Business Manager

Do you want to make a real difference and secure significant environmental gains in the present and the future? Can you see yourself advising communities and customers to maximise gains for the Natural Environment?
If this appeals to you, a career at Natural England offers rewarding opportunities to secure environmental improvements and play your part in creating a better future for people and nature.
Establishing a Nature Recovery Network to help wildlife thrive;
Monitoring environmental changes to identify and help reduce the effects of climate change;
Working with farmers and landowners to develop greener food production methods;
Advising on plans for new developments to maximise gains for nature, and
We are the Government’s Adviser for the natural environment, playing a vital role in delivering the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, an ambitious vision which brings new opportunities to protect and enhance and to achieve real outcomes for the environment.
This role is based at the Avalon Marshes Centre in Glastonbury, Somerset, with some homeworking and flexible arrangements. The candidate will be required to be located within Somerset or able to travel to the office at least 4 days a week, given the partner and public-facing aspects of the role. Due to the location of the centre a driving licence is desirable. The Avalon Marshes Business Manager & Engagement role will be part of the Somerset National Nature Reserves (NNR) team based at the Shapwick Heath NNR Office. The NNR office is based at the Avalon Marshes Centre which is owned by Natural England and shared with a number of our partner bodies and sits at the heart of the Somerset Wetlands National Nature Reserve.
The Area Team delivers environmental outcomes, primarily through the protection and enhancement of biodiversity and landscapes, using a range of mechanisms including direct management of our own land, advice on land management and planning, and engagement with stakeholders and connecting people and nature. The NNR team works closely with the wider Somerset and other Wessex teams, including SSSI officers, farming advisors, and licensing and planning colleagues.
Natural England Wessex Area Team is seeking a NNR Business Manager & Engagement Senior Officer to lead on the daily operations and strategic development of the Avalon Marshes Centre, being the first point of contact for all users of the site.
Managing operational tasks, Health & Safety compliance, coordinating with and overseeing Facilities Management providers and tenant and stakeholder engagement.
The role ensures a safe, accessible environment for staff, tenants, businesses, volunteers and the public, while meeting legal obligations.
Implementation of Health & Safety (H&S) Frameworks and Legislation
Provide leadership of a safe working practice culture to all staff across one or more NNR Groups, including implementation and cascading key H&S information, ensuring local systems and ways of working are in place that support the implementation of H&S policies and procedures. 
Provide feedback on risks and issues to H&S team and national operations colleagues, and support development and implementation of new guidance and procedures where required. 
Financial Management & Monitoring
Assist in identifying needs and works towards securing longer term investments (capital investment, external funding etc) to support future NNR operational delivery. Provide support with planning and coordinating major capital projects.
Research and produce a strategic plan for alternative Facilities Management provision for NNR work bases, resulting in substantial cost and efficiency savings.
Manage stakeholder relationships with our tenants, contractors and visitors. Be the first point of contact, respond proactively to emerging challenges, and ensure that NE are meeting legal requirements.
Develop opportunities for local and regional networks and partnerships across NNR delivery, including with Approved Body partners and other potential NNR managing partners.
Looking for opportunity to link into wider partnership ambitions and promote inclusion with diverse audiences.
Work with Area Team and national comms and engagement leads to promote our NNRs, and their role in delivering both our Connecting People with Nature and Nature Recovery Network (NRN) strategies. 
Work with national NNR teams to seek innovative opportunities for NNRs to demonstrate organisational goals for inclusion, outreach, and visitor experience. 
Wherever possible Natural England accommodates requests for both full-time and part-time hours and other flexible working patterns to help employees achieve a good work/life balance and maintain their health and wellbeing.
Natural England provides excellent opportunities for career progression, training and development tailored to your role. You will have access to Civil Service Pension and benefits arrangements and generous leave allowances (33 day per year pro rata), as well as flexible working, to help you achieve a work-life balance that works for you and us.
You will have access to a range of benefits including discounts on shopping vouchers, cycle to work scheme, and childcare vouchers. You can also join the Civil Service Sport club which offer discounts on a range of sports and leisure opportunities as well as social events.
Our shared values help us work together to benefit the communities we serve. Our thriving employee-led diversity networks support our inclusive culture and contribute to our Diversity Action Plan.
Natural England is adopting hybrid working – which means our staff work from a flexible range of locations, encompassing home, offices (ours and our partners) and relevant sites. All new staff will be formally linked to one of our 25 offices across England and the expectation is that all new staff will be able to access their local office to be part of the community of staff in their geographical area.
The role is based at the Avalon Marshes Centre in Glastonbury, Somerset, with some homeworking and flexible arrangements. The candidate will be required to be located within Somerset or able to travel to the Centre at least 4 days a week, given the partner and public-facing aspects of the role.
Staff members are required to carry out all their duties working in this way and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time. Travel expenses will be paid if work related travel is required but does not apply to travel between home and your associated office.
National team roles can be linked with any Natural England office while Area Team roles will be linked with an office in the relevant geographic area.
View a map of our office locations here: It is Natural England policy to employ at the entry point of the salary range.
We welcome and encourage applications from all communities. Natural England is accredited to the Disability Confident Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Give us an example of how you have demonstrated the competency (which can be work related or from another area of your life) and tell us about the Situation, the specific Task you had to undertake, the specific Actions you took, and the Result (both immediate and in a wider context) of your doing so.
Successful candidates will be allocated roles in merit order based on scores achieved at interview and in accordance with location preferences, taking into account the work area to which successful candidates are most suited, wherever possible.
Understanding of facilities management principles, including health and safety compliance, maintenance coordination, and legal obligations for public spaces.
Skills in managing relationships with tenants, contractors, and partners to ensure smooth operations and compliance.
Awareness of strategies for connecting people with nature, including social prescribing and outreach to diverse audiences.
Competent in using standard office software and digital platforms for communication, reporting and engagement.
Understand the duty of care owed to all visitors, contractors or others on our NNRs, and adhere to appropriate legislation and Natural England policies and procedures (Practitioner)
Apply the principles of risk management and adopt safe working practices for yourself and the people you work with in everything you do (Practitioner)
Consider the financial implications of your work and seek income from our products and services (Practitioner)
Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver Natural England's vision, mission and aims (Practitioner)
Can you see yourself advising communities and customers to maximise gains for the Natural Environment?
Wherever possible Natural England accommodates requests for both full-time and part-time hours and other flexible working patterns to help employees achieve a good work/life balance and maintain their health and wellbeing.
Natural England provides excellent opportunities for career progression, training and development tailored to your role. You will have access to Civil Service Pension and benefits arrangements and generous leave allowances (33 day per year pro rata), as well as flexible working, to help you achieve a work-life balance that works for you and us.
You will have access to a range of benefits including discounts on shopping vouchers, cycle to work scheme, and childcare vouchers. You can also join the Civil Service Sport club which offer discounts on a range of sports and leisure opportunities as well as social events.
Our shared values help us work together to benefit the communities we serve. Our thriving employee-led diversity networks support our inclusive culture and contribute to our Diversity Action Plan.
Natural England is adopting hybrid working – which means our staff work from a flexible range of locations, encompassing home, offices (ours and our partners) and relevant sites. All new staff will be formally linked to one of our 25 offices across England and the expectation is that all new staff will be able to access their local office to be part of the community of staff in their geographical area.
The role is based at the Avalon Marshes Centre in Glastonbury, Somerset, with some homeworking and flexible arrangements. The candidate will be required to be located within Somerset or able to travel to the Centre at least 4 days a week, given the partner and public-facing aspects of the role.
Staff members are required to carry out all their duties working in this way and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time. Travel expenses will be paid if work related travel is required but does not apply to travel between home and your associated office.
National team roles can be linked with any Natural England office while Area Team roles will be linked with an office in the relevant geographic area.
View a map of our office locations here: It is Natural England policy to employ at the entry point of the salary range.
We welcome and encourage applications from all communities. Natural England is accredited to the Disability Confident Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Give us an example of how you have demonstrated the competency (which can be work related or from another area of your life) and tell us about the Situation, the specific Task you had to undertake, the specific Actions you took, and the Result (both immediate and in a wider context) of your doing so.
Successful candidates will be allocated roles in merit order based on scores achieved at interview and in accordance with location preferences, taking into account the work area to which successful candidates are most suited, wherever possible.
Understanding of facilities management principles, including health and safety compliance, maintenance coordination, and legal obligations for public spaces.
Skills in managing relationships with tenants, contractors, and partners to ensure smooth operations and compliance.
Awareness of strategies for connecting people with nature, including social prescribing and outreach to diverse audiences.
Competent in using standard office software and digital platforms for communication, reporting and engagement.
Understand the duty of care owed to all visitors, contractors or others on our NNRs, and adhere to appropriate legislation and Natural England policies and procedures (Practitioner)
Apply the principles of risk management and adopt safe working practices for yourself and the people you work with in everything you do (Practitioner)
Consider the financial implications of your work and seek income from our products and services (Practitioner)
Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver Natural England's vision, mission and aims (Practitioner)
Current and valid driving license (desirable)
Alongside your salary of £30,850, Natural England contributes £8,937 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .
Telephone : 07768615892
Email : defra-recruitment-enquiries@resourcing.