About the job

Job summary

This position is based at Parsonage Down NNR Salisbury

Job description

Do you have a passion for nature and the environment? Do you want to make a real difference and secure significant environmental gains in the present and the future? Do you enjoy working in a team? Can you see yourself advising communities and customers to maximise gains for the Natural Environment?

If this appeals to you, a career at Natural England offers rewarding opportunities to secure environmental improvements and play your part in creating a better future for people and nature.

We are seeking a motivated and passionate Reserve Manager to work as part of our Parsonage Down National Nature Reserve (NNR) team. The NNR is 285Ha in total, 185Ha of which are SSSI chalk grassland. The remaining 100Ha is non SSSI farmland that supports a nature based sustainable farming system.

You will be working alongside our Parsonage Down Farm Manager and Stockperson. You will be line managed by our Wiltshire Senior Reserve Manager (SRM). The Reserve Manager will be responsible for habitat management on the SSSI, working with the Farm Manager to maintaining appropriate stocking densities and timings to deliver the management plan objectives.

The role is based within the 'Wessex Area Team' covering the counties; Somerset, Avon, Wiltshire and Dorset responsible for delivering environmental outcomes. The team draws on a range of tools including land management and planning advice, engagement with stakeholders and direct management of our own land, to progress our nature recovery ambitions across Wiltshire.

Job description 1 

Role description

• Delivery of the established NNR Management Plan work programme.
• Lead delivery of practical works on site infrastructure (e.g. fencing) and habitat management (e.g. scrub clearance, tree planting)
• Monitor grazing management of the SSSI chalk grassland to ensure it is delivering the NNR management plan objectives.
• Co-ordinate the delivery of the survey and monitoring programme e.g. botanical and invertebrate surveys
• Manage NNR contracts within allocated budgets e.g. major site infrastructure, habitat works or tree safety.
• Lead the weekly volunteer team in delivering practical tasks on the NNR.
• Lead development of volunteering opportunities and engagement with the local community that supports the NNR’s objectives for “Connecting People with Nature”
• Lead on NE’s H&S responsibilities for tree safety and site infrastructure on the NNR. Assist with built infrastructure, machinery maintenance, vehicle checks etc. and undertake timely H&S reporting.
• Supervise contractors, volunteers and apprentices as required.
• Assist SRM in developing partnerships for landscape scale connectivity of the NNR.
• Ensure Natural England complies with the terms of its leases, agreements, licences, and responsibilities as a landowner relating to NNR operations e.g. Open Access legislation.
• Support the Farm Manager with livestock husbandry of cattle and sheep including calving, cattle handling, and stock checks.
• Support the Farm Manager with daily farm tasks e.g. feeding, bedding up, hay making, topping etc.

Additional information

A driving licence is essential for the role.

Some occasional out of hours work may be required.

Benefits

Wherever possible Natural England accommodates requests for both full-time and part-time hours and other flexible working patterns to help employees achieve a good work/life balance and maintain their health and wellbeing.

Natural England provides excellent opportunities for career progression, training and development tailored to your role. From induction to ongoing learning and development, everyone in Natural England is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. Everyone has 10 days to devote to personal learning and development, as well as an additional 3 days to volunteer.

You will have access to Civil Service Pension and benefits arrangements and generous leave allowances (33 day per year pro rata), as well as flexible working, to help you achieve a work-life balance that works for you and us.

You will have access to a range of benefits including discounts on shopping vouchers, cycle to work scheme, and childcare vouchers. You can also join the Civil Service Sport club which offer discounts on a range of sports and leisure opportunities as well as social events.

Natural England is a fantastic place to work, where difference is celebrated.

We’re committed to fairness and equality for all, so you feel valued for who you are and what you do. Our shared values help us work together to benefit the communities we serve. Our thriving employee-led diversity networks support our inclusive culture and contribute to our Diversity Action Plan

Pay

It is Natural England policy to employ at the entry point of the salary range.

Natural England is undertaking a review of its current Staff Framework to ensure that it continues to be fit for purpose for the future and able to deliver its ambitions as an organisation. It will enable us to attract, retain, and grow our people to deliver our ambitious mission to build partnerships for nature recovery and provide enriching careers for our people. Role responsibilities will not change as a result of the review, but all roles will be assessed against the new Staff Framework and will be aligned to one of the new 3 Job Families (Shaping, Enabling and Delivering).

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.

This vacancy uses competency-based assessment. We'll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process:

• Technical skills and knowledge
• Working safely
• Work delivery
• Creating resilient landscapes
• Putting people at the heart of the environment

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 doing so.

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 five competencies as set out in the Job Description.

Competencies

Competence   1

Professional competency

Detail  

. Technical skills and knowledge

Description  

• Habitat management of species rich grassland, scrub & woodland. - Essential
  • Practical skills maintaining site infrastructure e.g. fencing, water supplies, access tracks, gates and signage. – Essential
  • Engaging and motivating volunteers and communities. – Essential
  • Experience of using machinery and undertaking basic maintenance. Any of tractor, telehandler, sit astride ATV, sit in ATV, brush cutter or chainsaw would be beneficial. – Desirable
  • Managing contracts, drafting specifications, and supervising contractors – Desirable
  • Species ID skills, survey, and monitoring experience – Desirable
  • Livestock experience – cattle and sheep - Desirable

Competence 2  

Professional competency

Detail  

1. Working safely

Description  

• Apply the principles of risk management and adopt safe working practices for yourself and the people you work with into everything you do - basic
  • Understand the duty of care owed to all visitors, contractors or others on our NNRs, and adhere to appropriate legislation and Natural England policies and procedures - basic

Competence 3  

Professional competency

Detail  

1. Work delivery

Description  

• Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines – basic

Competence 4  

Professional competency

Detail  

1. Creating resilient landscapes

Description  

• Recognise, identify and interpret environmental features on NNRs - practitioner
  • Understand and apply appropriate management techniques to maintain or enhance the condition of sites – practitioner

Competence 5  

Professional competency

Detail  

1. Putting people at the heart of the environment:

Description  

• Understand the importance of people accessing and engaging with the natural environment, and how to balance their needs with nature conservation objectives. - basic

 

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,318, Natural England contributes £7,945 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Please refer to Job Description

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.