Conservation Team Manager/Reserves Manager

£35,000 - £41,000 per annum dependent on current experience, with scope for role development and salary growth

Surrey is a diverse county of lowland heathland, calcareous grassland, woodland and wetlands. We are working hard to re-connect the landscape using an evidence-based approach, through practical habitat management, partnership working, community engagement and nature-based solutions.

We are looking to recruit a Conservation Team Manager to lead our team of Reserve Officers, to deliver nature conservation and restoration on over 60 nature reserves across the county, many of which have international conservation designations. The successful candidate will be a strong minded and practical person, with project and budget management skills and able to use logical thinking and imagination to expand and explore alternative approaches to nature restoration in Surrey.

The role requires the candidate to have a background in ecology with experience of a variety of habitats. They must be passionate about, and skilled in, nature conservation and able to motivate and drive a team of Reserves Officers, prioritising effectively to swiftly changing demands and complex issues.

You must have previous experience of successfully working within the environmental sector matched with a n out-going, personable and friendly approach, and the ability to work with a wide range of people.

Initially this role will manage all the Reserves Officers as one team working across the county whilst a colleague is on maternity leave; it is anticipated that in Spring/early Summer 2026, the role will be split across two areas broadly in the line with the revised Unitary Authority structure due to be put in place as a result of local government devolution.

SWT are looking to lead the way in Surrey to create functioning ecosystems, at scale, that provide resilience, biodiversity and increase bio-abundance for the benefit not only of nature but people too. This will require innovative and creative thinking as we move from nature conservation to nature restoration so someone with the energy to lead on this and support the team to turn this vision to reality is essential.

Interviews will be held in late January. The job profile and application form are available on our website. If you would like to have an informal discussion about the role or the salary, please contact Catherine Roberts, Deputy Chief Executive on 07967 575263.

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. Please let us know if you require any adjustment to make our recruitment process more accessible.

‘Our vision for a wilder Surrey is a future with abundant wildlife and nature recovery networks rich in biodiversity.’ We will realise this vision by creating bigger, better and more joined up areas of land for biodiversity benefit through direct conservation land management and key relationship management.

Surrey Wildlife Trust is one of 46 Wildlife Trusts across the UK, a grassroots movement working to protect and connect at least 30 per cent of land and sea for nature's recovery by 2030.

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.