Conservation and Volunteers Manager - Naturezones

Job Posted: 16 February 2026

• Contract Term: Fixed Term
• Location: Newport, Isle of Wight
• Contract Type: Part time
• Salary: £20/hr
• Industries: Charity / Voluntary Environment Horticulture

Conservation and Volunteers Manager

Short term zero hours contract on a freelance basis

approx’ 6hrs/1 day a week—Thursday—@£20/hr 72weeks

plus a small element of volunteering.

This Lottery funded post (Awards for All) will play a significant role to ensure the success of this project.

Job Description:

This post is based at Naturezones,

We require an experienced person with conservation land management and interpersonal skills with a gentle and supportive approach while working with Post Graduates and College Leavers in developing and maintaining a sustainable nature reserve. Helping them to extend their practical experience in conservation land management skills. Keeping mindful of the fact they already have knowledge.

This is an important, hands on post with the aim of developing a sustainable field study and visitors centre. Maintaining access to the centre and nature reserve for the visitors with the help of volunteers. The tasks will be wide and varied

• Covering the general care and improvement of the nature reserve and its habitats.
• Tending to the plant centre and demonstration gardens.
• General tool care encouraging tidy minds. keeping woodland paths accessible and clear of fallen trees and branches.
• Managing the meadows,.
• Deal with any repairs required, for example foot bridges and seating or installing interpretation.
• Keeping grass short in specific areas.
• Develop new habitat projects with the help of volunteers and extend the volunteers learning volunteers habitat management skills.
• The successful applicant must have excellent conservation land management skills.
• Be able to recruit and train volunteers from various avenues i.e universities, open university.
• Have the ability to get around and attend relevant meetings specific to the purpose of promoting Naturezones.

The post is not limited to the tasks listed above

Essential Tasks

The successful applicant will have

• A friendly and approachable disposition while engaging with community groups and the general public.
• Experience in working with young adults
• Evaluation and planning skills, including recording case studies. Evaluation will be an important part of this post as it will be used in our reporting to the National Lottery
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Well-developed interpersonal skills and the ability to build successful partnerships
• Flexibility and time management
• Commitment to, passion for and belief in the organisation's aims
• Evaluation and planning skills
• Initiative, creativity and good forward thinking
• The ability to multi-task and prioritise

Further useful skills

• Enthusiasm to raise awareness about the importance of protecting and enhancing natural habitats.
• Encouraging and promoting connections with nature to enthuse volunteers, via various and creative means. Possibly nature walks, nature watch, photography etc
• Experience in working with people sympathetically, of all ages from children to seniors

Responsibilities. The Conservation and Volunteers Manager will be responsible to the Project Manager and the Trustees

The successful applicant will have an up to date enhanced DBS or agree to an enhanced DBS check

NOTE: As duties and responsibilities change, this job description will be revised and amended in consultation with The post holder.

This job description cannot cover every issue or task that may arise within the post at various times. Therefore the post holder will be expected to carry out any other duties as are within the scope, sprit and purpose of the job and requested by the line manager.