WWT – Senior Reserve Warden

Northern Ireland Environment Link; Comber; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

WWT Castle Espie is seeking a highly experienced Senior Reserve Warden to lead the management of the Castle Espie nature reserve and its Strangford Lough shoreline. You will work to protect habitats for wildlife while creating engaging opportunities for visitors and volunteers.

This is a full-time role, involving coordination of monitoring, maintenance of site infrastructure, and supervision of contractors and volunteers.

Qualifications

• Experience in conservation and habitat management.
• Experience coordinating ecological monitoring and data collection.

Responsibilities

• Deliver practical habitat and reserve management across Castle Espie and the Strangford Lough shoreline.
• Oversee ecological monitoring, including breeding bird surveys and WeBS counts.
• Maintain reserve infrastructure, machinery and equipment safely.
• Support species recovery projects and other conservation work.
• Lead guided walks and engage visitors with wetlands, wildlife and our conservation work.
• Act as Duty Manager on rotation to support day-to-day site operations.

Job description

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Location: Castle Espie. 78 Ballydrain Rd, Comber, Newtownards BT23 6EA

WWT is entering an exciting new phase at WWT Castle Espie, repositioning the site as a dedicated hub for wetland nature conservation on Strangford Lough, one of the UK’s most important wetland landscapes.

We are looking for an experienced and practical Senior Reserve Warden to take a leading role in the management of Castle Espie’s nature reserve and our work on the shoreline of Strangford Lough. You will help ensure our internationally important wetland habitats are managed effectively for wildlife, while creating opportunities for visitors and volunteers to connect with wetlands and the species they support.

This is a varied, hands-on role with responsibility for implementing the reserve management plan, coordinating ecological monitoring, maintaining site infrastructure and supervising contractors and volunteers. You will also play an important role in engaging visitors through guided walks and events and will act as a Duty Manager on rotation, contributing to the smooth day-to-day running of the wider site.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver practical habitat and reserve management across Castle Espie and the shoreline of Strangford Lough.
• Undertake and oversee ecological monitoring, including breeding bird surveys and WeBS counts.
• Maintain reserve infrastructure, machinery and equipment safely and effectively.
• Support species recovery projects and other conservation work.
• Lead guided walks and engage visitors with wetlands, wildlife and our conservation work.
• Act as Duty Manager on rotation and contribute to the smooth running of the wider site.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced conservation professional to take on a varied, hands-on role, helping manage an important wetland reserve while inspiring others to value and protect wetlands.

This is a full‑time position, working 37.5 hours per week, including weekend and bank holiday working.