We showcase nature and people thriving together where nature lives….

To achieve a world where all people are living harmoniously alongside nature; the RSPB must broaden its appeal and enable more diverse people to act for nature.

We inspire everyone to thrive harmoniously alongside the natural world by offering inclusive, memorable, and emotive, nature-based experiences, enhancing the lives of our visitors, wildlife, and special places we protect.

Our Nature Reserves are windows into the wildlife and habitats we are fighting to protect. They showcase the wonderful conservation work we’re delivering, and should inspire, enable, and empower everyone to play their part in the fight against the nature and climate emergency.

We are looking for someone who will provide leadership in visitor experience and interpretation, ensuring a world class experience across RSPB nature reserves for everyone.

We are creating a new strategy for new ways to engage and excite our audiences through innovative events and experiences across RSPB nature reserves. Interpretation brings meaning to our nature reserves, growing appreciation and understanding for our visitors. It enhances the visitor experience, increasing dwell time and repeat visits, leading to an increase of income and support. We are looking for someone with expertise in planning and delivering events, interpretation, exhibitions, or festivals to engage and excite audiences. We would welcome applications from the cultural arts, visitor attraction and tourism sectors to spearhead this new approach to our annual events and experiences programme across our nature reserves.

You will:

• Set the expected standards on reserves for visitor experience providing direction to underpin a high-quality visitor offer and a consistent experience on our nature reserves – leading on profitability, exemplary customer service and infrastructure; ensuring reserves are front and centre of RSPB brand.
• Drive the implementation of the visitor experience strategy across allocated geographical areas and work collaboratively with nature reserve teams to support them in achieving their ambitions. This role will work closely with country and central teams.   
• Create a step change in interpreting our nature reserves, someone who can inspire and move people to learn more about the incredible stories our nature reserves have to tell. Using your expertise in interpretation, events or exhibitions, you will help to create fantastic days out for everyone. This role will work closely with country and nature reserve teams, as well as external stakeholders in seeking out creative ideas to enhance our visitor offer.
• To provide consultancy support to RSPB nature reserves in shaping the visitor experience and deliver strategy across teams
• Be a leader, working collaboratively across UK countries and departments, with a broad skillset who will support nature reserve teams across the UK in achieving their ambitions.

What we want to see:

• Expertise in visitor experience/operations/engagement/cultural arts to position RSPB nature reserves as a world class visitor destinations, following our vision of being the UK’s leading choice for nature experiences.
• The ideal candidate will have an excellent understanding of visitor attractions, creative arts, or public engagement and how to interpret sites creatively whilst also having excellent commercial knowledge. We are looking for someone with a broad skillset who is willing to drive this area of visitor experience and support RSPB nature reserves in achieving their ambitions.
• Using your expertise and your excellent interpersonal and organisational skills, you are able to produce effective guidance, support and toolkits for reserves in their planning as well as leading on national initiatives working with external parties.

What you can expect:

• A supportive, dynamic, and high-performing team of talented individuals around you, who want to make the world a better place than we found it.
• The chance to lead and get involved with exciting new plans to support our nature reserves in a step change in how we drive visits, create amazing experiences connecting people to nature and making a real difference in ensuring the protection of our incredible places for wildlife and people.
• Access to excellent learning and development opportunities and employee benefits package.
• Opportunities to travel across all four countries of the United Kingdom and get closer to our amazing wildlife, all while you play your part in safeguarding its future.
• No two days are the same! We are looking for someone who is flexible and willing to travel. Some days you will be based at home or in the office, others you will be visiting some of the most beautiful places in the UK.
• This role will cover: Wales and Central England or Southern England and Northern Ireland

This is a permanent contract working 37.5 hours per week

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form to evidence of how your meet the skills, knowledge, and experience requested. Please ensure you provide detailed examples of how you meet the skills, knowledge and experience required for this role, listed in the attached document.  

This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.

For further information please contact Lexi Hollinshead - lexi.hollinshead@rspb.org.uk