Site Manager

Are you a dynamic leader with the energy and experience to shape the future of one of the RSPB’s most important wetland reserves?

We’re looking for an inspiring and inclusive leader with experience in land management and visitor operations to oversee RSPB Ham Wall in Somerset.

Part of the Avalon Marshes and the Somerset Wetlands National Nature Reserve (NNR), Ham Wall is one of the RSPB’s greatest success stories—transforming a post-industrial landscape into one of the UK’s premier wetlands in just 30 years. Thoughtful design and innovative management of this 264ha reserve have made it the UK’s most important site for bittern, while also supporting cranes, marsh harriers, bearded reedlings, adders, otters, and one of the UK’s most spectacular starling roosts. Its location and diverse habitats make it a key site for species colonising from continental Europe, including great white egret and night heron.

As Site Manager, you’ll be responsible for delivering the objectives set out in the reserve management plan while providing a high-quality visitor experience. With over 70,000 visitors a year and a thriving membership recruitment operation, Ham Wall is a key site for connecting people with nature. You’ll lead and inspire a highly committed team of staff and volunteers to deliver excellence in wetland management and visitor engagement. Line management and leadership experience are essential for this role. You will also work alongside a variety of colleagues from across the RSPB in a matrix structure, including, but not limited to heath and safety, rural surveyors, ecology, conservation, fundraising, project management, communications and policy.

The Somerset Levels is a priority landscape for the RSPB and an exciting place to be part of a dedicated team. We’re part of a strong and aligned partnership that is driving a range of ambitious initiatives across the Levels, including two large-scale landscape recovery projects. You’ll also work alongside RSPB colleagues from our Sedgemoor reserves and off-site conservation teams, contributing to our delivery across the wider landscape.

To succeed, you’ll need to be a capable manager who works well with a wide range of people and can collaborate effectively with partners in the Avalon Marshes. Your strong programme and people management skills will help the reserve team achieve the best possible outcomes against our priorities.

You’ll often lead work programmes and projects, so enthusiasm, initiative, and diplomacy are key. You’ll need to communicate your passion for nature to others and have a hands-on approach to solving practical challenges.

You’ll need experience of managing income and expenditure budgets and have a commercially minded approach to ensure that we deliver a great visitor experience and generate a profit. You’ll also need to be a good, clear communicator and have an eye for detail, be able to manage systems and processes to ensure all our operations are legally, financially and organisationally compliant.

As Site Manager you will: 

• Manage day to day operations for habitats, species, people, visitors, finance and legal compliance.
• Inspire, lead and develop the dedicated team of 5 reserve staff and 100 volunteers.
• Be responsible for the review, update and implementation of the reserve management plan and business plan.
• Act as the main point of contact for the local community, neighbours, and partner organisations in order maintain good relationships.
• Enjoy the support of a very experienced local team, area manager, ecologists, a rural surveyor, safety advisor and other specialist RSPB staff.    

Essential Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• Knowledge of the ecological requirements of key species and habitats.
• Land management experience.
• Visitor operation management experience
• Health, Safety, Environmental and Land management compliance experience.
• Experience of managing contractors.
• Experience of working with multi-functional team
• Line Management experience (staff and/or volunteers).
• Excellent Interpersonal and communication skills.
• Leadership skills.
• Effective project and budget management skills
• Practical Problem-solving skills.
• Time management, organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Influencing and negotiation skills.
• IT, database and GIS skills.

Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

• Degree level qualification in a relevant subject.
• Reedbed/wetland management experience

Additional Information:

This is a Permanent Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week. 

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 27 March 2025. For further information please contact [email protected] 

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

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.

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.