Environmental and wildlife conservation work jobs in Bristol
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About Bristol Avon Rivers Trust
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust is an independent environmental charity dedicated to restoring and protecting the rivers of the Bristol Avon catchment for people and wildlife.
We work across urban and rural landscapes to deliver practical river restoration, natural flood management, climate resilience, biodiversity recovery and community engagement projects at a catchment scale. Our work ranges from removing barriers to fish migration and restoring river habitat, through to supporting regenerative farming, creating wetlands and woodlands, and engaging communities in citizen science and environmental action.
As the Trust continues to grow in scale, ambition and complexity, we are seeking an experienced and highly organised Head of Operations to help strengthen our organisational systems, support our team and enable the effective delivery of our strategic vision.
Location
Hybrid working – with regular attendance across BART offices, project sites and meetings within the Bristol Avon catchment.
Reports to
Chief Executive Officer
Hours
Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
Flexible working arrangements considered.
Purpose of the Role
The Head of Operations will play a central leadership role within Bristol Avon Rivers Trust, ensuring the organisation operates safely, effectively, efficiently and sustainably as it continues to grow.
This is a strategic and hands-on operational role overseeing organisational systems, support governance, HR, compliance, health & safety, programme management support and internal operations.
Working closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team, the postholder will help manage the organisations systems and culture needed to support high-quality delivery across a growing environmental charity.
The role will suit someone who thrives in dynamic organisations, enjoys problem solving and optimising systems, understanding and making sense of complexity, and is motivated by supporting teams to deliver meaningful impact and achieving the organisations goals.
Key Responsibilities
Organisational Leadership & Operations
- Lead and oversee day-to-day organisational operations across the Trust
- Develop and improve internal systems, processes and operational procedures
- Support organisational planning and delivery against BART’s strategic objectives
- Work closely with the CEO and senior managers to support organisational growth and resilience
- Contribute to organisational decision-making and leadership culture
People & HR Management
- Oversee HR systems, policies and procedures
- Support recruitment, onboarding and staff development processes
- Help foster a positive, inclusive and high-performing workplace culture
- Support managers with operational people-management matters
- Coordinate staff wellbeing and professional development initiatives
Governance & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with charity, company and employment regulations
- Support the CEO with governance processes, trustee reporting and organisational policies
- Oversee organisational risk management systems
- Ensure appropriate insurance, contracts and compliance frameworks are in place
- Lead on operational health & safety systems and organisational compliance
Organisational Systems
- Support organisational budgeting and financial monitoring alongside the finance and Senior Leadership team
- Oversee operational procurement and contract management systems
- Support implementation and optimisation of organisational systems, including Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and IT systems including cyber security
- Improve internal reporting and programme coordination systems
Programme & Delivery Support
- Support operational coordination across BART programmes and projects
- Help ensure teams are appropriately resourced and supported
- Improve organisational project management systems and workflows
- Support efficient collaboration across delivery teams
- Contribute to organisational development opportunities and partnerships
Person Specification
Essential Experience & Skills
- Significant experience in operational management, organisational leadership or business management
- Experience developing and improving organisational systems and processes
- Strong understanding of governance, compliance and organisational risk management
- Experience supporting HR and people-management processes
- Excellent organisational and project management skills
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to work strategically while also being comfortable with operational detail
- Experience managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and organisational software systems
Desirable Experience
- Experience working within the environmental, charity or public sector
- Knowledge of charity governance and funding environments
- Experience supporting organisational growth and change management
- Familiarity with CRM systems and operational databases
- Understanding of health & safety systems within field-based organisations
Who We’re Looking For
We are looking for someone who:
- Is highly organised, proactive and solutions-focused
- Enjoys enabling others to succeed
- Can balance strategic thinking with practical delivery
- Is calm and adaptable in a growing organisation
- Has strong emotional intelligence and leadership skills
- Wants to help a small organisation grow and deliver its goal of restoring rivers, landscapes and communities
Why Join BART?
This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of one of the UK’s growing rivers trusts at a pivotal stage in its development.
You’ll join a passionate and ambitious team delivering meaningful environmental change across the Bristol Avon catchment, while helping build the organisational foundations needed for long-term impact.
Benefits
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and Christmas close
- Flexible and hybrid working
- 9% Employer pension contribution
- Professional development and training opportunities
- Employee wellbeing support
- Opportunity to shape a growing organisation with real environmental impact
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and supported.
We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and communities, particularly those underrepresented within the environmental sector.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
About Us
The National Landscapes Association represents and supports the UK’s National Landscapes (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) – places where we want nature and people to flourish together. These living, protected landscapes are vital to the UK’s nature recovery, climate resilience, sustainable farming and wellbeing.
We work collaboratively and inclusively to ensure these treasured places are protected, restored, and accessible to all. Our policy work is central to this mission – and we’re looking for a proficient and motivated individual to help shape and drive it forward.
About the Role
You’ll be motivated by working to help National Landscapes, along with the other protected landscapes, be the backbone of nature recovery within the UK through national commitments such as the Protected Landscapes Targets and Outcomes Framework and 30by30. With experience of working in the environmental or social sectors, you’ll be skilled at using evidence and knowledge when building positive relationships and supporting our partners in using resources effectively.
Based within the National Landscapes Association, you will work closely with colleagues from across Association, the individual National Landscapes and the Protected Landscapes Partnership.
Key Responsibilities
- Working with individual National Landscapes, develop a framework for a Vision of Nature in 2050 in the National Landscapes
- Support work on a standardised framework for valuing natural capital across the protected landscapes
- Maintain and update the National Landscape Association GIS system
- Support Big Chalk in developing a spatial prioritisation tool and potentially sitting on the panel for reviewing applications to the Big Chalk Nature Recovery Fund
- Contribute to the development of the National Landscapes Association as the leading voice on protected and designated landscapes in the UK
See the role description for more information.
Why Join Us?
At the National Landscapes Association, you’ll be part of a passionate and forward-thinking team making a meaningful impact. You’ll gain exposure to a wide range of high-profile policy issues, work alongside experts across the UK, and help shape the future of our most valued landscapes.
How to Apply
To apply, please attach a CV and a covering letter (maximum two pages) outlining how you meet the criteria in the person specification included in the role description.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
Lead and champion activity, working with National Landscapes, to protect and restore the UK's most outstanding landscapes.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
The Big Chalk Partnership is made up of more than 150 organisations with a common vision of creating nature-rich chalk and limestone landscapes that benefit all of us.
The Protected Landscapes Partnership and Defra are supporting our Partnership to catalyse progress towards the UK’s nature commitments across these special landscapes through the multi-million pound Big Chalk Nature Recovery Fund. The Nature Recovery Fund Officer will administer and develop the systems and processes underpinning our grant-making.
The Big Chalk programme is hosted by the National Landscapes Association, which represents the UK’s National Landscapes (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The Association is a charity and non-profit membership organisation. The team advocates, communicates and fosters collaborative action which supports National Landscapes to be as effective as possible, championing their interests with governments and delivering national projects.
We welcome applicants from a broad range of backgrounds – the most important thing is that you are motivated to work collaboratively with Big Chalk’s partners to benefit nature to the greatest extent possible, helping ensure our grant-making is both effective and compliant.
With significant experience of administering and developing grant making systems, processes and ways of working in the environmental or social sectors, you’ll bring a collaborative mindset and be skilled at building positive relationships with new colleagues, our partners and funders.
You’ll have applied experience of working with partners across the grant-making lifecycle and using grant management software to enable related operations. You’ll possess strong organisational and data management skills and be able to develop and communicate insights.
If this sounds like the opportunity for you, then we’d love to hear from you.
Please apply by submitting a short CV (no more than three pages) and a covering letter (no more than two pages) which addresses the person specification criteria in the attached role description.
First interviews will be held online for short-listed candidates – likely on 1st and 2nd July. A second interview round may follow if needed.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
Lead and champion activity, working with National Landscapes, to protect and restore the UK's most outstanding landscapes.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.