Location
London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£53,915 per annum

About the Role
The City of London Corporation manages 11,000 acres of land in and around London, welcoming millions of visitors annually. The North London Open Spaces (NLOS) section oversees approximately 1,000 acres of that portfolio, including some of the UK's most iconic urban greenspaces such as Hampstead Heath (including Golders Hill Park, Parliament Hill Fields, and Heath Extension), Highgate Wood, Queen’s Park, and West Ham Park. These green spaces feature spectacular landscapes, ancient woodland, diverse wildlife, world-class sporting and athletics facilities, and heritage assets. The organisation works closely with local communities and stakeholders to preserve and enhance these natural assets, contributing to making London one of the most liveable large cities in the world.

This is a rare senior leadership opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the conservation and protection of these cherished green spaces. As a member of the senior management team, the successful candidate will be the primary subject matter expert for nature conservation at NLOS, leading initiatives, advising colleagues, and collaborating internally and externally. Responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day management of most of Hampstead Heath and all of Highgate Wood, as well as managing services that support the four open spaces, such as arboriculture and tree management, waste and recycling, conservation, and ecology.

The role requires residing in provided on-site accommodation and participation in an on-call and duty manager rota alongside colleagues.

Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary subject matter expert for nature conservation at Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, Queen’s Park, and West Ham Park
- Oversee day-to-day management of Highgate Wood and most of Hampstead Heath
- Manage arboriculture/tree management, waste management, conservation, habitat creation/restoration, wildlife management, water body management, and climate change adaptation across North London Open Spaces
- Lead and motivate a team of 25-30 multi-skilled professionals dedicated to conservation
- Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, including environmental protection, climate change, nature recovery, wildlife protection, flood risk management, and health and safety

Experience
- Demonstrable experience managing complex public open spaces
- Comprehensive experience developing and delivering biodiversity and land management programmes and projects across varied habitats, ideally in urban settings
- Significant experience managing complex conservation work and projects across diverse landscapes
- Strong knowledge of biodiversity and wildlife management, including land and water management
- Experience managing diverse teams of professionals in operational environments
- Proven ability to implement legislation and policy related to biodiversity conservation, planning guidance, site designation for wildlife conservation, and species status designations

About You
- High-energy and innovative leader with a strong background in nature conservation and open space management
- Creative, entrepreneurial, and solution-focused with resilience in the face of challenges
- Strong quantitative skills with comfort in analysing data and budgets

Qualifications
No specific qualifications are listed; however, relevant experience and leadership capability in conservation and open space management are essential.