Nature Recovery Manager, Forestry England

Position Overview

Application Deadline: June 10, 2026

Salary: £40,388 to £43,482 per year

Description

Forestry England is hiring a Nature Recovery Manager in Pickering, Yorkshire, at £40,388 to £43,482 per year, with applications due June 10, 2026.

Forestry England manages more than 1,500 forests and woodlands across over 250,000 hectares. The organisation has bold ambitions to be a leading force for nature recovery, building on FSC certification since 1999, WWF’s Gift to the Earth award in 2001, commitments to restore all ancient woodlands (2007) and 11,000 hectares of open habitats (2013), and the launch of its first Biodiversity Plan in 2022.

The Nature Recovery Manager in Forestry England’s Yorkshire District leads a programme of ambitious nature recovery projects including landscape-scale Wild Areas, pioneering species reintroductions, and the creation of nature-rich, dynamic habitat networks. The role leads a small team of specialist project officers and supports effective project delivery, budget development, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead a programme of ambitious nature recovery projects across Yorkshire District.
• Drive landscape-scale Wild Areas initiatives.
• Lead pioneering species reintroductions and habitat network creation.
• Provide leadership to a small team of specialist project officers.
• Support and oversee project delivery, budget development and tracking, and risk management.
• Engage stakeholders across landowner, agency, and community partnerships.
• Apply ecological knowledge and project management experience to scale impactful, evidence-based nature recovery.

Requirements

• Strong ecological knowledge.
• Experience in project management.
• Ability to manage budgets and risks across a programme of projects.
• Leadership skills with experience supporting specialist staff.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Civil Service Behaviours: Seeing the big picture, Working together, Managing a quality service, Delivering at pace, Making effective decisions.

Additional Notes

• Fixed Term Appointment, ending March 2029 (with the possibility of extension or permanency, but no guarantee).
• 37 hours per week.
• Post initially based at Forestry England’s Yorkshire Office in Pickering; moves to Dalby Forest Office in autumn/winter 2027.
• Regular travel around Forestry England’s estate in Yorkshire required; occasional Forestry England-wide travel may require overnight stays.
• Pension contribution from Forestry England averages 28.97 percent toward Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.
• 25 days holiday a year, rising by one day every year up to 30 days, plus bank holidays.
• STaR employee benefits scheme; free parking; free entry to Westonbirt and Bedgebury arboretums.
• Role is part of Disability Confident Scheme, Great Place to Work for Veterans, and Prison Leaver Recruitment initiatives.
• Successful candidates undergo a criminal record check and the government baseline personnel security standard check.
• Role is funded by DEFRA and subject to government spending reviews.

How to Apply

Apply through the Forestry England careers portal by Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 23:58.

Required application materials:

• 200-word statement on relevant experience and career history.
• Personal statement of no more than 500 words.

For reasonable adjustments, email fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk.