Contracts Manager (Conservation) – Mourne Park

The Woodland Trust is looking for a Contracts Manager (Conservation) for our Mourne Park estate. They will undertake the successful delivery of The National Lottery Heritage Fund project, Mourne Park – 500 years of undiscovered natural heritage, to target and budget.

The Role

• Plan, tender, procure and supervise estate contracts to high professional standards, ensuring full FSC and Health & Safety compliance.
• Deliver practical conservation work, including woodland creation, ancient woodland restoration, species recovery and heritage management.
• Carry out ecological monitoring and habitat assessments, using evidence from surveys and population checks to inform management decisions.
• Manage and supervise contractors to ensure methods, timing and standards support ecological objectives and minimise environmental impact.
• Secure and adhere to all required environmental consents, such as felling licences, protected species permissions and planning approvals.
• Work collaboratively with landowners, partners, agencies and local communities to promote good practice and support habitat restoration.
• Maintain accurate conservation records, monitoring data, reports and financial information to meet Trust and Heritage Fund requirements.
• Represent the Woodland Trust through events, engagement and communications, supporting advocacy, volunteer coordination, wider project delivery, and assisting the Community Development Officer in work with children, young people and vulnerable adults across community and educational settings.
• This is a fixed term contract until December 2029.

The Candidate

• Extensive experience delivering complex, multi disciplinary projects, ensuring effective planning, monitoring and delivery to time and budget.
• Strong background in forestry or conservation land management, including volunteer and community engagement.
• Proven ability to work with, develop and manage relationships with landowners and land owning partners.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with confident use of IT systems.
• Experience in public facing communications such as consultations, media work, lobbying and event management.
• Knowledge of native woodland creation techniques, woodland design for conservation and economic outcomes, and management of woodland creation sites.
• Commercially aware, innovative and collaborative, with the ability to deliver value for money, act with initiative and meet deadlines professionally.
• Preferably hold a relevant HND/degree in land, countryside, environmental or forestry management (or related field), along with a full UK driving licence.
• The successful candidate will be required to undertake a Enhanced Background Check, as part of our pre-employment screening.

Benefits and Wellbeing

Joining our team means you’ll be a big part of tackling environmental and climate issues. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer:

• Enhanced Employer Pension
• Life Assurance
• Flexible & Hybrid Working Options
• Generous Annual Leave – 25 Days Plus Bank Holidays (pro rata’d for part-time)
• Buy and Sell Holiday Scheme
• Enhanced Parental Pay
• Employee Assistance Programme

About Us

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. We want to see a world where trees and woods thrive for people and nature. The Trust engages and inspires people to make their difference tackling the nature and climate crisis helping protect, restore and create our vital woods and trees.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:

To achieve our vision of a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature, we need to better reflect society and the communities we work in. All people, no matter their background, identity, ability, or circumstance, should benefit from trees.

People of colour and disabled people are currently under-represented across the environment and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we particularly encourage you to apply.

Please contact us to discuss any additional support or adjustments you may need to complete your application.

Application Advice

For fairness we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, we do not ask for your CV at application stage OR so they do not see your CV until shortlisting is completed. Make sure that your Personal Statement clearly shows how your skills and knowledge link to the specifications in the job description and you share with us your passion for the role. Even if you don’t meet every requirement of the role, we would encourage you to apply.

Acceptable Use – Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We understand that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their job applications-for example, to help structure or edit written responses. We welcome the use of AI in this way, particularly where it helps improve accessibility, such as for neurodivergent applicants. However, we ask that any information submitted reflects your own experience, skills and understanding. During interviews, candidates are expected to respond independently without the use of AI tools. If you require any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected]

Apply Now

If you’re ready to make a difference and grow with us, send in your application today. We might close the job opening early if we get a lot of applications, so it’s a good idea to apply soon. If we do close the advert early, and you have an application in process, we will email you prior to closing to give you time to complete. For queries relating to this new opportunity please email [email protected]

Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams on April 28th and April 29th.