Biodiversity Manager

About Us

Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust (MGET) is a local charity, actively working to improve and enhance the Mersey Estuary for people and wildlife. Our work is based around the Upper Mersey Estuary – a tidal environment which has a rich industrial legacy, but also wonderful habitats that benefit from our protection and conservation.

Our work enables innovative nature conservation, working at the forefront of estuarine research, providing unique solutions to environmental monitoring, practical nature conservation and involvement of local communities in our activities.

About the Role

The Biodiversity Manager will work within the team and with the Board of Trustees to deliver the objectives and actions of MGET.

This is a crucial role that will oversee the environmental management, environmental monitoring, project work and other and nature conservation activities within the remit of the Trust. The Biodiversity Manager will also continue to support the work of the existing ‘Living Laboratory’ that strives to establish MGET as a centre of excellence for environmental monitoring and research through links with academic and other research organisations.

Working with a wide range of stakeholders, the Biodiversity Manager will be required to communicate the work of the organisation, its projects and ambitions effectively and passionately to a variety of audiences.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• To assist in the delivery of the Trust’s obligation to improve, enhance and protect habitats in and around the Mersey estuary, including the development of monitoring programmes and delivery schedules.
• To manage the Living Laboratory of the Trust, i.e. engaging with our Research Board, academic institutions, other organisations and the community to design and deliver projects that enhance our estuarine research and data collection.
• To assist in developing project ideas, identifying funding sources, writing funding applications, as well as leading on projects. This includes elements of budgeting and financial oversight.
• To support the development of MGET as the catalyst for long-term and sub-regional innovative environmental improvements across the whole of the Upper Mersey Estuary and related areas.
• To lead on data acquisition and analysis, as well as processing data to present to a variety of audiences.
• To support the Chief Exec in the business operation duties to maintain appropriate governance structures.
• To assist in providing ecological and professional guidance to MGET stakeholders on biodiversity matters, with a focus on estuarine habitats and estuarine nature conservation.
• To participate in engagements with partner organisations, the public, or other stakeholders.
• To act as advocate and representative of MGET.
• To keep up-to-date with changes in environmental guidance, policy and law to ensure that MGET is at the forefront of best practice.
• To undertake any other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time, which are commensurate with the grade of the job.

About You

We are looking for a dynamic and passionate leader who will be a champion for the nature conservation efforts in and around the Mersey estuary. This role will offer you the opportunity to combine ecology, active nature conservation, research, and community interaction, while working in a small and passionate team.

You will have environmental expertise and habitat conservation skills and be able to apply these in a highly organised way, using project management or other organisational skills, while also being able to communicate in a flexible manner with a wide range of audiences.

What We Are Looking For

Leadership: you have a positive mindset to complex projects and are comfortable leading on multiple elements at the same time. You thrive in collaborative environments, exchanging ideas and tasks with colleagues and stakeholders, adding value to individual projects, but also the overall ambitions of MGET.

Knowledge and passion: You will bring ecological and/or nature conservation knowledge with you, but you will be engaged and pro-active in learning more about your local patch and beyond by being out in the field, talking to stakeholders or initiating research projects to learn more about the questions we have not answered yet. You will be passionate, open-minded and curious to find gaps of knowledge and widen our understanding of the estuarine and neighbouring habitats and communities.

Communication: You have a track record of being able to communicate complex topics to a variety of stakeholders, including those familiar with nature conservation, but equally people who have little to no knowledge of our work. You enjoy making new contacts and are able to express yourself professionally.

Organisation and teamwork: You are well organised with an eye for detail, prioritising activities and projects according to their needs, as well as being able to multi-task and delegate where necessary, all while keeping the overall ambitions of MGET as your main focus. You thrive in a team environment, but are equally comfortable to work self-directed and on your own.

General Terms and Conditions

Tenure: Part-time (29.6h per week, e.g. 4 days)
Salary: starting salary £41,771 pro rata, increasing with years of service and adjustment to pay awards.
Pension: automatic enrolment into Nest Pension. Employees can decide to dis-enrol from the pension scheme if they choose. Minimum employee contribution 6% of salary and employer contribution 10% of salary.
Holidays: The number of days paid holiday per year is 25 days for a 37½ hour week exclusive of Bank and Statutory Holidays. If you start your employment during the leave year, the holiday entitlement will be calculated on a pro-rata basis depending on the number of completed months of service and hours worked.
Place of work: This is a hybrid role where we combine home and office work, as well as working on site. The office is located at 9 Howard Court, Runcorn, WA7 1SJ. You are generally expected to work from the office or on site at least once a week.
Hours: Normal working hours are assumed to be between 9am-5pm (30 min lunch break). Flexible working is possible. Occasional evening and weekend work will be required.
Transport: The ability to drive and access to a vehicle is required for this post. Business use car insurance is the responsibility of the successful applicant.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Educated to degree level, or relevant experience within the nature conservation/ecology sector.
• Significant experience of ecology and nature conservation practice
• Good experience in project work, including monitoring and reporting elements
• Experience dealing with stakeholders from a variety of disciplines
• Good knowledge and understanding of legislation and national policy requirements relating to ecology and the natural environment in England
• Knowledge of GIS (Geographical Information Systems)
• Good knowledge in preparing funding applications, communicating with (potential) funders and project initiation
• Keeping records of work undertaken and outcomes
• Reliability, good attendance and work performance
• Excellent organisational, eye for detail, and networking skills

Desirable:

• Working experience in a research environment
• Experience in environmental education and community engagement
• Knowledge of health and safety in the natural environment
• Knowledge of Estuaries and their complexity
• Ability to set performance objectives and ensure these are achieved

Essential and desirable skills will be scored through your application, during the assessment and the interview. An assessment will be set if the applicant is invited to interview for the role.

Applicants may use AI tools to check grammar, spelling, and readability. However, all submitted work must be original and accurately reflect your individual skills.

MGET holds strong social responsibility ideals, environmental sustainability is at the heart of the organisation and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expect all staff, workers and volunteers to share its commitment.

Interviews for this post, including assessment, are held on 10th December 2026.

For an informal chat or questions, please contact Dr Andrea Drewitt on 07523685401 or [email protected]

Please note: the application link directs you to the Halton Borough Council job portal. The job is independent of Halton Borough Council and directly with MGET.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE.