6490 - Senior Reserve Manager
| Posting date: | 20 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £39,660 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 20 May 2026 |
| Location: | Manchester |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 4 days per week |
| Company: | Natural England |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 6490 |
Summary
Join us in shaping a future where nature and people thrive. Whether you're drawn to hands-on conservation or playing a vital part behind the scenes, your work at Natural England will support lasting benefits for the environment and society.
Our Role
Natural England is the Government’s adviser for the natural environment and the Nature regulator with a wide range of statutory duties and powers. We provide the evidence, expertise and advice to recover Nature and shape better places for people to live. We do this working through and with others.
Strategic Outcomes for Nature
Our strategy is framed through four strategic outcomes. Each of these outcomes reinforces and amplifies the others, and together they address environmental, social and economic actions critical to thriving nature.
• Recovering Nature – Increased scale and quality of places where nature thrives.
• Building Better Places – Greener homes and infrastructure create healthier, more investable places, recognising we live better where nature thrives around us.
• Improving Health and Wellbeing – Build nature into everyday life so people can support, access and benefit from nature, wherever they live.
• Delivering Security through Nature – Nature helps us adapt to the threats of a changing climate and improves our national security, supporting more resilient food production, healthy soils, clean and plentiful water and clean air.
Find out more about the work of Natural England at:
Natural England’s Strategy: Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security - GOV.UK
Job description
The Senior Reserve Manager (SRM) holds a pivotal role in the comprehensive management and enhancement of National Nature Reserves (NNRs), actively promoting Nature Recovery in the broader landscape. The role demands an understanding of land management techniques, biodiversity conservation, and strategic planning combining technical expertise with practical land management knowledge. The Senior Reserve Manager collaborates with staff, volunteers, local communities, and partners, contributing to Nature England's Vision, Mission and Aims. The role will be actively involved in the wider Area Team leadership group, working alongside other Senior staff and Managers.
This Senior Reserve Manager is a site based role and will work with the Area Team to develop Risley, Holcroft and Chat Moss NNR along with key partners and their land holdings, including Natural England’s Moss Side Farm. Moss Side Farm is a recent NE acquisition of a 154 ha lowland peat farm along with associated farm infrastructure and buildings in the heart of the Manchester Mosslands SAC in Wigan and Salford. The role will also manage staff, volunteers and contractors at Rostherne Mere NNR. The SRM will work with key partners and Area Team colleagues including the Tatton Estate on enhancing and supporting this important Ramsar/NNR.
The role will lead the development and implementation of NNR work programs, aligning day-to-day management with a long-term nature recovery vision alongside partners within Great Manchester Wetlands partnership and for Rostherne Mere NNR. The role will be responsible for their own Health & Safety and of staff, visitors, volunteers and contractors on the reserves. They will line manage reserve staff, foster a positive working culture, provide financial management alongside working with colleagues to deliver Area Team priorities and strategic projects.
Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities
• Oversee and support the management and enhancement of Rostherne Mere NNR.
• Lead the development of Moss Side Farm as a National Nature Reserve, working closely with the Area Team and national NNR colleagues using strong project management skills.
• Develop, review and deliver NNR management plans along with Area Team staff and partners and lead the development and implementation of NNR work programmes.
• Establish strong working relationships with partners and stakeholders for nature recovery opportunities.
• Manage budgets and seek external funding and income generating opportunities.
• Provide line management oversight for NNR staff within this cluster (Moss Side Farm and Rostherne Mere) fostering a positive working culture. This role will also play an active role in the Area Leadership Team.
• Support the development of a positive health and safety culture within the reserve team.
• Promote public access and engagement with the natural environment, balancing human needs with conservation objectives.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Applicants should have:
• A relevant degree in an environmental discipline/ conservation or significant practical experience of working in the environmental sector (Essential)
• A broad understanding of England’s biodiversity commitments along with knowledge of relevant European Directives, associated UK/England Regulations, including the legislation relating to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (Essential).
• Experience of managing habitats for nature recovery (Essential)
• Excellent project management skills and the ability to inspire, motivate and work in co-operation with others are essential (Essential)
• Competence in the use of IT, including ability to work with spreadsheets, databases & presentation packages (Desirable)
• The role will require travel to sites and meetings with partners. A driving licence is essential for the role.
The role will be site based at Moss Side Farm in the Cheshire to Lancashire Area.
Our Role
Natural England is the Government’s adviser for the natural environment and the Nature regulator with a wide range of statutory duties and powers. We provide the evidence, expertise and advice to recover Nature and shape better places for people to live. We do this working through and with others.
Strategic Outcomes for Nature
Our strategy is framed through four strategic outcomes. Each of these outcomes reinforces and amplifies the others, and together they address environmental, social and economic actions critical to thriving nature.
• Recovering Nature – Increased scale and quality of places where nature thrives.
• Building Better Places – Greener homes and infrastructure create healthier, more investable places, recognising we live better where nature thrives around us.
• Improving Health and Wellbeing – Build nature into everyday life so people can support, access and benefit from nature, wherever they live.
• Delivering Security through Nature – Nature helps us adapt to the threats of a changing climate and improves our national security, supporting more resilient food production, healthy soils, clean and plentiful water and clean air.
Find out more about the work of Natural England at:
Natural England’s Strategy: Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security - GOV.UK
Job description
The Senior Reserve Manager (SRM) holds a pivotal role in the comprehensive management and enhancement of National Nature Reserves (NNRs), actively promoting Nature Recovery in the broader landscape. The role demands an understanding of land management techniques, biodiversity conservation, and strategic planning combining technical expertise with practical land management knowledge. The Senior Reserve Manager collaborates with staff, volunteers, local communities, and partners, contributing to Nature England's Vision, Mission and Aims. The role will be actively involved in the wider Area Team leadership group, working alongside other Senior staff and Managers.
This Senior Reserve Manager is a site based role and will work with the Area Team to develop Risley, Holcroft and Chat Moss NNR along with key partners and their land holdings, including Natural England’s Moss Side Farm. Moss Side Farm is a recent NE acquisition of a 154 ha lowland peat farm along with associated farm infrastructure and buildings in the heart of the Manchester Mosslands SAC in Wigan and Salford. The role will also manage staff, volunteers and contractors at Rostherne Mere NNR. The SRM will work with key partners and Area Team colleagues including the Tatton Estate on enhancing and supporting this important Ramsar/NNR.
The role will lead the development and implementation of NNR work programs, aligning day-to-day management with a long-term nature recovery vision alongside partners within Great Manchester Wetlands partnership and for Rostherne Mere NNR. The role will be responsible for their own Health & Safety and of staff, visitors, volunteers and contractors on the reserves. They will line manage reserve staff, foster a positive working culture, provide financial management alongside working with colleagues to deliver Area Team priorities and strategic projects.
Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities
• Oversee and support the management and enhancement of Rostherne Mere NNR.
• Lead the development of Moss Side Farm as a National Nature Reserve, working closely with the Area Team and national NNR colleagues using strong project management skills.
• Develop, review and deliver NNR management plans along with Area Team staff and partners and lead the development and implementation of NNR work programmes.
• Establish strong working relationships with partners and stakeholders for nature recovery opportunities.
• Manage budgets and seek external funding and income generating opportunities.
• Provide line management oversight for NNR staff within this cluster (Moss Side Farm and Rostherne Mere) fostering a positive working culture. This role will also play an active role in the Area Leadership Team.
• Support the development of a positive health and safety culture within the reserve team.
• Promote public access and engagement with the natural environment, balancing human needs with conservation objectives.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Applicants should have:
• A relevant degree in an environmental discipline/ conservation or significant practical experience of working in the environmental sector (Essential)
• A broad understanding of England’s biodiversity commitments along with knowledge of relevant European Directives, associated UK/England Regulations, including the legislation relating to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (Essential).
• Experience of managing habitats for nature recovery (Essential)
• Excellent project management skills and the ability to inspire, motivate and work in co-operation with others are essential (Essential)
• Competence in the use of IT, including ability to work with spreadsheets, databases & presentation packages (Desirable)
• The role will require travel to sites and meetings with partners. A driving licence is essential for the role.
The role will be site based at Moss Side Farm in the Cheshire to Lancashire Area.