Reserves Officer x2

Reserves Officer x 2 – Central and West Surrey

Salary £22,500 to £28,000 pa (dependent on experience)

Do you enjoy the challenge of enthusing others about nature and have experience in leading volunteer groups and managing contractors?

If so, we would love you to join our Reserves Management team as we look to recruit two Reserves Officers.

The work of a Reserves Officer is diverse and varied. Predominantly working outdoors, no two days will be the same. This includes leading volunteers and contractors to ensure required works across our land are undertaken in line with approved management plans and to meet our statutory and contractual obligations. Our Reserves Officers work together across three geographical areas to manage projects and create links with local communities - an ability to adapt and manage a diverse portfolio of work is essential.

These roles will be within our Central and West Teams which both cover a beautiful mix of sites, predominantly chalk grassland in the Central area and heathland in the West. Our chalk sites are home to fascinating wildlife such as rare orchids, Chalkhill blue and Small blue butterflies. Our heathlands are vital for rare ground nesting birds like Nightjar and Dartford warbler as well as rare reptiles like Sand lizards and Smooth snakes. We are looking for people who will be excited to work on these habitats and improve them for biodiversity.

You must have some previous experience of successfully working with volunteers and the ability to inspire others in nature conservation. Knowledge and understanding of working to management plans and agri-environment schemes would be advantageous.

An out-going, approachable and friendly personality with the ability to work with a wide range of people is essential coupled with a passion for the joy of nature. You might be very experienced or relatively new to the sector and the salary offered will be determined by what grade you fall in to.

The job will involve being outdoors undertaking practical tasks for most days of the year and a driving licence is essential as our locations cannot easily be accessed by public transport.

We are committed to having an inclusive and diverse workplace and encourage applications from backgrounds which may be underrepresented in our sector, including people from minority ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities. We aim to offer an interview to all candidates that meet the essential criteria for the post. Please let us know if you require any adjustment to make our recruitment process more accessible; recruitment will be in person unless covid guidance recommends otherwise.

Candidates may be contacted/interviewed as applications are received so please apply early to avoid missing out. Practical interviews will be in the week following the closing date.

Guided by a collaborative vision where we all play a part in connecting nature, we provide expert advice and guidance to landowners and managers, making sure the land we look after leads by example, while inspiring and educating people and organisations across the county on what they can do. By doing this we will create a Surrey that is full of diverse and abundant wildlife, where nature is at the heart of individual choices, corporate decisions, and local economic and policy making. One that helps tackle the ongoing climate emergency, while supporting the health and wellbeing of all who live here.