Dartmoor Headwaters Manager

About us

Dartmoor National Park Authority works in partnership with local and national stakeholders to conserve and enhance Dartmoor as a vibrant, living, working landscape and community teeming with natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage.

The Dartmoor Headwaters Programme is a multi-million-pound programme led by the Environment Agency and Southwest Water in collaboration with DNPA and other partners. The programme is working with landowners, land managers and communities to implement nature-based solutions and achieve multiple environmental outcomes such as nature enhancement, carbon storage, flood mitigation and the protection of cultural heritage.

We are now looking for a Headwaters Manager to join us to drive the delivery of catchment-based initiatives in line with the ambitious Dartmoor National Park Partnership Plan.

This is a full-time, 37hrs per week position, for a fixed term until March 2033.

The role is based at the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) offices at Parke, Bovey Tracey.

About the role

The role has two core objectives; the first is to oversee the delivery of the Dartmoor Headwaters Programme for DNPA. Secondly, you will work closely with partners and land managers to align and coordinate initiatives to help achieve a unified approach towards the shared landscape scale aspirations set out in the Dartmoor Partnership Plan, particularly around nature recovery.

Alongside these activities, you will also:

• Act as an advocate and champion for the programme and the catchment approach
• Manage a multi-disciplinary team of staff
• Set objectives and ensure outcomes are achieved
• Monitor and report on budgets and outcomes

This is an incredible opportunity for a motivated conservation professional to work within our outstanding National Park. Building upon the successes of previous pilot schemes, you will work with land managers, partners and communities to design, develop and implement environmentally sustainable solutions to restore peatland, reduce flood risk and improve biodiversity across Dartmoor.

The Benefits

• Salary of £39,862 - £44,075 per annum
• Generous annual leave and flexitime policies
• Cycle to work scheme
• Access to electric vehicle pool car fleet
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Beautiful office location on National Trust estate, with free parking and café on site
• Discounts at National Park Visitor Centres
• Free parking in our car parks on Dartmoor

About You

To be successful, you will need:

• Demonstrable experience of working in the conservation sector
• Expertise and proven success in project management as well as budgetary and financial controls
• Experience of successfully leading a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of working with farmers and land managers toward positive agricultural and/or environmental outcomes
• Experience of developing and sustaining active and successful partnerships at a strategic level

Closing date: Sunday 15th March 2026
Interview date: Tuesday 31st March 2024

Dartmoor National Park Authority is a disability confident and an equal opportunities employer, values diversity and is strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment.

So, if you’re seeking your next challenge as a Dartmoor Headwaters Manager, please apply via the button shown.