Conservation Team Manager/Reserves Manager

Surrey Wildlife Trust; Old Woking; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading wildlife conservation organization in the UK is seeking a Conservation Team Manager to lead a team of Reserves Officers. The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering nature conservation and restoration across over 60 reserves while managing projects and budgets. Applicants should have a background in ecology and experience in the environmental sector. This full-time permanent role offers a salary between £35,000 and £41,000, with opportunities for development and growth.

Qualifications

• Background in ecology with experience across a variety of habitats.
• Previous experience in the environmental sector.
• Strong project and budget management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate a team of Reserves Officers.
• Deliver nature conservation and restoration across 60+ reserves.
• Manage the Reserves Officers effectively during transitions.

Skills

Project management

Budget management

Ecology knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Creative thinking

Job description

Conservation Team Manager / Reserves Manager

Surrey Wildlife Trust

Wisley Common, Surrey

£35,000 - £41,000 pa (per annum dependent on current experience, with scope for role development and salary growth)

Full Time  Permanent

Closing on Wed, 14th Jan 2026

Conservation & Wildlife Ecology

Surrey is a diverse county of lowland heathland, calcareous grassland, woodland and wetlands. We are working hard to re‑connect the landscape using an evidence‑based approach, through practical habitat management, partnership working, community engagement and nature‑based solutions.

About the role

We are looking to recruit a Conservation Team Manager to lead our team of Reserve Officers, to deliver nature conservation and restoration on over 60 nature reserves across the county, many of which have international conservation designations. The successful candidate will be a strong-minded and practical person, with project and budget management skills and able to use logical thinking and imagination to expand and explore alternative approaches to nature restoration in Surrey.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate a team of Reserves Officers, prioritising effectively to swiftly changing demands and complex issues.
• Deliver nature conservation and restoration across 60+ reserves, applying science-based habitat management.
• Manage the Reserves Officers as one team while a colleague is on maternity leave, and prepare for future split across two areas in line with the revised Unitary Authority structure.
• Drive innovation and creative thinking as we move from nature conservation to nature restoration, supporting the team to turn our vision into reality.

Qualifications

• Background in ecology with experience across a variety of habitats.
• Previous experience successfully working within the environmental sector.
• Strong project and budget management skills.
• n out-going, personable and friendly approach, able to work with a wide range of people.
• Strong minded and practical person with logical thinking and imagination.

Contact & Application

Interviews will be held in late January. The job profile and application form are available on our website. If you would like to have an informal discussion about the role or the salary, please contact Catherine Roberts, Deputy Chief Executive on 07967 575263.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are committed to having an inclusive and diverse workplace and encourage applications from backgrounds which may be under‑represented in our sector, including people from minority ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities. Please let us know if you require any adjustment to make our recruitment process more accessible.

About Surrey Wildlife Trust

Surrey Wildlife Trust is one of 46 Wildlife Trusts across the UK, a grassroots movement working to protect and connect at least 30 per cent of land and sea for nature's recovery by 2030. Guided by a collaborative vision where we all play a part in connecting nature, we provide expert advice and guidance to landowners and managers, making sure the land we look after leads by example, while inspiring and educating people and organisations across the county on what they can do.

By doing this we will create a Surrey that is full of diverse and abundant wildlife, where nature is at the heart of individual choices, corporate decisions, and local economic and policy making. One that helps tackle the ongoing climate emergency, while supporting the health and wellbeing of all who live here.

"Our vision for a wilder Surrey is a future with abundant wildlife and nature recovery networks rich in biodiversity." We will realise this vision by creating bigger, better and more joined up areas of land for biodiversity benefit through direct conservation land management and key relationship management.