026

1st Stage Teams Interviews –w/c 26 October 2026

2nd Stage In Person interviews – w/c 2 November 2026

We are committed to safeguarding and will always recruit all personnel in line with government guidelines, relevant legislation, Charity Commission guidance and best practice standards.

We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

If you need additional support with your application or would like further information, please contact recruitment@theparkstrust.com.

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