Conservation Manager

Contact details

James Herdjames.herd@surreywt.org.uk

Do you want to be part of the nature restoration revolution? We need to act now to enable change and save Surrey’s nature.

Surrey is a bio-diverse county full of exciting habitats - lowland heathland, calcareous grassland, woodland and wetlands – all abundant with wildlife but under pressure. We are working hard to make a difference, to re-connect the landscape using:

• an evidence-based approach
• forward-thinking practical habitat management
• species reintroductions
• partnership working
• community engagement
• nature-based solutions

This is a new way of working – not just conserving, we are restoring by rethinking with ambition to achieve.

We need a Conservation Manager who thinks like we do to lead a team of Reserve Officers, to help deliver nature restoration on over 60 nature reserves (c.5,000ha) across the county, many of which have international conservation designations. The successful candidate will be a forward-thinking individual with practical experience, project and budget management skills and able to use logical thinking and imagination to expand and explore alternative approaches to nature restoration in Surrey.

The role requires the candidate to have a background in ecology and habitat management with experience of a variety of habitats. They must be passionate about, and skilled in, nature restoration and able to motivate and support a team of Reserves Officers, prioritising effectively to swiftly changing demands and complex issues.

You must have previous experience of successfully working within the environmental sector matched with an out-going, personable and friendly approach, and the ability to work with a wide range of people.

SWT are looking to lead the way in Surrey to create functioning ecosystems, at scale, that provide resilience, biodiversity and increase bio-abundance for the benefit not only of nature but people too. This will require innovative and creative thinking as we move from nature conservation to nature restoration so someone with the energy to lead on this and support the team to turn this vision to reality is essential.

If you believe you have the experience for the role and are able to fulfil the criteria outlined in the job profile, please complete an application form, or provide a covering letter and CV, and send it to james.herd@surreywt.org.uk by 19 thMarch 2026. Interviews will be held at Pond Farm on 31

^stMarch and/or 1

^stApril.

The job profile and application form are available below.

We are committed to having an inclusive and diverse workplace and encourage applications from backgrounds which may be underrepresented in our sector, including people from minority ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities. Please let us know if you require any adjustment to make our recruitment process more accessible.

‘Our vision for a wilder Surrey is a future with abundant wildlife and nature recovery networks rich in biodiversity.’ We will realise this vision by creating bigger, better and more joined up areas of land for biodiversity benefit through direct conservation land management and key relationship management.

Surrey Wildlife Trust is one of 46  Wildlife Trusts across the UK, a grassroots movement working to protect and connect at least 30 per cent of land and sea for nature's recovery by 2030.

Guided by a collaborative vision where we all play a part in connecting nature, we provide expert advice and guidance to landowners and managers, making sure the land we look after leads by example, while inspiring and educating people and organisations across the county on what they can do. By doing this we will create a Surrey that is full of diverse and abundant wildlife, where nature is at the heart of individual choices, corporate decisions, and local economic and policy making. One that helps tackle the ongoing climate emergency, while supporting the health and wellbeing of all who live here.