Are you a talented individual looking to develop your career in a progressive conservation organisation? The reason the John Muir Trust exists - to conserve, protect and repair wild places for the benefit of everyone - has never been more important.
We are looking for someone who cares passionately about Wild Places with career experience in managing large areas of land for conservation. Our ideal candidate will be highly motivated and bring both practical and management experience to fulfil this key role. They will oversee practical delivery of best practice on our properties, including deer management, mitigating livestock pressure, control of invasive non-native species, path maintenance and provide leadership as a progressive crofting landlord and engagement with local communities on a wide range of issues. They will work closely with our Communications and Engagement team to promote high-quality visitor experiences to a wide range of interests and abilities across all properties managed with a primacy for Wild Places.
This new role is an opportunity to deliver lasting change and help restore some of Scotland’s most iconic landscapes. The role offers the chance to combine practical knowledge, budget management, people skills and visionary leadership.
The John Muir Trust is committed to working together to promote a more inclusive environment and we need a diverse team to realise this. Applicants are welcome from all walks of life with diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences to support our work on behalf of wild places.
The Head of Land Management is responsible for the leadership and practical delivery of the charity's land management programme, ensuring that all land is managed effectively through staff and contractors to achieve the charity's objectives for the Wild Places in our care.
Our new Head of Land Management will lead the Trust’s land management staff and contractors responsible for 24,000Ha to deliver exemplary management for Wild Places. The properties are Sandwood, Quinag, on Skye (Strathaird, Torrin, Sconser), Knoydart, Nevis, Schiehallion and Glenlude.
The postholder will work with and lead multidisciplinary teams, oversee complex projects, manage budgets and resources, and represent the charity with professionalism, integrity, and authority. The role requires an experienced leader with a strong practical understanding of land management, people and communities, ensuring that plans are translated into high-quality delivery on the ground.
Leadership and Management
- Lead, motivate and develop the Land Management team of currently 3 direct reports, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement and high performance.
- Provide clear direction, coaching and performance management to staff.
- Manage external contractors as appropriate for delivery of objectives, across a variety of specialist topics.
- Lead delivery of our duties as a crofting landlord.
- Ensure appropriate workforce planning, succession planning and professional development
- Responsible for ensuring compliance with health, safety and wellbeing throughout all land management activities.
Practical Delivery
- Lead the planning and delivery of practical land management programmes across the charity's estate.
- Ensure projects relating to all land management activities are delivered within the agreed annual budget, following the scheme of delegation, safely, on time, and to agreed quality standards.
- Balance conservation objectives with operational, financial and legal requirements.
- Oversee contractors, consultants and specialist advisers to ensure effective delivery and value for money.
- Drive innovation, continuous improvement in land management practices and develop best practice guidance for the management of Wild Place qualities.
For further information and to understand more about the role's main responsibilities and specification please download the full job description attached to this page or email [email protected].
We look forward to hearing from you.
Type of contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time
Salary: Band D - competitive salary based on experience
Pension: 5% employer contribution to a group auto-enrolment pension scheme
Reporting to: Director of Wild Places
Location: Hybrid. From home (Inverness/North Scotland preferred) and Trust sites and offices
Holidays: 34 days per year plus 2 ‘wild days’ or 2 sustainable travel days
John Muir Trust standard terms and conditions of employment apply.
