Job Title:  Reserves Officer

Main Job Purpose: 

The Reserves Officer supports the management, conservation and protection of wildlife and habitats across our nature reserves and reserve-based projects. 

The role delivers practical land management with intellectual oversight to implement, monitor, and review reserve management plans 

• Engaging with a range of stakeholders, partners, landowners, volunteers and contractors to ensure the sustainable preservation of wildlife and their habitats.
• Delivering practical habitat, infrastructure work and estate management work, utilising key volunteer teams and oversee the delivery of works undertaken by contractors to support the management of nature reserves

Term:  Permanent Full time

Reports to:  Nature Reserves Manager

Location: Queenswood and HWT Reserves

Management Responsibility:  Volunteer work parties, and volunteer wardens

Liaison with:  Nature Reserves Manager, Contractors, Volunteers, Partners and landowners

Key Responsibilities:

1. Habitat Maintenance and Conservation:

• Produce, implement, monitor and review Reserve Management Plans including mapping of key features, according to best practice and experience;
• Manage and maintain natural habitats and monitor in accordance with management plans and funded grant programmes (e.g. Environment Schemes, National Lottery and Landfill Communities Fund etc.) to ensure best practice in habitat management and to maximise conservation gain;
• Carry out practical reserve maintenance ( e.g. fencing and gateway repairs, tree works, hedge maintenance, grass cutting, building maintenance etc)
• Commission and oversee contractors to undertake management and capital work as required, in line with HWT procurement policy;
• Undertake assessment and surveys at reserves including but not limited to: tree and hedge surveys, habitat surveys, infrastructure audits, etc;
• Integrate newly acquired sites into the Reserves portfolio including producing management plans, developing links with stakeholders, establishing volunteer support, applying for environment schemes and other funding and the delivery of projects such as installation of infrastructure and interpretation and habitat creation and restoration;
• Support the Reserves Manager with divesting nature reserves by identifying potential sites for divestment, conducting relevant surveys, liaising with volunteer wardens and stakeholders, completing agreed actions

2. Public Engagement and Education:

• Recruit and manage Volunteer Reserve Wardens: create work plans and ensuring compliance with Health and Safety policies;
• Run Young Nature Rangers on a bi-monthly basis.
• Organise, promote and lead volunteer work parties undertaking practical management works on Reserves, both mid-week and at weekends, and support volunteer-led work parties, ensuring all work is carried out in line with the HWT’s Health and Safety policy;
• Lead guided walks and other public engagement activities and work with colleagues to produce interpretation for Reserves;
• Produce content for  HWT media with articles and news stories for our members

3. H&S Compliance:

• Prepare, implement, and review sites and activity risk assessments
• Conduct regular checks and reporting on Reserve infrastructure
• Carry out Tree safety inspections and other relevant safety inspections
• Report incidents and near-misses through appropriate channels( including RIDDOR)
• Follow Reserve Team H&S procedures(e.g. Lone Working, Working near Water, Safeguarding, COSHH, PUWER, LOLER, HAVS)
• Undertake regular maintenance of tools, equipment, machinery and work vehicles
• Ensure safe working practices for volunteers and respective work parties, completing relevant paperwork and active monitoring

4. Research and Data Analysis:

• Contribute to environment scheme applications through the completion of maps and forms;
• Undertake annual survey on individual reserves as required (ie bird surveys, botanical surveys, tress surveys, habitat surveys)
• Collect and collate date on individual reserves including but not limited to: infrastructure, public access, ecology, biodiversity and species management.

5. Collaboration and Liaison:

• Work proactively with partner organisations, landowners and other stakeholders and advisors, particularly in the vicinity of HWT Nature Reserves, to minimise external pressures on Reserves and maximise opportunities to pursue more sensitive management and use of connected land and landscapes;
• Attend regular Reserve Team and staff meetings and contribute to the team operations and planning.

6. Reports and Budgets

• Manage individual reserve budgets, including applying for, managing, claiming, and reporting on grant funding including Government Environment Schemes (ie HLS, CSS, SFI).   
• Support the Nature Reserves Manager in the preparation and monitoring of annual budgets using Xledger software
• Prepare reports and data when required for budgets, project reporting, environment scheme evidence, carbon audits and impact measures;

Other duties

• Comply with Health and Safety and all organisational policies, including equal opportunities 
• Engage in formal and informal opportunities for personal and professional development, participate in appropriate training activities in consultation with your line manager
• Contribute to external and internal communications, media and events as required.
• Act as an ambassador for Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, constructing and maintaining positive relationships with volunteers, visitors and other organisations
• Actively encourage those you with whom you come into professional contact to become members of HWT (all staff are regarded as membership recruiters)
• Undertake any other reasonable duties consistent with the level of the role.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Degree or relevant experience in Biological/Environmental Science, Ecology, or Countryside Management and/or at least 3 years’ experience in delivering habitat management through volunteers, contractors, and graziers.

Essential Knowledge and Experience

• Practical conservation and estate management experience, with competency using a range of tools.
• Experience of leadership, supervision, recruitment and training of volunteers
• Experience of writing, monitoring, and reviewing management plans;
• Understanding of Common Standards / Rapid Assessment Monitoring;
• Knowledge of SHE regulations including Risk Assessments
• Knowledge of wildlife habitats, associated species and their management

Desirable

• Knowledge of relevant UK and European Countryside and Rights of Way and Wildlife and Countryside legislation;
• Knowledge of current Government Environment and woodland management schemes
• Experience of working to budget and grand funded projects
• Experience of dealing with conflict and complaints
• First aid at work certificate

Skills Essential

• Strong practical skills for wildlife habitat and estate management 
• (e.g., fencing, tree felling, forestry, grassland management, infrastructure and signage installation )
• Chainsaw certificates for maintenance, cross-cutting and felling small trees;
• Strimmer and brush cutter certificate;
• Ability to organise and prioritise work, generate and assess ideas and adopt a logical problem-solving approach. 
• Clear verbal and written communication skills; 
• Enthusiasm, motivation, and a positive approach to conservation challenges
• Proficiency in data collection, GPS mapping, and using wildlife monitoring tools.
• Strong IT skills, (MS Office and Outlook)

Other Essential 

We welcome applications from disabled people and will explore reasonable adjustments for all aspects of this role.

• The role involves regular outdoor practical work on uneven terrain and in varied weather conditions. Reasonable adjustments to support task completion will be considered.
• Full Valid Driving licence (alternative arrangements or adjustments will be considered where possible).
• Enhanced DBS Check
• Willingness to work approximately 12 weekends per year. We are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments or flexible approaches to scheduling.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Passionate about the importance of British wildlife and the natural environment to the health and sustainability of the planet’s climate and eco-systems.
• Committed to ecological land use and sustainable management.
• Proactive and enthusiastic,  and adaptable

We are a Disability Confident Committed employer and welcome applications from disabled people and guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. We will provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and in the workplace. If you require adjustments, please let us know.