Overview
The Broads & Lower Waveney Warden is a key member of the East Reserves Team, based at Carlton Marshes. The role supports the successful delivery of conservation management across a set of “home” reserves - Worlingham Marshes, Castle Marshes, Barsham Marshes and Winks Meadow - as well as supporting work on other East area reserves as required. This is a practical, hands-on post that turns conservation objectives into day-to-day action: helping to write and deliver reserve management plans, planning and undertaking habitat management works, coordinating ecological monitoring, maintaining machinery, vehicles, equipment & site infrastructure and supporting contractor management, consents, budgets and reporting. A major part of the role is recruiting, developing and leading volunteer teams (including using Team Kinetic for volunteer management), ensuring excellent standards of health and safety across all activities. The Warden also helps develop these reserves as flagships for the Trust’s work — ensuring sites are welcoming and accessible, supporting guided walks and events and acting as a visible ambassador for Suffolk Wildlife Trust, raising awareness through engagement and communications that help deliver the mission to bring nature back to Suffolk.
Responsibilities
* Deliver conservation management across Worlingham Marshes, Castle Marshes, Barsham Marshes and Winks Meadow; support work on other East area reserves as required.
* Write and deliver reserve management plans; plan and undertake habitat management works; coordinate ecological monitoring.
* Maintain machinery, vehicles, equipment & site infrastructure; support contractor management, consents, budgets and reporting.
* Recruit, develop and lead volunteer teams (including using Team Kinetic for volunteer management); uphold high health and safety standards across activities.
* Develop reserves as flagships for the Trust’s work; ensure sites are welcoming and accessible; support guided walks and events; act as a visible ambassador; raise awareness through engagement and communications to deliver the Trust’s mission.
Qualifications and Skills
* Strong practical knowledge of woodland, wetland, meadow and heathland habitats; hands-on experience delivering habitat management works using industry-standard conservation power tools and relevant machinery.
* Excellent communication, partnership working and project management skills; ability to engage and support volunteers; work safely with contractors; manage resources effectively.
* Good working knowledge of Microsoft 365; willingness to learn and apply task-specific tools and systems (e.g. GIS/QGIS, volunteer management systems & CRM).
* Confident assessing risk and producing risk assessments; comfortable working outdoors in all weathers and varied terrain (including around water bodies); proactive, solutions-focused problem-solving.
Details
* This is a permanent position working 37.5 hours per week (five out of seven days each week; standard hours Monday to Friday 9:00am–5:00pm) based at Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve.
* The starting salary is between £28,088.00 & £30,088.00 per annum depending on skills, knowledge and experience.
* To apply, submit an application via our website by 9:00am on Wednesday 08 April 2026; interviews planned for week commencing 20 April 2026 at Carlton Marshes.
Benefits and Equality
* Annual leave entitlement starts at 33 days per annum (including Bank Holidays), increasing to 38 days plus an extra day off for your birthday.
* 9% employer pension contribution with no employee contribution required.
* Free 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme; free life insurance from day one of employment; free access to a private GP; discounts at high street retailers.
* Staff can also enjoy a 10% discount in our visitor centre cafes, including retail.
* We are committed to being an inclusive organisation where everyone is welcome. Suffolk Wildlife Trust is an organisation where everyone feels respected, valued & empowered to contribute so that together we can deliver our vision, mission & strategic goals for a wilder Suffolk.
#J-18808-Ljbffr