Wetland Reserve & Visitor Centre 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

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.