Jobs for the Environment sector

Chair (Non-Executive) – Board of Directors

South West Wildlife Fundraising Ltd (‘SWWFL’)

Remuneration: £12,500 per annum (plus expenses)
Location: Home-based, with some travel across the South West
Time commitment: Approximately 4 days per month

Do you care about the work of the Wildlife Trusts and want to make a real difference to the future of our treasured wildlife?

About the role

SWWFL, a wholly-owned trading subsidiary of 8 regional Wildlife Trusts, is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to take on the role of Non-Executive Chair of the Board. This is a pivotal leadership position, providing direction to the Board of Directors, supporting the Chief Executive Officer, and strengthening relationships with our owning Wildlife Trusts and partnerships with client Trusts.

You will also serve as a Company Director of SWWFL, sharing responsibility for the oversight, stewardship, and long-term success of the organisation.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a purpose-driven organisation supporting the work of The Wildlife Trusts across the extended South West.

Key responsibilities

As Chair, you will:

· Lead the Board of Directors, ensuring effective governance, decision-making and accountability

· Work closely with the CEO, providing both support and constructive challenge

· Ensure strong strategic alignment between SWWFL and its owning Wildlife Trusts and client Wildlife Trusts

· Oversee financial performance, risk management and regulatory compliance

· Chair Board meetings and ensure effective participation from all Directors

· Act as an ambassador for SWWFL with external stakeholders and partner Wildlife Trusts

· Lead the annual appraisal and development of the CEO

Governance and Director responsibilities

In addition to Chair duties, the postholder will fulfil the responsibilities of a SWWFL Company Director, including:

· Acting in accordance with the SWWFL Memorandum & Articles of Association and Members’ Agreement

· Exercising independent judgement, care and diligence

· Ensuring robust governance, financial oversight and risk management

· Supporting long-term sustainable success of the business

Terms of appointment

· The Chair is appointed by majority vote of the Board

· Term: normally 3 years, may be renewed, with annual performance review by the Board and owning Trusts

· The Chair role is remunerated, via a contracting agreement, in recognition of additional responsibilities

· The person appointed must, therefore, have appropriate and genuine self-employed status (or equivalent) to receive payment

· Where a Trustee of an owning Wildlife Trust is appointed, they cannot receive remuneration in line with SWWFL governance arrangements

· All Directors (including the Chair in their Director capacity) are subject to SWWFL governance requirements

About you

We are looking for someone who brings:

Experience

· Significant Board-level experience

· Proven experience of chairing meetings

· Senior strategic leadership experience (ideally in a commercial environment)

· Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building experience

Skills & knowledge

· Strong understanding of governance and regulatory requirements

· High level of financial literacy

· Commercial awareness

· Experience in risk management and organisational oversight

Personal qualities

· Strategic, decisive and emotionally intelligent

· Collaborative and diplomatic, with strong interpersonal skills

· Confident in an ambassadorial role

· Committed to the mission of The Wildlife Trusts

Time commitment

The Chair is expected to commit around 4 days per month, including:

· Regular meetings with the CEO and Finance Manager

· 6 Board and Stakeholder meetings annually

· 4 Finance & Remuneration Committee meetings

· Meetings with auditors and owning Trust CEOs

Some travel across the South West will be required, although many meetings are held remotely.

Eligibility

The Chair does not need to be an employee of an owning Wildlife Trust. However, they do need to be a member of their local Wildlife Trust, and they will operate within a Board that includes Directors who are drawn from the owning Trusts:

Avon, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire & Isle of Wight, Somerset, Wiltshire, and Worcestershire Wildlife Trusts.

Why join us?

This is a unique opportunity to play a key leadership role in a values-driven organisation, helping to support vital conservation work across the South West and beyond.

How to apply

An application pack and form can be downloaded from the SWWFL website. A copy of your CV, plus the application form detailing your skills and experience relevant to this role, must be included in your application.

The deadline for applications is 7th June 2026.

Interviews will take place on 30th June 2026 at Avon Wildlife Trust, Bristol. 

Farm Advisor – Green Finance FINCH
£13,034 and £17,378.67 (FTE £32,585 per annum) + 7% pension contribution
Shrewsbury, Shropshire

8 Months Fixed Term Contract
Part Time - 21 (0.6) - 28 hours (0.8) hours per week

Closing date 12noon on 21st May 2026.
Interviews will be held on 2nd June 2026.

This is initially a fixed-term role, with the possibility of extension subject to the continued development, funding and success of the Land Management Advice Service

We have secured funding from Natural England to explore how private finance and new farm‑based business opportunities can help reduce environmental pressures on the River Clun Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and inform a possible future Protected Site Strategy (PSS) for the area. This project is known as FINCH (Facilitating Investment in Natural Clun Habitats).

What you will be doing:

This exciting role involves managing the day-to-day delivery of the FINCH project, including developing and maintaining strong relationships with participating farmers and external consultants, and ensuring all work is delivered to agreed timescales, budgets and reporting standards.

You will play a key role in facilitating learning and deepening understanding of emerging nature markets, engaging a wide range of audiences including farmers, landowners, colleagues and partners. A central aspect of the role is building and maintaining positive relationships with farmers and landowners to support wildlife friendly farming, habitat creation and maintenance and to encourage land use change where appropriate. You will also provide land management and farm advice, taking practical action across a range of settings to benefit different habitats including riparian corridors and river systems.

Working collaboratively with colleagues, you will contribute to the ongoing development of Land Management Advisory Service, help identify and engage new clients and strengthen support for nature-friendly farming practices. You will also support the development and implementation of systems for evaluation and feedback from landowners and farm managers.

In addition, the role involves delivering practical on-farm measures through third-party funding, supporting farm businesses to access government and environmental assurance schemes and undertaking farm surveys and whole-farm planning focused on the delivery of environmental goods.

What you will bring:

• A degree in Agriculture or a related countryside discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Project management experience, with a track record of delivering projects to agreed timescales, budgets and outcomes.
• Experience providing agricultural advice and management support, including knowledge of Government grant schemes and emerging Nature Finance Markets.
• Experience in delivering environmental and wildlife sensitive farm surveys and whole farm management plans.
• Willingness to travel across the county to engage with farmers, landowners and colleagues as required.
• Excellent communication skills, supported by strong IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office functions such as Word, Excel, Outlook, email and the internet.
• Full current UK driving licence.

The Trust is committed to building an equal, diverse and inclusive workforce we encourage applications from a diverse range of suitably qualified candidates.  Please let us know if you require any adjustments to make our recruitment process more accessible.

Why work for us - benefits we offer:

• 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays and Service related holiday (pro-rated for part time staff)
• Salary sacrifice benefits
• Life assurance
• Generous pension - company contribution 7%, employee contribution 3%
• Enhanced Sick Pay
• Flexible working policy
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Staff discounts
• Employee away days
• Enhanced pay for maternity and adoption leave
• Coaching 
• Support with training and development to assist career progression
• Inclusive & supportive work atmosphere

About us:

We combine projects across Shropshire (including Telford & Wrekin) with advocacy and campaigning to restore nature and to engage people. We manage over 40 nature reserves and have almost 50 staff, 300 volunteers, and over 9000 members. We are an autonomous charity, but we are increasingly working collectively, to ensure that our local actions have a national impact and help to address global issues.