Site Manager - Ham Wall

The Rspb; Glastonbury; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Purposeful Work

Flexible Working

Competitive Pay

Generous Leave

Wellbeing Support

Learning & Development

Inclusive Policies

Job summary

The RSPB Ham Wall Site Manager will lead a team to deliver conservation excellence and outstanding visitor experiences at a flagship wetland reserve. You will manage day-to-day operations, budgets, and partnerships to support nature recovery and public engagement.

You will oversee a 5-person staff and 100 volunteers, ensuring safe, legally compliant land management, inspiring community relations, and high-quality visitor welcome and site presentation.

Qualifications

• Experience in land or habitat management gained through paid work, volunteering, education or community projects.
• Experience supporting visitor operations through welcome, site presentation or day-to-day tasks.
• Clear and respectful communication with colleagues, volunteers and partners.
• Ability to motivate and guide others and foster an inclusive team.
• Ability to plan and deliver projects within budget.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations for habitats, species, people and visitors.
• Oversee budgets and drive income for the reserve.
• Manage a team of staff and volunteers (5 staff, 100 volunteers).
• Review and implement the reserve management and business plans.
• Represent the reserve with local communities and partner organisations.

Skills

Land/habitat management

Visitor operations

People management

Budget management

Communication

Digital tools (GIS)

Project delivery

Tools

GIS

Job description

We're looking for an inclusive, inspiring leader with proven experience in land management and visitor operations to manage RSPB Ham Wall - a flagship wetland reserve in the heart of the Avalon Marshes. Ham Wall is one of the UK's premier wetland sites, supporting bitterns, cranes, marsh harriers, otters, and stunning starling murmurations. At 264 hectares, it's a cornerstone of the Somerset Wetlands National Nature Reserve, welcoming over 70,000 visitors a year and playing a vital role in nature recovery. As Site Manager, you'll lead a passionate team of staff and volunteers to deliver conservation excellence and outstanding visitor experiences. You'll manage day-to-day operations, oversee budgets, drive income, and work closely with RSPB colleagues and partners across the wider landscape. As Site Manager you will:

• Manage day to day operations for habitats, species, people, visitors, finance and legal compliance.
• Inspire, lead and develop the dedicated team of 5 reserve staff and 100 volunteers.
• Be responsible for the review, update and implementation of the reserve management plan and business plan.
• Act as the main point of contact for the local community, neighbours, and partner organisations in order maintain good relationships.
• Enjoy the support of a very experienced local team, area manager, ecologists, a rural surveyor, safety advisor and other specialist RSPB staff.
• Understanding of species and habitat needs - including the ability to learn and apply ecological principles relevant to key species and priority habitats.
• Experience in land or habitat management - gained through paid work, volunteering, education or community projects, with the ability to apply practical management techniques.
• Experience supporting visitor operations - such as contributing to visitor welcome, site presentation, public engagement or day-to-day operational tasks.
• Awareness of health, safety and environmental compliance - and the ability to follow agreed processes to maintain safe, legally compliant land management practices.
• Experience supporting staff or volunteers - including coordinating tasks, offering guidance or contributing to a positive and inclusive team environment.
• Clear and respectful communication skills - able to communicate effectively with colleagues, volunteers, partners and visitors in a range of settings.
• Ability to motivate and guide others - contributing to a supportive team culture and helping colleagues or volunteers develop skills and confidence.
• Ability to support project and budget delivery - including organising tasks, monitoring progress and contributing to financial or resource planning.
• Ability to organise and prioritise work - managing time effectively, responding to changing demands and meeting agreed deadlines.
• Confidence using digital tools and systems - including IT applications, databases or GIS platforms, with willingness to learn new systems as needed. We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature's side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract., The RSPB is a charity for the conservation of birds and nature. We bring people together who love birds and other wildlife, and who want to take action to restore the health and diversity of the natural world. We carry out conservation on a large scale, protect and restore habitats, and save species from extinction. We're living in a nature and climate emergency, and we won't stop whilst the threats persist.

• Purposeful Work: Contribute directly to vital conservation efforts across the UK and beyond.
• Flexible Working: Flexible hours to support work-life balance.
• Competitive Pay: Fair salaries aligned with sector standards.
• Generous Leave: 26 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with service.
• Wellbeing Support: Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing resources.
• Learning & Development: Continuous opportunities for professional growth and training.
• Inclusive Policies: Family-friendly policies, including enhanced parental leave., This is a Permanent Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week.