Head of Conservation

Head of Conservation
Leicester
£37,000 per annum
Permanent, Full Time

Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust is an independent charity that works to protect and enhance the wildlife and wild places of Leicestershire and Rutland, and to engage people with nature.

We are currently looking for an experienced professional with exceptional qualities to be appointed as Head of Conservation and take forward the Trust’s vision for a Living Landscape, rich in wildlife, valued and enjoyed by all.

Based at based at our headquarters building, The Old Mill, in Leicester, you will have overall responsibility for development and delivery of nature conservation activity on our nature reserves and in the wider countryside, leading a Conservation Team of 10 staff and substantial volunteer support.

The Team is responsible for managing 34 nature reserves covering 841 hectares and including 18 SSSIs and two NNRs.  This nature reserve portfolio includes eight ancient woodlands, a number of fine grasslands, several small old quarries, a large area of heathland within a 224 hectare site, and various wetland creation sites including 160 hectares of land alongside the River Soar. The Trust is continually seeking opportunities to strategically increase its land / nature reserve holdings.

The Team also carries out the Trust's work in the wider countryside, both by providing advice on biodiversity and, at a higher level, working to influence the policies and practice of relevant authorities and organisations by advocacy and partnership working.

The Head of Conservation will also contribute to the overall development of the Trust by taking a lead role in devising and delivering initiatives in nature conservation, in wider-scale advocacy for biodiversity, and in public awareness of and engagement with wildlife and nature.

The successful candidate will possess excellent leadership skills, have extensive natural history knowledge, experience of relevant policy and legislation and a proven track record in land management, partnership working, project development and income generation.

You must be able to maintain our high standards in conservation management, and have an enthusiasm to spearhead new initiatives in public awareness and engagement to achieve a positive impact on biodiversity across the two counties.

If you have a high level of commitment for protecting and restoring the natural environment and its wildlife, we would love to hear from you!