Site Manager

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust; Castle Espie; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days annual leave

Free entry to wetlands centres

Free car parking

Cycle to work scheme

Contributory pension scheme

Life Assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

WWT Castle Espie in Northern Ireland seeks an inspirational Site Manager to lead our 26-hectare wetland reserve on Strangford Lough. You’ll shape conservation, visitor experience and financial performance while guiding staff and volunteers.

You’ll develop and implement conservation plans, manage budgets across departments, and build strong relationships with partners, visitors and communities to secure Castle Espie’s role as a gateway to wetlands.

Qualifications

• A degree or equivalent level of education.
• Experience managing significant areas of land to achieve conservation objectives.
• Experience developing and implementing conservation management plans and associated work programmes.
• Proven general management experience, ideally within a visitor centre, nature reserves and attraction.
• Proven experience of managing significant budgets across multiple departments.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills, including recruitment, development, motivation and performance management.
• The ability to balance conservation, commercial, visitor and operational priorities.
• Confidence communicating and developing relationships with visitors, communities, partners and statutory organisations.
• Willingness to obtain spraying, brush-cutting and tractor operation qualifications in the first three months after appointment.

Responsibilities

• Lead Castle Espie and its team to meet conservation, financial and visitor objectives.
• Develop and implement conservation management plans and work programmes.
• Manage budgets across multiple departments and balance priorities.
• Engage visitors and stakeholders, ensuring welcoming experiences.
• Lead staff and volunteers, driving performance and development.
• Oversee habitat management on the reserve and Strangford Lough areas.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety and operational requirements.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Budget management

Visitor communication

Conservation knowledge

Land management

Conservation planning

Stakeholder relations

Education

Degree or equivalent

Tools

Spraying qualifications

Brush-cutting qualifications

Tractor operation qualifications

Job description

We are looking for an outstanding Site Manager to lead the next chapter for WWT Castle Espie, our incredible wetland reserve on the shores of Strangford Lough.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a site where conservation, people and place come together. Castle Espie encompasses 26 hectares of diverse wetland and coastal habitats, and WWT also manages around 400 hectares of foreshore on Strangford Lough on behalf of the Crown Estate. The Lough supports internationally important numbers of Light-bellied Brent geese as well as many other important species.

As Site Manager, you will have overall responsibility for Castle Espie, leading its team of staff and volunteers and delivering against our conservation, financial and visitor objectives. You will take an active and practical lead in maximising the wildlife and habitat potential of both the reserve and the areas of Strangford Lough in WWT’s care.

It is a role for someone who is equally comfortable out on the reserve discussing habitat management, leading and developing a team, reviewing budgets and performance or making sure visitors receive a warm welcome and leave with a stronger connection to wetlands.

Castle Espie is entering an important new chapter, with a refreshed focus on its role as a hub for wetland nature conservation on Strangford Lough. You will have the opportunity to help bring that proposition to life, strengthening the connection between the site, the Lough and the extraordinary wildlife that benefit from it.

This is a full-time role working 37.5 hours per week, five days out of seven.

we are looking for an experienced manager and inspiring leader who combines strong conservation knowledge with the confidence and judgement needed to run a complex operational site. You will have substantial practical experience of managing land for conservation and of developing and implementing conservation management plans.

Just as importantly, you will be an effective people and operational manager. You will have experience of leading and developing staff, managing budgets and balancing competing priorities. Ideally, you will have gained this experience within a visitor-facing environment.

You'll enjoy being a visible leader and be comfortable getting involved in the practical realities of running the site.

Above all, you will recognize the potential of this very special place and be excited by the opportunity to help Castle Espie become an even stronger centre for wetland conservation and a gateway to the wildlife and landscapes of Strangford Lough.

Essential criteria

You will have:

• A degree or equivalent level of education.
• Demonstrable experience of managing significant areas of land to achieve conservation objectives
• Experience of developing and implementing conservation management plans and associated work programmes
• Proven general management experience, ideally within a visitor centre, nature reserves and attraction.
• Proven experience of managing significant budgets across multiple departments.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills, including recruitment, development, motivation and performance management.
• The ability to balance conservation, commercial, visitor and operational priorities.
• Confidence communicating and developing relationships with visitors, communities, partners and statutory organisations.
• Relevant practical qualifications in spraying, brush-cutting and tractor operation, or the willingness to obtain these qualifications in the first three months after appointment.

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?

• 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.

Registered Charity Number England & Wales, no 1030884 and Scotland, no SC039410