Wildlife Manager

What youll do

You will plan and implement safe and professional wildlife management programmes to protect tree crops and improve ecosystems. You will provide leadership and technical support in the district and through national networks.

Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.

Where youll work

East District offices at Santon Downham, IP27 0TJ

Key responsibilities & accountabilities

Manage people:

• Manage the wildlife ranger team, to meet our high professional standards.
• Provide technical support in the district and through national networks.
• Lead by example to promote a positive and inclusive culture, and actively promote collaboration and support across the district and with stakeholders.
• Demonstrate Forestry Englands organisational values and behaviours and make sure your team does too.
• Drive improvement in the wildlife team, promoting learning and development opportunities.

Manage resources:

• Manage the districts wildlife budget.
• Buy and distribute goods and equipment (including restricted items) in line with Forestry England policy.
• Arrange and supervise a range of contracts.

Manage stakeholders:

• Contribute to the day-to-day operation of the district as part of the management team.
• Work with foresters and district ecologists to make sure work programmes are delivered effectively and efficiently.
• Work with deer officer and other external organisations towards effective landscape-scale mammal management.
• Advise and support the estates team with sporting tenancies and sporting retained rights.
• Manage deer control licence holders and contractors to achieve deer management plan targets.
• Help to develop national policy at the request of the lead wildlife manager.
• Represent Forestry England at deer management group and squirrel control group meetings.
• Liaise with the police and neighbours on wildlife crime or as directed by the forest management director.

Manage health and safety:

• Manage health and safety involving firearms and the wildlife management operations.
• Provide leadership to promote a positive safety culture and plan infrastructure to minimise risk during wildlife management operations.
• Control authorising, using, inspecting, and recording firearms and ammunition by the wildlife ranger team, making sure Forestry England complies with legislation and internal policies.
• Make sure that district s deer larders comply with Forestry England policies, food hygiene regulations, and the British Quality Wild Venison standard.
• draft and review risk assessments covering wildlife management activities.
• Take overall responsibility for rifle zero and practise areas in the district and the safety of all activities on these sites.
• Issue and review all firearms cards, maintain the districts firearm database, and update the national data base as required.
• Issue guidance for safely using equipment and firearms, including managing the wildlife ranger training programmes.
• Monitor ranger and keeper performance including accompanied stalks, and high seat inspections.
• Promote reporting tick bites and using mandated deterrents.

Crop and habitat protection:

• Create and deliver data-led culling plans based upon population censuses and damage/ impact assessments to minimise damage to growing crops and habitats.
• Maintain wildlife management strategies to comply with UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) and Forestry England policies.
• Contract deer culling resource where and when needed to effectively deliver culling plans.

Skills, knowledge & experience

Essential professional and technical experience

Current or relevant experience in wildlife management including:

• Detailed understanding of the legislation for wildlife management.
• Experience in delivering large wildlife management programmes.
• Carcase handling and larder management.
• Impact and census monitoring techniques.
• Experience in planning wildlife management infrastructure.
• Understanding the legislative framework for using firearms.
• Experience in conservation/wildlife projects.
• Experience of working with partners, stakeholders and landowners.

Desirable professional and technical experience

• Experience of line managing staff, and supervising contractors.
• Experience of data management and data-driven decision making.