Reserve Manager at Saltfleetby -Theddlethorpe National Nature Reserve (Ref: 2739)

The successful candidate will be part of the Freshwater and Coastal Team in the East Midlands Area Team at Natural England, joining other team members whose work is focussed on the Lincolnshire Coast. There will also be joint working with the Dynamic Dunescapes Project Team and the National Nature Reserves team, some of whom are based in the East Midlands team and others based in a national team.

Dynamic Dunescapes aims to restore the natural processes of our most important sand dune sites by unlocking the dynamism that is critical to their future. Through our engagement with local communities and visitors we will explain, demonstrate and create opportunities for them to actively contribute towards the conservation of these iconic sites. We will extend this learning beyond the project to ensure a legacy of improved sand dune management and interpretation across England and Wales.

There are eight key project areas around the coast of England and Wales including the Lincolnshire Sand Hills. These are some of the most important dune complexes in England and Wales. The project will deliver exciting and innovative capital works and introduce effective sustainable habitat management integrated with large scale public engagement work, including citizen science.

Collectively this project will have a big impact both for conservation and local communities and will provide transferable learning across all dune sites. The roll-out of the England Coast Path, with the increased access offered, provides a focus for much of the work. The project will:
• Inspire and engage people - Working with communities, specialist groups, schools, universities, tourism organisations, local authorities, museums and the media to engage with up to 600,000 people through a programme of engagement, publicity, volunteering and citizen science
• Re-energise the dunes – Undertaking capital works to enable dunes to become more dynamic, remove invasive native and alien vegetation and reintroduce sustainable management to restore currently degraded habitats
• Rejuvenate and create dune slacks and ponds to benefit the sites’ unique and threatened insects, amphibians, birds and plants
• Natural England is leading the project, working together with Plantlife, the Wildlife Trusts, the National Trust and Natural Resources Wales. The project has funding from EU LIFE and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Job purpose:

The Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR Reserve Manager will be responsible for helping to deliver the Dynamic Dunescapes programme of conservation management at the reserve.

Working closely with the landowners, local contacts, local communities and other stakeholders and the Dynamic Dunescapes partnership and staff the post-holder will deliver the ambitious and large scale programme of dune conservation work to time, standard and budget.

Specifically the responsibilities of the post are to:

• Plan, coordinate and deliver the Dynamic Dunescapes practical conservation programme of works at Saltfleetby and across the Lincolnshire sites, working with Natural England staff, partners (particularly the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust), contractors and volunteers.
• Assist with line management of Natural England Dynamic Dunescapes apprentice/s in line with Natural England’s staff performance management procedures.
• Help manage the health and safety of relevant staff, volunteers, contractors and NNR visitors
• Take responsibility for all tendering, procurement, supervision, budgeting and reporting for the Dynamic Dunescapes conservation works.
• Help to ensure all consents and permissions are in place before any work commences and for maintaining close liaison between the site owners, statutory agencies and the Dynamic Dunescapes project team.
• Supervise contractors, either directly or jointly, whilst on site.
• Help manage key relationships with community representatives, partner organisations and community groups, securing good engagement and support throughout delivery.
• Build and maintain links to other relevant partnership projects to ensure learning is disseminated and shared from Dynamic Dunescapes.
Contribute to the day-to-day monitoring and management of the Dynamic Dunescapes project. Ensure that all appropriate data is collected and recorded in a timely manner and actively used to guide the delivery and evaluation of the project. Report on any issues and concerns to line manager.

Person Specification:

Essential

• Proven experience in successfully delivering practical conservation work involving large machinery and contractors.
• Proven experience in successfully managing tendering processes, managing budgets and reporting – preferably with direct experience of NLHF/EU Life reporting requirements.
• Proven delivery, to time, budget and standard, of conservation management works
• Proven experience of managing contractors on public sites, knowledge of H&S requirements and processes.
• Ability to find creative solutions to problems, to be influential and persuasive
• Experience of working in partnership with owners, statutory agencies and local stakeholders
• Good financial awareness and management skills including completion of progress reports and monitoring budget as allocated to your area of responsibility
• To be a self-starting and positive team player, who is accessible and communicative
• Flexible in working hours to reflect changing pace of work and dynamics through the year

Desirable

• Proven knowledge and experience of sand dune systems, the theory and practice of dune management – including scrub removal and dune rejuvenation.
• Experience of delivering projects that engage with external audiences
• Excellent networks with conservation organisations across Lincolnshire
• Experience in outreach activities
• Ability to use mapping software to identify and record work locations
• Ability to manage multiple contracts across different sites
• Experience of working with protected species, especially natter jack toad, great crested newt and reptiles.

Additional information

• A driving licence is essential for the role.
• National travel will be required, which will involve some overnight stays and anti-social hours. Natural England encourages staff to travel by public transport wherever this is feasible.
• Your employment shall, unless terminated earlier by either you or the employer giving no less than five weeks’ notice continue for a fixed period to April 2023 upon which date it shall automatically terminate without the need for notice by either party to the other.
• On taking up this post, the post holder will be required to sign a letter allowing Natural England to use their payroll information and request copies of pay slips for project claims and audits.

Competencies

Competence 1
Professional competency
Personal Effectiveness - communication

Description
Share your expertise with people in your networks (both internal and external) to help develop their capability and to improve outcomes
Use clear and appropriate language and communication styles to engage your audience

Competence 2
Professional competency
Personal effectiveness - people

Description
Address challenging situations and issues and manage conflict

Competence 3
Professional competency
Putting people at the heart

Description
Collaborate, influence and build trusting relationships to achieve pragmatic outcomes
Develop an understanding of the objectives and needs of our partners and stakeholders

Competence 4
Professional competency
Work delivery

Description
Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines

Competence 5
Professional competency
Working safely

Description
Apply risk assessment and safe working practices to everything you do
Understand the duty of care owed to all visitors, contractors or others on our NNRs
Adhere to appropriate legislation and NE policies and procedures

Responsibilities

Please refer to Job Description

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension

Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.