Senior Reserve Manager - Southwest Cumbria - ( Ref: 6521 )

This position is based at Ghyll Mount, CA11 9BP, Penrith. The principal NNRs to be managed by this role are: Duddon Mosses. The role will sit within a wider team in South Cumbria who are also responsible for: Great Asby Scar, Roudsea Wood and Mosses. The post will be based at our new NNR base at Earnse Bay, North Walney, within the Earnse Bay Hub. The building will act as the main operational hub for North Walney and Southwest Cumbria NNRs and will support operational and strategic partnership work that delivers nature recovery and public health benefits across Morecambe Bay. It will also provide a base for staff, volunteers, visiting schools and participants, and host a wide range of activities delivered by the Cumbria Area Team and partners. The post holder is required to have an active onsite presence and be based at North Walney for a minimum of 3 days per week. The role may require some weekend, public holiday and evening work.

Key Tasks / Principal Accountabilities

• To provide strategic leadership to deliver Natural England ambitions and drive the NNR / NRN agenda, across south Cumbria’s reserves on a landscape scale.
• To develop and oversee strategic and operational delivery plans for our SW Cumbria NNR group.
• To be responsible for delivering high value and strategically complex work programmes on our SW Cumbria NNR’s, dealing with challenging and complex external issues (e.g. with partners).
• To support the Earnse Project partnership project by developing and supporting long-term volunteer development and access and interpretation improvements at North Walney NNR.
• To support the development of the new North Walney capital build project.
• Once complete, the SRM will act as site supervisor, overseeing facilities management, maintenance, site health and safety, upkeep of the workshop and ensuring the building is fully resourced for NNR operational use.
• To play an integral role pursuing and maintaining external partnerships to achieve and develop our SW Cumbria NNR ambitions.
• To provide functional (and/or) line management to NNR staff and volunteers including responsibility for H.

Technical skills (essential)

• Knowledge of the purposes of NNRs, the principles of site selection and the mechanisms involved in tenure, declaration, and other relevant legal and regulatory processes.
• An understanding of the diversity of reserve activities and the types of methods, tools and equipment used.
• Competence in relevant IT.
• Budget management and planning skills, including external funding.
• Competence in prioritising and planning programmes of work across multiple sites and years.

Environmental and organisational outcomes (desirable)

• An understanding of (i) local, regional and national environmental issues; (ii) Local Nature Recovery.

Benefits

At Natural England, we support a healthy work-life balance by offering full-time, part-time, and flexible working arrangements. We provide excellent opportunities for career progression, training, and development tailored to your role. This includes ten days annually for personal learning and development, plus three additional days for volunteering. You’ll receive a generous leave allowance of 25 days per year (pro rata) increasing by one day for each year of service up to 30 days (pro-rata), access to the Civil Service Pension scheme with a 28.97% employer contribution, and a range of benefits such as shopping discounts and a cycle‑to‑work scheme. Staff can also join the Civil Service Sport club for discounts on sports, leisure activities, and social events. We are committed to fairness, equality, and inclusivity. Our employee‑led diversity networks help foster a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

Pay

It is Natural England policy to employ at the entry point of the salary range.

How To Apply

We welcome and encourage applications from all communities. Natural England is accredited to the Disability Confident Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the role at the shortlisting stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview.

This vacancy uses competency-based assessment. We'll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process:

• Technical Skills
• Creating Resilient Landscapes and Seas
• Putting People at the Heart of the Environment

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• Strong working knowledge of applied conservation and land management practices. (Essential)
• Natural history skills, including experience and competency of identifying biodiversity features e.g. plant identification. (Essential)
• Experience of managing the health and safety of those undertaking practical habitat management. (Essential)
• Competent IT skills, use of MS Office and social media. Knowledge of GIS mapping will be an advantage. (Desirable)

Creating Resilient Landscapes and Seas

• Recognise, identify and interpret environmental features on NNRs. (Practitioner)
• Identify how a site interacts with the surrounding landscape, habitats and local communities. (Practitioner)
• Understand and apply appropriate management techniques to maintain or enhance the condition of sites. (Practitioner)

Putting People at the Heart of the Environment

• Understand the importance of people accessing and engaging with the natural environment, and how to balance their needs with nature conservation objectives. (Practitioner)
• Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver the organisation’s vision, mission and aims. (Practitioner)
• Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience. (Practitioner)
• Understand the duty of care owed to all visitors, contractors or others on our NNRs, and adhere to appropriate legislation and Natural England policies and procedures. (Practitioner)
• Apply the principles of risk management and adopt safe working practices for yourself and the people you work with in everything you do. (Practitioner)