Location
Heathland House, Heather Farm, Woking, Surrey, with regular travel across the Thames Basin Heaths.

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£41,550 per annum

About the Role
Lead one of the UK's most ambitious heathland protection partnerships. As Senior Manager of the Thames Basin Heaths Partnership, you will lead a passionate team dedicated to protecting one of England's most important heathland landscapes. This role offers a unique blend of strategic leadership and hands-on engagement, balancing conservation with public access.

The Thames Basin Heaths are internationally important for their wildlife, including rare ground-nesting birds such as nightjar, woodlark and Dartford warbler. These landscapes sit alongside some of the fastest-growing communities in the South East, creating a unique conservation challenge.

You will lead the partnership's award-winning visitor engagement and wardening programme, providing strategic oversight while spending time on site with wardens, partners and stakeholders to see the impact of the work first-hand.

Key responsibilities include:
- Leading and supporting a dedicated team of permanent and seasonal wardens
- Collaborating with local authorities, landowners, Natural England, Wildlife Trusts, the RSPB, Forestry England, the Ministry of Defence, The Crown Estate and other partners
- Shaping the future of a high-profile conservation programme funded through developer contributions
- Representing the partnership with councillors, stakeholders and strategic boards
- Ensuring delivery of ambitious visitor engagement and conservation objectives
- Developing and supporting staff through coaching, mentoring and effective leadership
- Supporting major public engagement initiatives such as Heath Week and other events across the Thames Basin Heaths.

This role offers the opportunity to lead a project at the intersection of nature recovery, recreation, planning and partnership working, safeguarding thousands of hectares of internationally important heathland while enabling local communities to enjoy and connect with nature.

Experience
Proven experience in managing and supporting teams, leading through change and delivering results through others. Experience working in partnership with multiple stakeholders and managing complex conservation or environmental programmes is highly desirable.

About you
You are a people-focused leader who enjoys building relationships, empowering teams and bringing people together behind a shared purpose. You have a passion for nature and understand the importance of protecting special places while enabling responsible public enjoyment. You can inspire others, manage complexity and create strong partnerships that deliver meaningful outcomes for both people and nature.

Qualifications
Relevant qualifications in environmental management, conservation, ecology or related fields are desirable but not essential. A commitment to ongoing professional development and a positive attitude towards learning and leadership are essential.