Conservation Grazing Assistant

Introduction

We are looking for a motivated, dynamic, and passionate person to work with the Conservation Grazing Manager at Wild Haweswater to manage the site’s grazing animals (native-breed cattle, ponies and possibly pigs) on this large and exciting upland partnership reserve. Wild Haweswater is a collaborative partnership between RSPB and United Utilities in the Eastern Lake District. This is an exciting and varied role that presents a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference for nature, at scale. Haweswater is one of the RSPB’s flagship upland reserves, and this role will see the successful candidate help drive forward our conservation grazing vision to re-enable natural processes on this extensive site.

To make a success of this opportunity, you will assist the Conservation Grazing Manager livestock manager working with cattle and ponies. You will be able to apply your strong nature conservation and people skills in a pragmatic and focused way to enable the reserve team to deliver the best possible outcomes for water quality, priority habitats and species.

What’s the role about?

This is an exciting opportunity to play an important role in contributing to the delivery of conservation grazing across Wild Haweswater to help renature this important site.

Our in-house conservation grazing team manages the site with extensive cattle grazing (utilising NoFence technology) and Cumbrian Fell Ponies, to deliver our ecological land management.

Haweswater has long been an important site for demonstrating innovative techniques for habitat restoration, sustainable agriculture and upland management and remains one of our most important demonstration sites where we spend a significant amount of time hosting visits to the reserve.

Management on the reserve is often multi-layered and complex, so good project management skills twinned with forward thinking, and a keen willingness to solve practical problems will be required.

You will support the day-to-day reserve farming and grazing operations by managing the welfare of the livestock, assisting with the management of machinery, land and estate infrastructure to help implement the ecological objectives of the management plan.

However at Wild Haweswater, we have a large multi-disciplinary team (Wardening Team, Grazing Team, Tree Nursery Team, Celebration Woodland) and we have to be flexible with how we work. So there will be opportunities to get involved with all aspects of the work we do depending on where resource is needed.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Relevant ecological knowledge relating to grazing as a management tool.
• Excellent knowledge of cattle and pony husbandry particularly recognising and acting upon animal health and welfare issues requirements.
• Relevant knowledge of risk management and compliance requirements relating to agricultural and environmental legislation with particular reference to grazing, livestock and land operations.
• Good knowledge for the correct operational use, repair and maintenance of farm machinery and its associated powered or trailed equipment and attachments.
• Knowledge and understanding of the health, safety and welfare applying to reserves operations and management (e.g. risk assessments)
• Proficient and competent in a range of land management tasks related to the grazing operations e.g. building and maintaining fences, gates, in field water management structures, ditches and livestock holding pens.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Individual and team management skills.
• Record keeping/data management.
• Personal organisational including time management and prioritisation.
• Estate management, building maintenance.
• Working with visitors, volunteers and the media.

Additional information:

• This role is based in a remote and rural location.
• This role will involve some lone working.
• This role will require some weekend and evening working.
• This role is physically demanding and will involve working with and handling livestock.
• A full driving licence is required for this role.

This is a Permanent, Part-Time role for 15 hours per week.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on 29th May 2026. For further information please contact [email protected]

As part of this application process you will be asked to submit a CV and complete a short application form, an optional covering letter can be added to your CV document, if you so wish.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.