Natural England Cumbria Area Team is seeking a Senior Reserve Manager to join the South Cumbria Area Team as part of its National Nature Reserve (NNR) group of staff. Our National Nature Reserves (NNRs) are at the forefront of nature recovery and people engagement and are at the heart of achieving Natural England’s ambitions outlined in our new 5-year strategy. This role is fundamental to the delivery of the NNR Management plans and the ambitions of NNRs, providing key operational delivery on the reserves
thereby ensuring the NNR series can achieve its role in delivering the Government’s ambitious 25-year plan.
The principal NNRs to be managed by this role are:
The role will sit within a wider team in South Cumbria who are also responsible for :
The post will be based at our new NNR base at Earnse Bay, North Walney, within the Earnse Bay Hub. The building will act as the main operational hub for North Walney and Southwest Cumbria NNRs and will support operational and strategic partnership work that delivers nature recovery and public health benefits across Morecambe Bay. It will also provide a base for staff, volunteers, visiting schools and participants, and host a wide range of activities delivered by the Cumbria Area Team and partners. The post holder is required to have an active onsite presence and be based at North Walney for a minimum of 3 days per week.
The role may require some weekend, public holiday and evening work.
Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities
- To provide strategic leadership to deliver Natural England ambitions and drive the NNR / NRN agenda, across south Cumbria’s reserves on a landscape scale.
- To develop and oversee strategic and operational delivery plans for our SW Cumbria NNR group.
- To be responsible for delivering high value and strategically complex work programmes on our SW Cumbria NNR’s, dealing with challenging and complex external issues (e.g. with partners).
- To support the Earnse Project partnership project by developing and supporting long-term volunteer development and access and interpretation improvements at North Walney NNR.
- To support the development of the new North Walney capital build project
- The capital project is progressing at pace and requires direct SRM input to ensure the building is fully functional, kitted out and fit for purpose, working closely with both the internal and design teams. Once complete, the SRM will act as site supervisor, overseeing facilities management, maintenance, site health and safety, upkeep of the workshop and ensuring the building is fully resourced for NNR operational use.
- To play an integral role pursuing and maintaining external partnerships to achieve and develop our SW Cumbria NNR ambitions.
- To provide functional (and/or) line management to NNR staff and volunteers including responsibility for H&S across the reserves.
- To engage with wider organisation across Programmes and Directorates helping to shape policy and future direction for NNRs.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Leadership (essential) – ability to line manage and develop others and manage volunteers in a remote setting to achieve good environmental outcomes. Motivate individuals and groups and use coaching and a range of engagement styles.
H&S (essential) – Including risk assessment and management. Ability to demonstrate good judgement and decision making in complex situations. Experience of the range of tasks required on site and the equipment associated and ability to operate machinery.
Work delivery (essential) – ability to manage complex, landscape scale or Area Team (AT) - wide NNR projects and programmes. Evaluate and assess priorities between NNR groups and balance NNR resources across their area of responsibility. Working with Reserve Managers, ensure delivery is on time and to budget.
Collaborating and partnerships (desirable) - demonstrates honesty and integrity, steers, or leads NE’s contribution to existing partnerships, has skills for issue resolution. Understands partners’ objectives and needs; can apply strategic thinking to identify the potential for new partnerships/relationships and negotiating skills to establish them.
Technical skills (essential) – knowledge of the purposes of NNRs, the principles of site
selection and the mechanisms involved in tenure, declaration, and other relevant legal and
regulatory processes. An understanding of the diversity of reserve activities and the types of methods, tools and equipment used. Competence in relevant IT. Budget management and planning skills, including external funding. Competence in prioritising and planning
programmes of work across multiple sites and years.
Environmental and organisational outcomes (desirable) – An understanding of (i) local, regional and national environmental issues; (ii) Local Nature Recovery
How to Apply
We welcome and encourage applications from all communities. Natural England is accredited to the Disability Confident Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the role at the shortlisting stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview.
If you require a reasonable adjustment at interview, or there is anything else you would like the panel to take into consideration, you should notify us of this at application stage where possible, or well in advance of your interview. We now provide primary interview questions in advance for all formal recruitments.
This vacancy uses competency-based assessment. We'll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process:
- Technical Skills and Knowledge
- Creating Resilient Landscapes and Seas
- Putting People at the Heart of the Environment
- Working Safely
When completing the application form you should present relevant examples using the STAR format. Give us an example of how you have demonstrated the competency (which can be work related or from another area of your life) and tell us about the Situation, the specific Task you had to undertake, the specific Actions you took, and the Result (both immediate and in a wider context) of your Action.
Please note that STAR format is not required when answering the Technical Skills & Knowledge competency.
Examples should be given in no more than 250 words for each competency.
If you are successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to attend an interview via MS Teams or a suitable alternative, where you will be asked to give examples for all competencies as set out in the Job Description.
Pay
It is Natural England policy to employ at the entry point of the salary range.
Benefits
At Natural England, we support a healthy work-life balance by offering full-time, part-time, and flexible working arrangements.
We provide excellent opportunities for career progression, training, and development tailored to your role. This includes ten days annually for personal learning and development, plus three additional days for volunteering.
You’ll receive a generous leave allowance of 25 days per year (pro rata), increasing by one day for each year of service up to 30 days (pro-rata), access to the Civil Service Pension scheme with a 28.97% employer contribution, and a range of benefits such as shopping discounts and a cycle-to-work scheme. Staff can also join the Civil Service Sport club for discounts on sports, leisure activities, and social events.
We are committed to fairness, equality, and inclusivity. Our employee-led diversity networks help foster a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and supported
How to Apply
We welcome and encourage applications from all communities. Natural England is accredited to the Disability Confident Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the role at the shortlisting stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview.
If you require a reasonable adjustment at interview, or there is anything else you would like the panel to take into consideration, you should notify us of this at application stage where possible, or well in advance of your interview. We now provide primary interview questions in advance for all formal recruitments.
This vacancy uses competency-based assessment. We'll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process:
- Technical Skills
- Creating Resilient Landscapes and Seas
- Personal Effectiveness
- Work Delivery
