This is an amazing opportunity to lead a team delivering nature conservation at unique coastal nature reserves along the south coast of England.  The Eastern Solent reserves are nationally important sites for conservation and key sites for public engagement.  By building on work carried out so far, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy for nature across an amazing landscape.

About The Eastern Solent Reserves 

The RSPB’s Eastern Solent Reserves are a network of coastal reserves covering almost 1800 hectares along the shores of West Sussex and Hampshire.  Pagham Harbour local nature reserve is a natural harbour of saltmarsh and mudflat, surrounded by wet grassland and reedbeds. As well as being a notable stop-over for migratory birds, it is an internationally recognised site for breeding shorebirds, including threatened little terns and a growing sandwich tern colony. It’s sister reserve, Medmerry, is a vast managed coastal realignment of developing saltmarsh, grasslands and nature friendly farming. The Langstone Harbour reserve is an archipelago of shingle, saltmarsh and mudflats set between Portsmouth and Hayling Island, home to one of the largest mixed seabird colonies on the south coast of England. In winter, all of the reserves are a haven for brent geese and a large assemblage of wildfowl.  

Based at the Pagham Harbour visitor centre, the team manages the reserves for wildlife, whilst also managing the visitor centre and playing an important role in local nature recovery.

About the Role

We are looking for somebody with the energy to provide leadership across a big area with a large team and the enthusiasm to save nature and inspire people. You will be well organised, focused, resilient, and a great communicator. Although your current skills and applicable knowledge are important, we’re just as interested in your aptitude and what you have the potential to achieve.  

Your role will include; (non-exhaustive)

• Developing and leading the RSPB’s vision for the Eastern Solent Reserves. Some of the most important outcomes include:
  • Leading the reserve team (staff and volunteers); ensuring they are inspired, have clarity of purpose, are safe, and have what they need to do their jobs.
  • Providing leadership on projects to bring about the reserves potential to deliver coastal habitat conservation and visitor experience.
  • Responsibility for managing delivery of habitat and species conservation to fulfil management plans, third party agreements and agri-environment agreements for the sites.
  • Ensuring the site has financial sustainability so that we can deliver our work for nature.
  • Building connections between the nature reserve and the local community and working with partners to save nature within the Eastern Solent area.
• Delivering the key elements of reserves management: budgeting, health and safety, compliance, management planning, fundraising, reporting and public relations.

What we need from you

Essentials:

• Leadership and management: leading, inspiring, developing and organising teams.
• Ecological land management: understanding how land can be used to deliver the best results for nature.
• Excellent communication skills: inspiring support from people and partners.
• A passion for wildlife conservation: being inspired by the job you do.
• Well organised: prioritising work, delivering results and managing budgets.
• Project management: effectively supporting and leading projects to improve the reserves.

Additional Information

This role is Permanent/Full-Time working 37.5 hours each week based from the Pagham Harbour visitor centre. There will be the opportunity to consider flexible working requests after 6 months.

For all application/role enquiries please contact - yianni.andrews@rspb.org.uk

Please note that you will be required to upload a CV and complete an application form where you will have the opportunity to tell us you are best suited for this role.

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

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974