Estate & Nature Recovery Manager

• Are you passionate about the nature, regenerative agriculture, and transformative land management? 
• Are you excited at the prospect of joining a passionate, dedicated and forward-thinking team working towards genuinely impactful restoration, regeneration and reconnection?
• Do you want to use your current skills and knowledge to help make a difference? If so, then we would love to hear from you.

An exciting opportunity to help manage a beautiful and diverse country estate and to be part of a genuinely progressive business attempting to address the challenges of biodiversity decline, climate change, and nature disconnection.

JOB DESCRIPTION

To oversee the delivery of estate objectives, through effective management of the Estate and Garden teams and practical delivery of wide-ranging estate projects.

• REPORTS TO - Director of Estates and Natural Capital
• RESPONSIBLE FOR - Estate and Gardening Team and Livestock
• CONTRACT - Permanent
• LOCATION - Belmont Estate & Watercress Farm, Bristol

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

VISION

• Effective management of the team to maximise productivity and efficiency through strong relationships, guidance and mentoring alongside direct and honest feedback

ENVIRONMENTAL AND ESTATE

• Management of a range of existing and proposed Nature Recovery projects and oversight and coordination of ecological surveying and data collection.
• Overall responsibility for care and presentation of the estate grounds and wider landscape.
• Safe use, operation and maintenance of vehicles, plant, equipment and machinery, including responsibility for ongoing maintenance strategy.

LIVESTOCK

• Development of the agriculture and livestock strategy in conjunction with Director of Estates and which encompasses but is not limited to health and wellbeing.
• Naturalistic grazing of our rewilding project, and the production of well finished stock within a zero or near zero input system.
• Overall responsibility for day to day delivery of that strategy.

WOODLAND

• In conjunction with Director of Estates, development of a long term strategy for our ancient woodland, acknowledging the threats and opportunities presented by a changing climate and emerging recognition of the value of nature.
• Implementation of agreed woodland strategy focussed on care for ancient woods and specimen trees.
• Optimisation of by-products of woodland management for use as firewood and charcoal production.

GRANT SCHEMES

• Management, oversight, reporting and compliance with existing and future grant commitments, such as Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Environmental Higher-Level Stewardship (HLS).
• Identification and exploration of incremental and synergistic additional 3rd party revenue streams.

SKILLS, ATTRIBUTES, BEHAVIOURS AND VALUES

• People management; building and maintaining a productive team with a positive culture.
• Strong communication skills to inform and inspire those around you and to influence the behaviour of others through written, oral or interpersonal communication toward desired outcomes.
• Well organised with a detailed approach from delivery of tasks to record keeping.
• Flexible and versatile approach to challenges with a positive, can do attitude.
• Empathy for the goals and values of the organisation, its Board and its owners alongside an ability to inspire the same in the wider team.
• A flexible approach to working, comfortable both working under guidance and using own initiative, independently or within a team depending on approach required.
• Discrete where appropriate.
• Responsibility, ownership, and accountability for that which you do or oversee.
• Calm under pressure.

EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE IS LIKELY TO HAVE:

• a background in livestock and estate care including woodlands, as well as experience managing a small team
• a passion for environment and Nature Recovery and demonstrable experience and sincere belief in organic and/or sustainable agriculture and, ideally, of farming to organic standards
• experience translating the values and vision of owners and senior managers into delivered projects and maintained landscapes

IDEALLY THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WOULD HAVE EXPERIENCE OF / FAMILIARITY WITH:

• private family estates
• organic / regenerative fruit and vegetable production
• communicating to visitors and wider stakeholders the activities, goals and impacts of the organisation and its activities

HOURS

• Whilst office hours are typically 08.00 to 17.00, Monday to Friday, this role requires a flexible approach.
• Due to the nature of the role and activities of the organisation participation on a weekend and bank holiday rota will be required.

PACKAGE

• Competitive salary
• Estate accommodation available if required
• Private health care
• Life Assurance
• 25 days holiday plus statutory bank holidays
• Discounted produce from online farm shop
• The Estate is located 10 minutes from Bristol and its historic woodland, meadows, and pastures offer a rare working environment

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

We are looking for the best candidate on the values they can add. Just as we recognise the importance of diversity in our natural ecosystems, we also value its importance within our team. We encourage applicants from all ages and backgrounds to apply for this role. If there are any adjustments that you need to help you bring your best self to an interview with us, please let us know.