Kent Wildlife Trust is seeking a Head of Estates to take proactive, strategic, management responsibility for the management of its estates team, its Nature Reserves and the land that it manages for third parties.
This is an extremely exciting opportunity for someone with a proven commitment to conservation to make a real difference to the conservation of our wildlife heritage in Kent.
KWT owns, or manages, some 65 nature reserves covering over 8,100 acres. The Estates team composes 3-4 Reserves Managers and 19 wardens. The team is heavily dependent up on approximately volunteer trainees, regular volunteers and contractors.
Some of your key responsibilities as Head of Estates will be to ensure:
- Effective management and development of the Estates team.
- Development and delivery of a costed land management strategy, and an annual work programme, aimed at maximising the wildlife value of KWTs estates.
- H&S procedures, and other relevant KWT policies, are followed at all times.
- KWT’s estate is managed in an RPA compliant manner.
- Contractors, grazing, and volunteer parties are used to best effect across KWTs estates.
You will be able to demonstrate experience in:
- Sound understanding and technical knowledge of wildlife conservation and land management issues and methods as they apply to Kent’s wildlife habitats
- Developing and delivering a land management strategy
- Effective people management
- Good understanding of agri-environment schemes
- Demonstrable understanding of legal aspects of land ownership, procurement of services contracts and tenancies
- High degree of numeracy and significant budgeting experience
- Ability and attitude to work corporately and cooperatively as a member of the Senior Management Team
As well as:
- A strong commitment to nature conservation
- A passion for environmental and conservation issues
- Good written and oral presentation skills and experience
- An ability to communicate clearly, accurately and concisely – both in writing and face-to-face
- Ability to build purposeful relationships both in person and remotely
- Team player, able to work with various departments to coordinate activities.
- Self-motivation with a proven ability to prioritise workloads and meet deadlines
- A high degree of competence in the use of IT systems
- Strong organisational and administrative skills
- Preparedness to work unsociable hours including occasional evening and weekend work, attending meetings and achieving deadlines
- Degree level or equivalent in an ecological and/or land management discipline
- Current driving licence (clean)
Kent Wildlife Trust is the leading wildlife charity for Kent and Medway, supported by its members and staffed by committed professionals. Nature is in trouble and it needs our help. Kent Wildlife Trust has a plan to aid nature’s recovery and we encourage people to join us to make a difference.
Contact details:
For an informal discussion about the post please contact
If you wish to discuss this post, please get in touch with Jackie Lawrence via Jackie.lawrence@kentwildlife.org.uk in order to arrange an informal discussion with the current incumbent and/ or KWTs CEO.
To download the application pack please visit our website: www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk
Kent Wildlife Trust has a positive approach to equality and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community
