Project Manager (Conservation Breeding)

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust; Slimbridge; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days annual leave

Free entry to wetland centres

Contributory pension

Life Assurance

Cycle to work scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Slimbridge is seeking a Project Manager (Conservation Breeding) to lead the Godwit Futures program, delivering captive-bred Black-tailed Godwits and developing new conservation breeding initiatives. The role covers project delivery from Autumn 2026 to early 2029, with travel to UK field locations as required.

You will oversee biosecure avicultural care, infrastructure development, and coordination with partners and funders to ensure milestones are met within budget

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering conservation or species recovery projects
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritise and deliver to deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence a wide range of partners including land managers, scientists, policymakers, and funders
• An ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team with a collaborative mindset

Responsibilities

• Lead project delivery in line with WWT’s Project Management Framework, ensuring outputs are achieved on time and within budget
• Maintain and deliver biosecure avicultural care for the BTG population, including accurate record-keeping
• Design, construct, and maintain conservation breeding infrastructure, including aviaries and site equipment
• Manage vegetation within biosecure areas to support habitat and operational requirements
• Work with external contractors and project partners, and represent WWT to stakeholders and funders

Skills

Project management

Conservation breeding

Stakeholder engagement

Biosecurity

Team coordination

Job description

We are seeking an enthusiastic, practical, and highly organised Project Manager (Conservation Breeding)to join the Conservation Breeding Unit (CBU) at WWT Slimbridge.

From Autumn 2026 to early 2029, the successful candidate will play a central role in delivering the next phase of our Godwit Futures project, funded through Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme (SRP). This ambitious project aims to strengthen the UK population of Black-tailed Godwits (BTG) through targeted releases of captive-bred birds to reinforce existing breeding populations and to establish new ones.

You will also contribute to the development of new conservation breeding programmes, including projects involving non-avian wetland species.

Occasional travel to other WWT sites and UK field locations will be required.

• Lead project delivery in line with WWT’s Project Management Framework, ensuring outputs are achieved on time and within budget
• Maintain and deliver excellent standards of biosecure avicultural care for the BTG conservation breeding population, including accurate record-keeping
• Take a hands-on role in the design, construction, and maintenance of conservation breeding infrastructure, including aviaries, enclosures, and site equipment
• Manage vegetation within biosecure areas to support habitat and operational requirements
• Work with external contractors and project partners, and represent WWT professionally to stakeholders and funders

This is a full time position working 37.5 hours per week 5 days in 7, including weekends, public holidays, and occasional evenings.

About You

We are looking for a dedicated and experienced conservation professional with a passion for wetland species recovery through conservation breeding and reintroduction.

The role could suit someone with avicultural experience who’s looking for the next step up into project management, or alternatively a strong project manager who has worked with wild bird species in captivity and/or conservation breeding programmes previously and is willing to develop and apply husbandry skills. You should be ready to bring:

• Proven experience delivering conservation or species recovery projects
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritise and deliver to deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence a wide range of partners including land managers, scientists, policymakers, and funders
• An ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team with a collaborative mindset, and experience building trusted relationships across diverse groups

If you are passionate about conservation and want to play a key role in delivering species recovery in wetland and farmed landscapes, we would love to hear from you.

Please view the full job description for all the responsibilities and specifications for the r ole.

We will be actively reviewing applications. The advert may close early if a successful candidate is found.

About Us

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands . There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

Why you’ll love working at WWT

• Wake up every day knowing your work is helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by our team of passionate, dedicated people
• 33 days annual leave (which goes up to 38 days after 5 years of service) -this includes bank holidays and you have flexibility to take those days whenever you want
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Free car parking and secure bike storage areas
• Colleague discount on shopping and memberships
• Cycle to work scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life Assurance of three times your salary, for peace of mind for your loved ones
• Independent personal, workplace and financial advice from our Employee Assistance Programme

WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.