Reserves Officer (Isle of Wight) x2

Reserves Officer (Isle of Wight) (Two Positions Available)
Full Time – 35 Hours per Week
Salary: £27,000 - £31,600 gross per annum depending on skills and experience
Permanent Contract
Location: Little Duxmore Farm, Rowlands Lane, Isle of Wight, PO33 4DF

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is shaping a wilder future for our counties – protecting special places, restoring habitats and inspiring people to act for nature. As part of the UK’s fastest-growing movement for nature’s recovery, we lead with passion, integrity and bold thinking. Join a team where your work has purpose, your ideas matter, and you can help create lasting change for wildlife and people.

We are seeking two Reserves Officers (Isle of Wight) to join our cause.

Reporting to the Estates Manager (Isle of Wight), the postholders provide reserve management across a range of nature reserves and habitat types. Working as part the estate delivery team, they will help drive delivery of departmental priorities as well as Trust strategic objectives.

The department’s priorities are to manage our nature reserves to the highest environmental and ecological standards, adapting to climate change and supporting nature restoration and rewilding. This includes reintroducing key missing species where appropriate and expanding and connecting the estate to make it more resilient.

Our estate plays a key role in contributing to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and ’30 by 30’ goals, as well as showcasing abundant and diverse wildlife and inspiring people to form a connection with nature. The department develops and delivers effective nature-based solutions that reduce environmental harm and benefit both people and wildlife. We aim to be a trusted provider of high-quality land management and restoration, share our expertise with others, and base all our work on strong evidence and monitoring to help speed up nature’s recovery.

What you’ll be doing

You will ensure effective delivery of conservation management across a suite of nature reserves, ensuring all contractual and statutory obligations are delivered whilst working sensitively and safely to deliver the Trust’s strategic objectives.

You’ll use clear, strategic thinking and be able to turn plans into effective action. Strong negotiation and diplomacy skills are essential for building productive partnerships with local authorities, statutory agencies, other eNGOs, and local communities.

You’ll build and maintain excellent internal relationships, clear and timely communication, and a strong commitment to cross-departmental collaboration as the Trust develops integrated, place-based work programmes under our refreshed Wilder 2030 strategy.

What we’re looking for

• You’ll be an experienced and practical conservation professional with a strong understanding of habitat management and a passion for nature’s recovery. You’ll bring hands-on experience of managing land for wildlife, along with the confidence and knowledge to lead people and projects safely and effectively.
• Highly organised and adaptable, you’ll combine ecological knowledge with the ability to turn plans into action, delivering tangible results on the ground.
• Collaborative and self-motivated, you’ll thrive in a role that balances practical work, partnership building, team working, and the shared ambition to create a wilder Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

Closing date: 16 January 2026
Interviews: To be confirmed