At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead conservation efforts and manage wildlife reserves across the North.
- Company: Join a dedicated Trust focused on environmental conservation.
- Benefits: Flexible working, wellness hours, enhanced pension, and training opportunities.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a supportive and dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in protecting wildlife and engaging with communities.
- Qualifications: HND in environmental conservation and three years of relevant experience.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 35000 £ per year.
Overview
Status: Permanent – Full time / 35hrs per week
Salary: £35K per annum pro rata
Location: Various - based at Inverbroom, Northwest Highlands
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 deliver strong conservation outcomes. It involves leading and developing the local team, supporting volunteers and representing the Trust locally and nationally, whilst building robust relationships. The post oversees planning, delivery and quality assurance of reserve and project work, ensuring compliance with policies, health and safety and regulatory requirements. It also manages budgets, risks and ecological data, embedding evidenced based decision making and maintaining accurate documentation and supporting 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 North Reserves Management Area, including conservation and land management and monitoring of 6,800 hectares across nine wildlife reserves with a range of habitats, including blanket bog, heaths, fens, maritime cliffs and grasslands, woodlands within the temperate rainforest zone, and 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: Maintain risk registers, manage budgets, and promote a strong safety culture. Use ecological data to inform decision‑making, ensure data governance compliance, and support effective reporting and monitoring of conservation outcomes through internal systems.
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 on Trust managed wildlife reserves, as well as identification, mitigation and management of practical constraints, including but not restricted to environmental, ecological and archaeological (essential)
- Working knowledge of Construction, Design and Management Regulations in context of conservation projects (essential)
- Working knowledge of Controlled Activities Regulations (essential)
- Experience of delivering upland conservation projects including peatland restoration, river restoration, conservation grazing and /or native woodland planting and regeneration.
- Experience of working within rural areas of Scotland.
- 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 role is subject to the Trust’s equal opportunity policy and other applicable policies.
Reserves Manager - North in Newtonmore employer: Scottish Wildlife Trust
As a Reserves Manager with our Trust, you will join a dedicated team committed to conservation in the stunning Northwest Highlands. We pride ourselves on fostering a supportive work culture that values flexibility, employee wellness, and professional development, offering unique benefits such as enhanced maternity/paternity leave and a wellness hour each week. With opportunities for community engagement and leadership, this role not only contributes to meaningful environmental outcomes but also supports your personal growth within a passionate organisation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Reserves Manager - North in Newtonmore
✨Dive into Environmental Networks
Get involved with sustainability-focused organisations and attend their events. Look for local meetups or conferences in environmental management where you can connect with professionals in the field. This can lead to insider info on job openings at companies like Scottish Wildlife Trust that might not be advertised widely.
✨Show Your Passion with Projects
Consider undertaking personal or community projects that highlight your dedication to sustainability. Whether it's a local clean-up or a carbon footprint assessment, document your findings and results. This not only boosts your portfolio but also shows potential employers like Scottish Wildlife Trust that you're proactive and serious about the field.
✨Seek Out Green Job Boards
Don’t just rely on general job boards. Explore specific platforms that focus on sustainability and environmental management roles. Websites like EnvironmentJobs and Sustainable Business can be goldmines for full-time positions at companies like Scottish Wildlife Trust. Keep an eye out for their aggregation of listings!
✨Let Your Online Presence Shine
Make sure your social media and professional profiles reflect your passion for sustainability. Share articles, engage in discussions, and connect with leaders in the field. Your active presence can make a lasting impression on hiring managers at companies like Scottish Wildlife Trust when they search for candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Reserves Manager - North in Newtonmore
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Passion for Sustainability:In your cover letter, let your enthusiasm for sustainability shine through. Share any relevant experiences, like projects, volunteer work, or events you've participated in that align with Scottish Wildlife Trust's values. This position isn't just about meeting qualifications; it's about genuinely caring for the environment and showing us why you're the right fit for Reserves Manager - North.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications and Experience:Make sure to showcase any specific qualifications, such as degrees in environmental science or certifications in sustainability practices in your CV. We want to see how your academic background and practical experiences align with the job you're applying for, so don’t hold back on anything that demonstrates your expertise in environmental management.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:As we're looking for someone to jump into a full-time role, be specific about previous roles or projects that demonstrate your capabilities in sustainability. Use bullet points to make accomplishments clear, and don’t forget to quantify your achievements wherever possible – it’s all about showing us the impact of your work!
Research Scottish Wildlife Trust and Reflect It In Your Application:We love candidates who take the time to understand what we're about. Mention specific initiatives or projects that Scottish Wildlife Trust is known for in your cover letter. This shows us that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely excited about the chance to contribute to our mission in the role of Reserves Manager - North.
How to prepare for a job interview at Scottish Wildlife Trust
✨Brush Up on Environmental Legislation
Given that we're diving into sustainability and environmental management, it’s crucial to have a solid understanding of current environmental laws and regulations. Be prepared to discuss how these laws apply to real-world scenarios, as you might face some technical questions about compliance and best practices during your chat with Scottish Wildlife Trust.
✨Showcase Your Experience with Sustainability Projects
When you're discussing your background, highlight specific sustainability initiatives you've been involved in. Whether it’s a project at university or work experience, sharing measurable outcomes and your role will demonstrate your hands-on skills, which is super important for this full-time role at Scottish Wildlife Trust.
✨Familiarity with Tools and Software
Make sure you're familiar with any relevant tools or software commonly used in environmental management, like GIS for mapping or data analysis tools. Bring this up in your interview as it shows you’re not only passionate but also prepared to roll up your sleeves and get to work!
✨Connect Your Values with the Company's Mission
Full-time roles are all about team fit, so it’s important to align your personal values with those of Scottish Wildlife Trust. Be ready to discuss why you're passionate about sustainability and how you can contribute to their mission, as this will really resonate with the interviewers and show that you’re genuinely invested in their goals.
