Reserves Officer (Solent)

Location: Beechcroft House, Vicarage Lane, Curdridge, Southampton, Hampshire, SO32 2DP
Salary: £28,000 to £29,460 gross per annum depending on skills and experience
Permanent Contract
Full Time – 35 Hours per Week

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is a grassroots movement working for nature’s recovery and to bring people closer to nature.

‘Our vision for a wilder future is beautiful and vital!’

Our future has to be wilder!

We are seeking a Reserves Officer (Solent) to join our cause.

As part of the Solent Team, this post is crucial to the successful delivery of the Trust’s Wilder vision for the southern Hampshire sites. The post holder will share the responsibility for the management of the Solent reserves with an Assistant Reserves Officer. The reserves encompass a wide range of habitat types and species and includes two flagship reserves, Farlington Marshes and Swanwick Lakes.

The post holder will need to have experience in a wide range of habitat management techniques, including wetland and grazing marsh. Key aspects of the role will be to manage the estate to a high standard in line with contractual and statutory obligations and promoting the Trust Reserves as exemplars of good management. The post holder will be responsible for the line management of the Assistant Reserves Officer and annual Trainee, for the recruitment and supervision of volunteers and will coordinate a varied programme of volunteering and public engagement activities.

This is a challenging and dynamic role that requires a high degree of practical competency, initiative, determination, administrative skills and diplomacy. The post holder will be an experienced land manager, competent in the in the use of power tools and tractors with a confident and engaging communication style. Knowledge of conservation grazing systems and livestock husbandry will be an advantage. Flexible working will be required.

Wild About Inclusion!

As an inclusive employer we recognise that our workforce needs to better reflect the communities in which we live and work. We encourage applications from all sections of the community, particularly those underrepresented within our sector, including people from black, Asian, minority Ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities. We are committed to creating a Movement that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities.

Disability Confident. We are proudly a Disability Confident Committed employer. The scheme is helping us recruit and retain great people to meet our workforce needs. As a member of the scheme, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. You can request adjustments including accessible formats of this vacancy by emailing [email protected].

To be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme you must:

Identify as being disabled which under the Equality Act 2010 means a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial*, long term** adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day to day activities; or a long-term health condition; and;

(*Substantial is more than minor or trivial **Long-term means 12 months or more)

Set out how you meet all the minimum qualifying criteria set out in the person specification for the post at the application and testing stages. This is a requirement for all candidates, not just those applying under the scheme.

We offer a wide range of benefits including a competitive salary, generous annual leave allowance, a contributory pension scheme, life assurance, learning and development support, 24-hour access to our employee assistance programme, discounted staff travel with our corporate partners Wightlink (subject to T&Cs) and more.

Please do not use artificial intelligence tools to assist you to complete the application form. We may not accept applications that have been completed utilising AI tools. If you would usually use tools such as these to assist you in filling in a form, please contact us to discuss this further and understand other options.

Closing date: 08 June 2025
Interviews: 17 June 2025