Lead Wildlife Manager
| Posting date: | 13 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £48,765 to £52,557 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 06 April 2026 |
| Location: | SW England, UK |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Government Recruitment |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
Key responsibilities & accountabilities
Strategic lead for wildlife management including delivering the vision for wildlife management which encapsulates population management, partnership working, lethal control operations, firearms procedures, venison production and contract management, best practice, training, health and safety.
Develop national policy through reviewing and ensuring Forestry England’s Policy, Practice, and Guidance documents are fit for purpose and up-to-date with the latest evidence and thinking.
Provide expertise on a wide range of wildlife management situations with regards to firearms law, safety standards and legal compliance.
Provide leadership for Forestry England’s wildlife management staff. This includes offering direct support to colleagues, organising audits, ensuring compliance with deer larder standards and overseeing firearms authorities. The role will also chair the Forestry England Firearms and Wildlife Management Standards Panel and lead on implementing its recommendations. In addition, the role will drive work to increase diversity and improve representation of all communities within wildlife management roles across the organisation.
Work closely with colleagues across the Forestry Commission, and engage with other DEFRA departments and key stakeholders as appropriate, these will include Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, Forestry & Land Scotland, Non-Governmental Organisations and other stakeholder groups.
Responsible for maximising brand and reputation opportunities, and managing risks, associated with Forestry England's wildlife management work directly with the national engagement team, and promoting collaboration at a local level.
Ensure Forestry England are at the forefront of wildlife management, ensuring best practice is continually updated, technical advances are utilised, and novel methods are explored.
And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.
Strategic lead for wildlife management including delivering the vision for wildlife management which encapsulates population management, partnership working, lethal control operations, firearms procedures, venison production and contract management, best practice, training, health and safety.
Develop national policy through reviewing and ensuring Forestry England’s Policy, Practice, and Guidance documents are fit for purpose and up-to-date with the latest evidence and thinking.
Provide expertise on a wide range of wildlife management situations with regards to firearms law, safety standards and legal compliance.
Provide leadership for Forestry England’s wildlife management staff. This includes offering direct support to colleagues, organising audits, ensuring compliance with deer larder standards and overseeing firearms authorities. The role will also chair the Forestry England Firearms and Wildlife Management Standards Panel and lead on implementing its recommendations. In addition, the role will drive work to increase diversity and improve representation of all communities within wildlife management roles across the organisation.
Work closely with colleagues across the Forestry Commission, and engage with other DEFRA departments and key stakeholders as appropriate, these will include Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, Forestry & Land Scotland, Non-Governmental Organisations and other stakeholder groups.
Responsible for maximising brand and reputation opportunities, and managing risks, associated with Forestry England's wildlife management work directly with the national engagement team, and promoting collaboration at a local level.
Ensure Forestry England are at the forefront of wildlife management, ensuring best practice is continually updated, technical advances are utilised, and novel methods are explored.
And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager.