Senior Reserves Lead (Maternity Cover)

Join Wild Ground and help shape the future of nature conservation across North Wales

Wild Ground, part of Groundwork North Wales, is seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Senior Reserves Lead to provide maternity cover for a key leadership role within our Environment Team. Based in Wrexham, you will lead the management and conservation of our nature reserves, ensuring habitats are maintained and enhanced for wildlife while supporting environmental projects, volunteers, and community engagement activities.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with practical conservation experience, strong leadership skills, and a passion for biodiversity to help deliver meaningful environmental outcomes across North Wales.

Why Join Us?

This role offers the opportunity to:

• Lead conservation work across valuable nature reserves.
• Make a tangible impact on biodiversity and local communities.
• Work with a dedicated and passionate environmental team.
• Develop and deliver projects that inspire volunteers, trainees, and future generations to connect with nature.

Key Responsibilities

Nature Reserve Management

• Lead practical habitat and site management across Wild Ground nature reserves.
• Deliver site management plans and meet contractual and funding requirements.
• Carry out habitat management, site maintenance, wildlife surveys, and ecological monitoring.
• Coordinate site and tree safety processes across Wild Ground and Groundwork sites.
• Support licensing applications and habitat management requirements.
• Plan and participate in annual great crested newt surveys, including occasional unsociable hours.

Team Leadership

• Line manage and support Reserves Officers and other direct reports.
• Assist with staff and equipment resource planning.
• Support volunteer recruitment, training, supervision, and development.
• Foster positive relationships with contractors, local authorities, community groups, stakeholders, and partners.

Project Delivery & Community Engagement

• Ensure environmental projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and to a high standard.
• Prepare risk assessments, project reports, monitoring records, and evaluation evidence.
• Deliver educational and community-based environmental programmes with schools, volunteers, and trainees.
• Train participants in safe working practices and the correct use of tools and equipment.
• Support project promotion, reporting, and future funding applications.

Essential Requirements

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate:

• Level 3 qualification (or equivalent experience) in nature conservation management or a related field.
• Knowledge and practical experience in biodiversity conservation, environmental management, and habitat management.
• Experience leading conservation and land management programmes.
• Experience conducting wildlife surveys and ecological monitoring.
• Experience producing project reports and maintaining accurate records.
• Experience delivering educational sessions and public engagement activities.
• Staff management and volunteer supervision experience.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise workloads.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Knowledge of health and safety requirements and safe working practices.
• A full UK manual driving licence.
• A commitment to equality, diversity, and the values of Groundwork North Wales.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

• IOSH Working Safely qualification.
• MIDAS Certificate.
• Practical land-based management qualifications.
• First Aid at Work and forestry-related qualifications.
• Level 3 Award in Education and Training (or equivalent).
• Intermediate Tree Inspection qualification.
• Experience in amphibian conservation.
• Experience collecting, analysing, and managing ecological data using GIS.
• Ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh.

If you are a motivated conservation professional with leadership experience and a passion for protecting and enhancing the natural environment, we would love to hear from you.