Biodiversity Manager

Job Introduction

Disclaimer: This role is a role with Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust (MGET), using the Halton Borough Council job platform for advertising and recruitment. Please note that the application process and potential employment is handled by MGET.

 About Us

Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust (MGET) is a local charity, actively working to improve and enhance the Mersey Estuary for people and wildlife. Our work is based around the Upper Mersey Estuary – a tidal environment which has a rich industrial legacy, but also wonderful habitats that benefit from our protection and conservation. 

Our work enables innovative nature conservation, working at the forefront of estuarine research, providing unique solutions to environmental monitoring, practical nature conservation and involvement of local communities in our activities. 

 About the Role 

The Biodiversity Manager will work within the team and with the Board of Trustees to deliver the objectives and actions of MGET. 

This is a crucial role that will oversee the environmental management, environmental monitoring, project work and other and nature conservation activities within the remit of the Trust. The Biodiversity Manager will also continue to support the work of the existing ‘Living Laboratory’ that strives to establish MGET as a centre of excellence for environmental monitoring and research through links with academic and other research organisations.

Working with a wide range of stakeholders, the Biodiversity Manager will be required to communicate the work of the organisation, its projects and ambitions effectively and passionately to a variety of audiences.

 Key Duties & Responsibilities

• To assist in the delivery of the Trust’s obligation to improve, enhance and protect habitats in and around the Mersey estuary, including the development of monitoring programmes and delivery schedules.
• To manage the Living Laboratory of the Trust, i.e. engaging with our Research Board, academic institutions, other organisations and the community to design and deliver projects that enhance our estuarine research and data collection.
• To assist in developing project ideas, identifying funding sources, writing funding applications, as well as leading on projects. This includes elements of budgeting and financial oversight.
• To support the development of MGET as the catalyst for long-term and sub-regional innovative environmental improvements across the whole of the Upper Mersey Estuary and related areas.
• To lead on data acquisition and analysis, as well as processing data to present to a variety of audiences. 
• To support the Chief Exec in the business operation duties to maintain appropriate governance structures.
• To assist in providing ecological and professional guidance to MGET stakeholders on biodiversity matters, with a focus on estuarine habitats and estuarine nature conservation.
• To participate in engagements with partner organisations, the public, or other stakeholders.
• To act as advocate and representative of MGET.
• To keep up-to-date with changes in environmental guidance, policy and law to ensure that MGET is at the forefront of best practice.
• Undertake any other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time, which are commensurate with the grade of the job.

 About you

We are looking for a dynamic and passionate leader who will be a champion for the nature conservation efforts in and around the Mersey estuary. This role will offer you the opportunity to combine ecology, active nature conservation, research, and community interaction, while working in a small and passionate team.

You will have environmental expertise and habitat conservation skills and be able to apply these in a highly organised way, using project management or other organisational skills, while also being able to communicate in a flexible manner with a wide range of audiences. 

What we are looking for:

Leadership: you have a positive mindset to complex projects and are comfortable leading on multiple elements at the same time. You thrive in collaborative environments, exchanging ideas and tasks with colleagues and stakeholders, adding value to individual projects, but also the overall ambitions of MGET.

Knowledge and passion: You will bring ecological and/or nature conservation knowledge with you, but you will be engaged and pro-active in learning more about your local patch and beyond by being out in the field, talking to stakeholders or initiating research projects to learn more about the questions we have not answered yet. You will be passionate, open-minded and curious to find gaps of knowledge and widen our understanding of the estuarine and neighbouring habitats and communities.

Communication: You have a track record of being able to communicate complex topics to a variety of stakeholders, including those familiar with nature conservation, but equally people who have little to no knowledge of our work. You enjoy making new contacts and are able to express yourself professionally.

Organisation and teamwork: You are well organised with an eye for detail, prioritising activities and projects according to their needs, as well as being able to multi-task and delegate where necessary, all while keeping the overall ambitions of MGET as your main focus. You thrive in a team environment, but are equally comfortable to work self-directed and on your own.

General Terms and Conditions

Tenure: Part-time (29.6h per week, e.g. 4 days)

Salary: starting salary £41,771 pro rata, increasing with years of service and adjustment to pay awards.

Pension: automatic enrolment into Nest Pension. Employees can decide to dis-enrol from the pension scheme if they choose. Minimum employee contribution 6% of salary and employer contribution 10% of salary.

Holidays: The number of days paid holiday per year is 25 days for a 37½ hour week exclusive of Bank and Statutory Holidays. If you start your employment during the leave year, the holiday entitlement will be calculated on a pro-rata basis depending on the number of completed months of service and hours worked.

Closing date: 22nd November 2026

Interview date expected to be 11th December 2026 to be confirmed.