Conservation Grazing Manager

We have an opportunity for a grazing specialist to join us at Essex Wildlife Trust to lead on all aspects of our grazing management.

As the Conservation Grazing Manager (CGM), you will lead a team of Conservation Grazing
Officers and volunteer “lookers.” Together, you will oversee the successful execution of the
annual grazing programme across our reserves, while ensuring the health and welfare of our
in-house livestock in accordance with the ‘five freedoms.’ Your role will also focus on
maintaining the health and safety of all grazing operations, whether licensed or in-house, and
steering these activities towards greater sustainability and cost-efficiency.

In this role, you will provide practical and technical guidance on all aspects of grazing and
livestock husbandry, including infrastructure, handling, and safe transportation. You will also
be directly responsible for the registration, auditing, and sale of all livestock, adhering to
the Trust’s financial procedures.

You will be expected to maintain and update a Grazing Business Plan that supports sound asset
management and sustainable growth for our herds and flocks. This includes regular income
forecasting from livestock sales and overseeing the compliance and organisation of livestock
movements, pedigree herd-books, and animal registers, delegating these tasks as necessary.
Additionally, you will play a key role in developing and supporting the grazing team, ensuring
resilience and effective succession planning.

Your responsibilities will extend to negotiating, renewing, and managing the contracts and
licences with all grazing licensees and contractors on the Trust’s landholdings. As the lead
officer, you will ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and statutory land management
regulations related to grazing, livestock movements, and animal welfare.

Collaboration with the Conservation Evidence team will be essential, as you work together to
monitor the impacts of grazing on the biodiversity of our nature reserves, making adjustments
to the grazing programme to maximise ecological benefits.

Grazing plays a vital role in maintaining Essex’s landscapes and biodiversity. The county’s
diverse habitats, including grasslands, woodlands, wetlands, and coastal areas, benefit
significantly from the managed grazing of cattle, sheep, and ponies. Essex Wildlife Trust is at
the forefront of managing these natural spaces, with numerous nature reserves that thrive under
well-planned grazing regimes.