Landscape Development Manager

Landscape Development Manager
Based in Bovey Tracey and Princetown, Devon

This is a full-time (37hrs p/wk) position, for a fixed-term until 30/06/2026. The role is based at the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) offices at Parke and Princetown.

About Us

DNPA is the body that oversees the vibrant, living, working landscape and community that is Dartmoor. We help to conserve and enhance the biodiversity, cultural heritage and landscape of Dartmoor and provide opportunities for people to enjoy the countryside as well as supporting our local communities and the rural economy.

About the Walkham Valley Landscape Recovery Scheme (WVLR)

The Walkham catchment is a tributary of the River Tamar on the western side of the moor that hosts an incredible array of habitats and species as well as a rich historical and cultural heritage. Landscape Recovery is the new innovative upper tier of the Government Environment Land Management Scheme (ELMS) that aims to achieve landscape scale and coherent ecological restoration through a collaborative long-term approach.

The WVLR is a farmer and landowner led initiative which is about to begin a two-year development phase exploring options that will cumulate in an agreed and costed business plan to support long-term environmental enhancement and business resilience across the scheme area. This will lead to an exciting 20 year delivery phase that will provide the support, resources and funding to deliver a vision developed and owned principally by those who live and work in the Valley.

About the Dartmoor Hill Farming Project (HFP)

The HFP was established through a partnership of local farmers and organisations to help support a viable and sustainable future for farming on Dartmoor. The Project’s primary function is to provide advice and information, promote skills development, secure funding and offer a single point of contact to rural communities and partners regarding key issues.

About the role

We are looking for a highly motivated individual to help coordinate and manage the WVLR development phase. This will include producing a series of plans that collectively will offer significant environmental outcomes alongside social and business benefits for the scheme members. These plans will involve negotiation, research and consultation with a wide range of stakeholders and will be fully costed with identified routes to investment that include private finance elements. You will work closely with the HFP Land Management Advisor and also line manage two of the WVLR dedicated staff.

More broadly, you will also help shape and drive forward the HFP by providing advice, support, training and expertise in line with the needs of the Dartmoor rural community and the challenges of the agricultural transition period. You will provide and facilitate advice and training across key business themes such as succession, agricultural transition, farm resilience, environment, funding and wellbeing. 

Benefits

• Salary of £37,336 - £41,418 per annum
• Flexible working arrangements
• Generous annual leave allowance plus public holidays
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Free staff parking and National Trust café on site at Parke
• Cycle to Work salary sacrifice scheme
• Access to our fleet of electric vehicles for work travel

About you

The successful applicant will be extremely organised, have proven project management experience and excellent administration and communications skills. You will have experience of developing good relationships with farmers and partners, providing agricultural and environmental advice, understanding of rural issues, and ideally a track record of securing funding and providing support and training programmes.

The post is hosted by Dartmoor National Parke Authority and will be based in Princetown and Parke but will involve travelling around Dartmoor.

For further information, or to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Chris Giles – Head of Conservation and Land Management (cgiles@dartmoor.gov.uk).

If you are interested in applying for the role, please see details on our website.

Closing date: 7th July 2024