Reserve Warden - Aston Rowant NNR

The successful candidates will contribute to the work of our team through covering tasks in the following areas:

• Deliver day-to-day site conservation management including practical habitat management and species/habitat monitoring.
• Livestock husbandry of Natural England's own livestock.
• Build and maintain working relations with a range of stakeholders engaged in the day-to-day management of the reserves, including landowners, neighbours, partner organisations and community groups.
• Contribute to NNR management planning and maintain management records.
• Promote volunteering opportunities and build volunteer capacity to support NNR priorities.
• Monitor and manage visitor behaviour and patterns of use to support sustainable recreation.
• Implement Health & Safety standards fully for yourself and others, including visitors, volunteers and contractors.
• Procurement of goods and services including managing contracts.
• Support the wider team ambitions for NNRs to be at the heart of the Nature Recovery Network in the surrounding landscape., A Driving Licence is essential for this role.
At Aston Rowant, some out of hours working is essential for weekend livestock husbandry, volunteer work party management and public engagement for which overtime payments or Time Off In Lieu is available. An allowance is also payable for any out-of-hours 'on-call' cover.

The job requires a combination of technical and practical land management knowledge and a developed understanding of the ecology and management of relevant habitats. The successful candidate will be a self-motivated, flexible, organised individual with a genuine interest and experience in:
• Partnership working
• Practical conservation management
• Providing a welcoming and rich visitor experience
• Using evidence to inform nature conservation management
• Maintaining the highest health and safety standards
• Team working
• Good governance, record management and information handling
  
  This is an exciting opportunity to join Natural England's National Nature Reserves (NNR) team in the Thames Solent team. NNRs play an increasingly important role as places where people can connect with nature and contribute to the recovery of nature in the surrounding landscape.
Aston Rowant NNR is situated within the Chiltern Hills National Landscape. At 160 hectares it is one of the largest remaining areas of chalk grassland in Oxfordshire, consisting of extensive habitats of beech woodland and lowland scrub/grassland mosaic is home to a range of scarce bird species and invertebrates. The reserve is very popular, attracting large numbers of visitors. Managing high levels of recreational pressure and the annual threat of wildfires, is therefore a key part of this role, as is the ability to work collaboratively with local communities, visitors, volunteers and partners. Aston Rowant NNR sits within a wider landscape of the Chilterns Hills National Landscape and is a key site for the nature recovery network. Natural England's nature recovery projects are focussing on promoting ever closer working with a diverse range of partners to achieve more for nature and for people.

Do you have a passion for nature and the environment? Do you want to make a real difference and secure significant environmental gains in the present and the future? Do you enjoy working in a team? Can you see yourself advising communities and customers to maximise gains for the Natural Environment? If this appeals to you, a career at Natural England offers rewarding opportunities to secure environmental improvements and play your part in creating a better future for people and nature. The priority work Natural England is delivering includes:
• Establishing a Nature Recovery Network to help wildlife thrive
• Monitoring environmental changes to identify and help reduce the effects of climate change
• Working with farmers and landowners to develop greener food production methods
• Advising on plans for new developments to maximise gains for nature
• Providing ways for people to better connect with nature, including green social prescribing
We are the Government's advisor for the natural environment, playing a vital role in delivering the Government's 25 Year Environment Plan, an ambitious vision which brings new opportunities to protect and enhance and to achieve real outcomes for the environment. Find out more about the work of Natural England here, Alongside your salary of £26,400, Natural England contributes £7,648 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%