Opportunity – 35 hours
Shift and Schedule – 9.00am -5.00pm Mon-Fri with occasional weekend and evening working.
Location Epping Forest
An exciting opportunity has arisen in our Conservation Team at Epping Forest. We are seeking to appoint a manager who will act as an exemplary custodian for this important site. Passionate about conservation, natural environments, ecology, and sustainability, you will enjoy project management and delivering operational objectives. You will excel in scientific monitoring, have a strong knowledge of both traditional and modern conservation methods, ideally within a wood pasture landscape. Above all you will understand and champion the benefits and challenges of managing a busy public access site for conservation interest.
About Us
Epping Forest is amongst 11,000 acres of open spaces, parks, and gardens in and around London owned and managed by the City of London as part of its commitment to sustaining a first-class city. Each open space is a unique resource for the use and enjoyment of the public and for the conservation of wildlife and the historic landscape.
Epping Forest stretches from London’s East End for 14 miles out into Essex and covers over 6000 acres along with a further 2000 acres of ‘buffer land’ and receives over 10 million visits each year. Two thirds of the Forest is designated as SSSI and SAC and is home to over 50,000 veteran trees, ancient pollards, over 100 ponds and lakes, two registered parks, ancient monuments, and listed buildings. The ancient wood pasture landscape is managed with the help of a resident herd of 200 Longhorn cattle.
The role
Leading the conservation management activity at Epping Forest, positively managing biodiversity, habitats, and wider eco-system service outcomes, supporting nature-based solutions to help address negative environmental impacts. Responsible for leading monitoring programmes associated with Epping Forest priority species, and the impact of visitors and wider air pollution on species vitality.
Working collaboratively in the wider department, leading sustainable and ecological change helping the management team fulfil strategic and operational objectives and targets for an eco-friendlier biodiverse approach to managing the site
The ideal Candidate
You are educated to degree level or equivalent qualification in a relevant Conservation or Environmental subject or possess demonstrable experience to similar level. You hold a full UK (or acceptable equivalent) driving licence – travel throughout the Forest and Buffer Land and other City Corporation sites around London is frequent and essential.
You will have a good understanding of managing wood pasture and large assemblages of veteran trees with a commitment to detailed research, species recording, and protecting the heritage of the Forest. You have strong leadership skills to support the team and the ambitions of the wider service, delivering a high-quality service to our customers. You are adept at using your initiative to solve problems and finding creative solutions is an essential part of the role, as well as having the ability to support the staff within your team to achieve these aims within a busy and demanding service.
Benefits Include
- Competitive salary starting at £45,390, depending on experience (clear incremental progress points).
- 28 days annual leave plus public holidays (or time in lieu where applicable).
- Pension scheme is operated in accordance with Local Government Pension Scheme
- Employee assistance programmes including mental well-being support.
- Bicycle Loan scheme.
- Travel card scheme
Closing date: 12 noon on 27 March 2024
To apply online please visit https://careers.cityoflondon.gov.uk
Alternatively, please contact 020 7332 3978 (24 hr answerphone) quoting reference number OENV0262. A minicom service for the hearing impaired is available on 020 7332 3732.
The City of London Corporation is committed to Equal Opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
Job profile (cityoflondon.gov.uk)
