At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead conservation efforts and manage wildlife reserves across the West.
- Company: Join a passionate Trust dedicated to environmental conservation.
- Benefits: Flexible working, wellness hours, enhanced pension, and training opportunities.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace welcoming all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on wildlife conservation and community engagement.
- Qualifications: HND in environmental conservation and three years of relevant experience.
Status: Permanent – Full time / 35hrs per week
Salary: £35K per annum pro rata
Location: Various – Cumbernauld Office in immediate term
Closing date: Friday 5th June, noon
The Role: The role provides operational leadership across a defined operational area of the Trust’s reserves, ensuring land management, people management and community engagement to deliver strong conservation outcomes. The post oversees planning, delivery and quality assurance of reserve and project work, ensuring compliance with policies, health and safety and regulatory requirements. The role involves leading and developing the local team, managing budgets, mitigating risks and utilising ecological data to inform evidenced based decision making to support long-term site and project development. Through this combination of leadership and operational oversight, the role helps safeguard the Trust’s reserves and advance its conservation mission.
Main objectives:
- Land management and project delivery: Manage wildlife reserve operations across the West Reserves Management Area, including conservation and land management and monitoring of 3,700 hectares across ten wildlife reserves with a range of habitats, including blanket bog, heaths, fens, freshwater lochs, woodlands within the temperate rainforest zone, and a range of montane vegetation communities.
- Representation and stakeholder engagement: Build and maintain positive relationships with landowners, volunteers, contractors, communities and interested parties. Represent the Trust professionally at local, regional and national events and meetings, and proactively manage day‑to‑day issues with neighbours and partners.
- People management and teamwork: Line manage and develop the operational area team, leading recruitment, induction and performance. Foster a positive organisational culture, support collaboration across teams, and act as the key local contact for members and volunteers. Help recruit, train and retain volunteers, and provide local operational insight to support fundraising, communications and policy work.
- Information and operational management: Ensure that data management, documentation and reporting adhere to legal and regulatory requirements and comply with internal policies and procedures. Maintain and review work programmes, risk assessments, project risk registers, reserve and project budgets and promote a strong safety culture within the operational team and with contractors and volunteers.
The successful candidate will ideally:
- HND in environmental conservation or similar (essential)
- Degree / post graduate qualification in environmental conservation, countryside management or similar (desirable)
- Minimum three years in similar role – to include experience of management planning and coordinating practical conservation work (essential)
- Health and Safety legislation/procedures relating to outdoor working (essential)
- Evidence-based decision making (essential)
- Demonstrable experience of securing permissions and consents required for conservation and land management activities.
- Demonstrable experience of managing practical constraints while implementing conservation and land management activities, including ecological and archaeological mitigation measures.
- Demonstrable knowledge of Construction, Design and Management Regulations in context of conservation projects (essential)
- Demonstrable knowledge of the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations (EASR)
- Experience of delivering upland conservation projects including peatland restoration, non-native conifer plantation felling, extraction and restoration, and /or native woodland planting and regeneration.
- Demonstrable experience of working within urban and rural areas of Scotland with specific reference to the challenges associated with managing land for wildlife conservation in these areas.
- Demonstrable knowledge of upland deer management and conservation grazing for nature conservation purposes.
- Demonstrable knowledge of conservation and land management to mitigate against wildfire risk.
- Demonstrable experience of communicating the importance of maintaining and expanding healthy habitats for wildlife and people.
Closing date for applications: Friday 5th June, noon
Interviews will be held on: Wednesday 10th June
What we offer:
- Salary sacrifice schemes including Cycle to Work & Pension schemes.
- Flexible approach to work.
- One Wellness Hour per week
- Enhanced Pension rate upon completion of probation
- Sick Pay Allowance
- Enhanced Maternity/ Paternity Leave
- Training and Development
The Trust is a passionate employer, proactive about creating a culture of diversity and inclusive workplace that promotes and values equal opportunities for all. We welcome individuals from all networks of life, backgrounds, and experiences.
Reserves Manager - West employer: Iris Recruitment
As a Reserves Manager at our Cumbernauld Office, you will join a passionate team dedicated to conservation and land management across diverse habitats. We offer a flexible work environment, enhanced benefits including wellness hours and generous leave policies, and robust training opportunities to support your professional growth. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion ensures that every employee feels valued and empowered to contribute to our mission of safeguarding wildlife reserves.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Reserves Manager - West
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the conservation field. Attend local events, join online forums, or even reach out to current employees at the Trust. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for conservation! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your experiences and what drives you. Let them see your enthusiasm for land management and community engagement—it'll make you stand out!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by knowing your stuff! Research the Trust’s reserves and their conservation projects. Be ready to discuss how your skills align with their mission and how you can contribute to their goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team. Don’t forget to follow up after applying—showing initiative can really pay off!
We think you need these skills to ace Reserves Manager - West
Some tips for your application 🫡
Read the Job Description Carefully:Before you start writing, make sure to read through the job description thoroughly. We want to see that you understand the role and how your experience aligns with what we're looking for.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! We love it when candidates tailor their CVs and cover letters to highlight relevant experience and skills that match the Reserves Manager role. Show us why you're the perfect fit!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read. Avoid jargon unless it's relevant to the role – we want to know about your experience without any fluff!
Apply Through Our Website:Make sure to apply through our website by clicking the relevant button. This helps us keep track of your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Iris Recruitment
✨Know Your Conservation Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of conservation practices and land management. Familiarise yourself with the specific habitats mentioned in the job description, like blanket bogs and temperate rainforests. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves managing a team, be prepared to share examples of your leadership experience. Think about times when you've successfully led a project or team, especially in conservation settings. Highlight how you foster collaboration and support team development.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
The job requires building relationships with various stakeholders. Prepare to discuss your experience in stakeholder engagement and how you've managed relationships with landowners, volunteers, and communities. Share specific examples of how you've navigated challenges in these interactions.
✨Be Ready for Evidence-Based Decision Making
This role emphasises evidence-based decision making, so come prepared with examples of how you've used data to inform your decisions in past roles. Discuss any experience you have with ecological data and how it has influenced your conservation strategies.
