Site Manager – Coombes Valley & Consall Woods

Are you a dynamic individual whose energy and experience could shape the future of two
wonderful woodland nature reserves in North Staffordshire? We are looking for someone with
inspiring leadership skills, plus land management and visitor operations experience, to oversee
operations at RSPB Coombes Valley and RSPB Consall Woods.

RSPB Coombes Valley is one of the RSPBs oldest nature reserves, purchased in 1963, you will
have the exciting challenge of managing this well-established site alongside one of the RSPB’s
newest nature reserves, RSPB Consall Woods. The sites total over 300ha of SSSI Broadleaved
woodland and grassland habitat and are the most important site for pied flycatcher and redstart
in the West Midlands. They also provide important habitat for willow tit, spotted flycatcher,
wood warbler, greater butterfly orchid and many species of invertebrates. You will be
responsible for delivering the objectives set out in the reserve management plan alongside
delivering a high-quality visitor experience for local people, wildlife enthusiasts and
families. You will lead and inspire a team of volunteers and staff, including a warden and an
administrator, to deliver excellence for woodlands and people on both sites. Line management
experience is essential to this role.

To make a success of this opportunity, you will be a capable manager with the ability to work
well with a broad range of contacts. You will be able to apply your strong programme and people
management skills in a pragmatic and focused way to enable the reserve team to deliver the best
possible outcomes for priority habitats and species.

Across both reserves, the RSPB works with a variety of stakeholders and the wider community to
develop a shared vision for the reserves that brings everyone together and secures
sustainability for all.

At RSPB Consall Woods there are incredibly exciting opportunities to rapidly increase RSPB
woodland bird breeding numbers and develop an amazing visitor experience that will connect the
people of North Staffordshire to nature.

You’ll often be leading work programmes and projects, so you will need to be enthusiastic, have
loads of initiative, be diplomatic and able to communicate your passion for nature to others
with a keen willingness to solve practical problems.

Experience managing budgets is required, as you will have income targets to deliver through
events, food sales and grants. You will also need to help with some practical delivery on site,
so Chainsaw, Brushcutter and ATV certificates are desirable.

Being a strong advocate for the RSPB’s mission on site, the Site Manager builds the strategic
bigger picture; the mission is to achieve the full potential of RSPB Coombes Valley and Consall
Woods, where people work together to create an environment where wildlife and visitors can
successfully co-exist.

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 2 reserve staff and 50 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 other external
  parties such as Natural England and Staffordshire County Council 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 and experience:

• Degree level qualification
• Woodland management experience

This is a Permanent, Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week. We are looking to conduct
interviews for this position from 9th July 2024. For further information
please contact [email protected] 

As part of this application process you will be asked to 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.

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.