Senior Site Manager

Do you want help restore important habitats in Scotland’s most exciting landscape and play the
lead role in running one of RSPB’s largest and highest profile reserves? We are looking for a
new Senior Site Manager to deliver and evolve our exciting vision at Abernethy reserve. We have
a hugely important piece of Caledonian pine woodland, the reserve extends over 52 square miles
to the summit of UK’s second highest mountain. We run Scotland’s leading visitor membership
recruitment site and are key partners in the Cairngorms Connect partnership.

You will be leading an established team of staff and volunteers to deliver management work
across the reserve. You will work closely with all staff but particularly the conservation Site
Manager, Office Manager and People Site Manager to ensure the reserve runs smoothly day to day
and develops to meet challenges as we progress our plans.

Our relationship with the local community is of key importance to everything at this site and
you will be leading the work we have developed over the last few years. 

We are looking for someone with a proven track record of strong people management skills,
community engagement, budget management, and ideally knowledge of woodland management, deer
management and Highland estates. 

At this reserve we are also working to a 200 year vision in the UK’s largest landscape scale
restoration partnership, Cairngorms Connect. Working with communities, restoring woodland
rivers and peatland to it’s natural state on a, truly landscape scale. This partnership is with
NatureScot, Wildland ltd, Forestry & Land Scotland and Cairngorms National Park.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience: 

• Diplomacy
• Ability to manage large complex budgets.
• Experience of managing large scale projects.
• Health, Safety & Environmental management
• Knowledge of local factors (communities, environmental, ecological, cultural).
• Relevant site-specific specialist knowledge (eg grazing, landscape engineering, trading,
  visitor experience).
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Leadership skills and experience.
• Individual and team management skills.
• Influencing and negotiation skills. 

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Educated to degree level
• Project management and delivery experience.
• Knowledge of Highland estates.

This is a permanent, full-time role for 37.5 hours per week. 

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 23/01/2024. For further information
please contact [email protected].

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including
evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels
supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world
richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of
colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate,
sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled,
we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any
additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act 1974.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the successful applicant will need to have
a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.