Site Manager - Newport Wetlands
Reference: APR20255795
Location: RSPB Newport Wetlands, NP18
Salary: £39,205.00 - £41,856.00 Per Annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week
Benefits: Pension scheme (7%), Life Assurance scheme, 26 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays)
Are you a dynamic leader with the energy and experience to shape the future of one of the RSPB’s most important visitor sites?
We’re looking for an inspiring and inclusive leader with experience in visitor operations and land management to oversee the visitor facilities at RSPB Newport Wetlands on the Gwent Levels.
As Site Manager, you’ll be responsible for delivering site objectives alongside a high-quality visitor experience. With over 70,000 visitors a year and a thriving membership recruitment operation, Newport Wetlands is a key site for connecting people with nature. You’ll lead and inspire a highly committed team of staff and volunteers to deliver excellence, therefore line management and leadership experience are essential for this role.
You will also work alongside a variety of colleagues from across the RSPB in a matrix structure, including (but not limited to) consultants within the Visitor Operations Team, health and safety, rural surveyors, ecology, fundraising, project management, communications and policy.
Newport Wetlands is a gateway site within the Living Levels landscape partnership, which is a strong and aligned partnership that is driving a range of ambitious initiatives across the Levels.
The successful candidate will be a capable manager who works well with a wide range of people and can collaborate effectively with partners at all levels. Your strong programme and people management skills will help the team achieve the best possible outcomes against our priorities.
You’ll lead work programmes and projects, so enthusiasm, initiative, and diplomacy are key. You’ll need to communicate your passion for nature to others and have a hands-on approach to solving practical challenges.
You’ll need experience of managing income and expenditure budgets and have a commercially minded approach to ensure that we deliver a great visitor experience and generate a profit. You’ll also need to be a good, clear communicator and have an eye for detail, be able to manage systems and processes to ensure that they are all legally, financially and organisationally compliant.
As Site Manager you will:
- Manage day to day operations for people, visitors, finance and legal compliance, habitats and species
- Inspire, lead and develop the dedicated team of staff and volunteers
- Be responsible for the review, update and implementation of the site business plan
- Act as the main point of contact for the local community, neighbours, and partner organisations in order maintain good relationships
- Enjoy the support of a very experienced local team, area manager, visitor operations consultants, ecologists, rural surveyor, safety advisor and other specialist RSPB staff.
Essential Skills, Knowledge and Experience:
- Visitor operation management experience
- Line Management experience (staff and/or volunteers)
- Experience of working within a multi-functional team
- Excellent Interpersonal and communication skills
- Leadership skills
- Knowledge of the ecological requirements of key species and habitats
- Land management experience
- Health, Safety, Environmental and Land management compliance experience
- Experience of managing contractors
- Effective project and budget management skills
- Practical Problem-solving skills
- Time management, organisational and prioritisation skills
- Influencing and negotiation skills
- IT, database and GIS skills
Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:
- Degree level qualification in a relevant subject
- Reedbed/wetland management experience
Closing date: 23:59, Monday, 26th May 2025
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on 5th June 2025.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
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.
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.
As part of this application process you will be asked complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.
No agencies please.
The RSPB brings people together – people like you – to protect the things that matter to us all.



Job Description
Title: Trust Administrator
Salary: £28k - £32k (depending on experience) + Pension
Contract: Permanent (3 months probationary period)
Hours: Full-time (37.5-hour week) with some flexibility preferred. Part time applications also considered.
Location: Bristol office for probation period then hybrid working (at least one day a week homeworking)
Responsible to: Chief Executive
About Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART)
Founded in 2012, the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) is a charity dedicated to restoring and protecting the rivers of the Bristol Avon. Guided by an evidence-based, ecosystem-wide approach, we focus on the health of the entire catchment, not just the rivers themselves.
BART began as a grassroots effort driven by a shared passion for waterways. Today, with approximately 20 employees and an annual turnover of £1 million, we manage multi-year projects funded by diverse supporters to preserve and enhance the Bristol Avon catchment.
We work with landowners, communities, businesses, farmers, water companies, councils and government agencies to protect and rejuvenate rivers, lakes, and estuaries, delivering benefits for wildlife, local economies, and people. Our efforts help reduce costs for farmers and water companies and enhance public health while addressing the climate and ecological crises.
The post holder will join a growing, ambitious team delivering multi-benefit projects to protect and improve the Bristol Avon catchment, and the Trust Administrator will play a key role in supporting the smooth delivery of the Trust’s operations.
Job summary and purpose
The Trust Administrator is responsible for maintaining the core administrative functions of the Trust to ensure the smooth operation of the charity, enabling its mission to ensure healthy rivers for wildlife and people.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the Trust Administrator will work with a range of internal and external contacts to ensure routine business functions, human and physical resources, supporter and governance liaison are working well. The role will involve working closely with the Chief Executive, but also with other members of the team, Trustees, supporters and suppliers.
The role will require exceptional organisational skills, excellent interpersonal skills, an attention to detail, and working flexibly in an agile environment. Experience of organisational administration in the public, private or charity sector, and experience of HR, meetings administration and IT are essential while purchasing and negotiating with suppliers is desirable. A helpful and positive attitude is needed, as is a willingness to embrace flexible ways of working. Adherence to certain policies and procedures is essential, including requirements such as data confidentiality and upholding a culture of professionalism.
Whilst the role is predominantly aimed at internal support, including for Trustees and supporters, external liaison will be required with suppliers, funders, partners, and the public.
Duties and responsibilities
A. Organisational administration
1Take ownership of core business administrative functions including the office space, monitoring and maintaining resources, monitoring inboxes.
2Liaison and negotiation with, and purchasing from, suppliers and providers spanning IT, resources, insurance etc.
3Assist in the upholding of key policies and procedures e.g. security and safety checks.
4 Coordinate routine governance procedures including organising and minuting meetings, filing returns, and communicating with Trustees.
5Coordinate routine HR procedures including recruitment and managing confidential records, including those of staff, supporters and volunteers.
6Coordinate external IT support; undertaking routine IT administration.
7Liaison with finance staff to facilitate the maintenance of timely and accurate financial records, including assistance with project claims where required.
8Executive assistance including diary management, event and meetings organisation.
B Contributing to the work of the BART in general
1Contribute to delivering the Trust’s objectives
2Help maintain and enhance the Trust’s reputation through external contacts
3Undertake other duties that may be appropriate to the position
Person specification
C Qualifications and required knowledge
Essential
1Educated to a degree level in a relevant field or equivalent professional experience in a relevant sector
2Knowledge of relevant administrative processes and procedures
3Understanding of managing contacts in a confidential manner
4 Understanding of charity governance
Desirable
5Understanding of the environmental / freshwater sector
D Experience
Essential
1Demonstrable experience of organisational administration in a team context
2Setting up and maintaining efficient administrative systems
3Use of (essential) and routine administration of (desirable) office software applications e.g. MS 365
4Experience of managing external contacts
5Working alone and as part of a team
ESkills & Competencies
Essential
1Highly organised and comfortable with agile working
2Clear and correct plain English writing ability
3Excellent telephone answering and calling skills, with a wide range of audiences, including suppliers, stakeholders, and the public.
4Excellent IT skills, including use of Office 365
5Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
6Excellent time and task management
Desirable
7Ability to negotiate and secure best value from suppliers
F Personal Attributes
Essential
1Diligent and organised with an attention to detail
2 Strong interpersonal skills and assertiveness
3Pro-active and innovative
4Open, transparent and flexible
5Commitment to a healthy freshwater environment
6Commitment to upholding professionalism
Desirable
7 Being able to maintain excellent client relationships
Miscellaneous
The post is likely to involve occasional travel throughout the Bristol Avon (Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath & Northeast Somerset, Wiltshire, North Somerset) therefore a full UK driving licence and use of own vehicle is required. Mileage expenses will be paid at 45p per mile as set out in HMRC’s Approved Mileage Allowance Payment. Some evening and weekend work may be required. We will also require the successful applicant to undergo a DBS check and provide satisfactory references.
How to apply
Interested parties should submit a CV and a one page covering letter explaining why you would perform well in this role and what you could bring to BART.
Interviews for this post will take place in Bristol, date TBC.
Please note, due to limited resources you will only be contacted should you be successful in gaining an interview. We would like to thank you for your interest in this position.
Thank you for your interest in applying for a role with the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.