Nature Reserves Manager

Permanent, Full Time (35 hours per week)
Closing date – 15th June 2026
Interviews will be held on 23rd & 26th June 2026

We are seeking a Nature Reserves Manager to oversee the day-to-day responsibility for SWT’s nature reserves and to work with the Head of Conservation and Policy to ensure that the sites play an enhanced role in achieving our strategic goals in conservation, people engagement and natural capital.

This is a key role in ensuring SWT’s nature reserves are maintained in good ecological and hydrological condition, are accessible, welcoming and well known to the widest possible audience, and that demonstration sites are managed on a commercially viable basis to deliver ecosystem services, including biodiversity net gain (BNG).

What you will be doing:

You will oversee annual budgeting, financial monitoring, grant funding applications, environmental land management (ELM) payments and biodiversity net gain (BNG) delivery, ensuring projects are managed on a commercially viable basis and achieve full cost recovery where appropriate.

You will also be responsible for maintaining site infrastructure, ensuring compliance with health and safety requirements, overseeing grazing management, and managing reserve documentation, leases and legal records. Working closely with internal teams, you will help improve accessibility and visitor engagement across SWT sites, strengthen integration with wider SWT programmes, and maximise the contribution of volunteers.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Strong leadership and organisational skills
• Significant experience in land management within conservation or a related field
• Strong project management experience
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Ability to build positive working relationships both internally and externally
• Sound financial planning and management skills
• A valid UK driving license is essential.

The Trust is committed to building an equal, diverse and inclusive workforce we encourage applications from a diverse range of suitably qualified candidates. Please let us know if you require any adjustments to make our recruitment process more accessible.

Why work for us – benefits we offer:

• 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays and Service related holiday (pro-rated for part time staff)
• Salary sacrifice benefits
• Life assurance
• Generous pension – company contribution 7%, employee contribution 3%
• Enhanced Sick Pay
• Flexible working policy
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Staff discounts
• Employee away days
• Enhanced pay for maternity and adoption leave
• Coaching
• Support with training and development to assist career progression
• Inclusive & supportive work atmosphere

About us:

Shropshire Wildlife Trust (SWT) has a vision of a thriving natural world, where Shropshire’s wildlife and natural habitats play a valued role in addressing the climate and ecological emergencies, and people are inspired and empowered to take action for nature. We combine projects across Shropshire (including Telford & Wrekin) with advocacy and campaigning to restore nature and to engage people. We manage over 40 nature reserves and have almost 50 staff, 300 volunteers, and over 9000 members. SWT is an autonomous charity, but we are increasingly working collectively, as part of The Wildlife Trusts (TWT), to ensure that our local actions have a national impact and help to address global issues.