Director of Nature Recovery

Director of Nature Recovery
Wildlife Charity

Responsible to: Chief Executive Officer
Staff management: Nature Recovery Manager (Land), Nature Recovery Manager (Programmes), Head of Planning & External Affairs, Head of Youth Programmes, Consultancy Manager
Responsible for: Responsible for nature recovery, planning and external affairs and youth programmes and activities across both our Client and partners land
Located at: Head office (Central London) with regular travel to other sites in London
Oversight committees: Nature Recovery Advisory Committee

Overall responsibilities:
The Director of Nature Recovery will play a pivotal leadership role in driving our client's new vision and purpose of nature recovery for a thriving city. The postholder will oversee key departments, including Nature Recovery Teams, Planning and External Affairs and Youth Programmes. Working closely with senior leadership colleagues, you will ensure that land management, rewilding projects, and strategic nature recovery partnerships are integrated with broader efforts to transform land use for nature, influence policy and inspire young people.

The role of Director of Nature Recovery forms part of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to the strategic direction of the organisation and leading the achievement of strategic goals by facilitating the work of a growing department.

Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
* Lead the Nature Recovery Team, Head of Planning and External Affairs and Head of Youth
Programmes, ensuring all teams work together to deliver our client's vision
* Drive the development and execution of overall nature recovery work, integrating on-site reserve restoration works, rewilding programmes, youth engagement, and strategic advocacy.
* Represent our client at senior levels in external forums and legislative and political agendas, ensuring a leading voice for urban nature recovery in London and the UK.
* Lead collaboration with key stakeholders, including government bodies, corporate partners, local and national environmental NGOs, landowners and community organisations to secure support and resources for large-scale nature recovery initiatives.
* Provide direction on communication narratives for nature recovery, through regular liaison with the delivery teams and Marketing & Comms.
* Work closely with the Director of Research to develop data led policies that drive nature recovery across a portfolio of nature reserves.

Nature Recovery & Rewilding
* Oversee land management efforts and rewilding projects on reserves and partners' land, ensuring innovative approaches to conservation that restore habitats and increase species diversity and abundance.
* Work with partners, including landowners, local authorities, and developers, to influence landscape-scale nature recovery, rewilding and species re-introduction initiatives across London.
* Work closely with the Director of Research to develop data led policy and practice that recovers nature.
* Develop the climate adaptation strategy and lead on climate change matters.

Planning and External Affairs
* Provide strategic direction for the Head of Planning and External Affairs to shape policies and influence planning processes that prioritise urban biodiversity and ecologically rich green infrastructure.
* Identify and develop future role in London planning system to maximise its
effectiveness in securing nature recovery.
* Provide strategic direction on the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) to aid nature recovery in London.
* Lead external stakeholder engagement, building strong relationships with policymakers, local authorities, research bodies, and environmental groups to promote nature-based solutions and urban greening initiatives.

Youth Engagement
* Guide the Head of Youth Programmes to develop and deliver innovative youth-led nature programmes, fostering the next generation of environmental leaders and increasing community participation in conservation efforts.
* Work closely with Head of People and Organisational development to ensure safeguarding and support of our youth work
* Ensure that youth engagement is fully integrated into broader strategy and directorates, creating pathways for young people to actively contribute to London's nature recovery efforts, including volunteering, external affairs and political advocacy.

Impact Measurement
* Lead and work closely with the COO and Director of Research to develop and implement a comprehensive impact measurement framework to track the effectiveness ensuring clear metrics for biodiversity improvements (e.g. BNG uplift), habitat restoration, and nature recovery in urban environments.
* Regularly evaluate and improve impact management processes, ensuring accurate and transparent reporting on ecological outcomes.
* Work closely with the Director of Development in the creation and delivery of impactful reports and communications that highlight the environmental and social benefits of consultancy projects, using data-driven insights to demonstrate success and build trust with funders, partners, and the wider public.

Consultancy
* Lead on impact-led consultancy services, providing strategic oversight and quality assurance of the consultancy projects aimed at guiding developers and local authorities on integrating nature recovery into the built environment.
* Ensure consultancy work aligns with the vision and purpose delivering innovative, nature-based solutions that promote biodiversity, habitat restoration, and green infrastructure in urban developments.
* Oversee the consultancy manager and a team of expert consultants, supporting their work in delivering high-quality ecological assessments (including BNG), planning advice, and biodiversity strategies for clients.
* Report to trustees on consultancy performance, including key outcomes, reputational liabilities, financial performance, and impact on urban nature recovery.

Performance Management
* Set and monitor objectives and performance indicators for the Planning, Consulting, Youth, and Nature Recovery teams, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
* Ensure transparent, impactful reporting to the CEO, Trustees, funders, and stakeholders on the outcomes and impact of nature recovery, planning and external affairs and youth programmes work.
* Carry out proactive, effective and supportive line management of employee(s) including a proactive approach to development, wellbeing and health & safety.
* Ensure 1:1s, appraisals and probation processes are carried out and recorded monthly
* Liaise regularly with HR on the above points, seeking advice and support where necessary

Other areas of responsibility:
a) Promotion: To work at all times to further the aims of our client including promotion of membership. To encourage donations and to assist in and promote related events and campaigns where appropriate.
b) Health and Safety: All staff are legally responsible for ensuring Health and Safety considerations are taken into account in all working situations. Staff are encouraged to make reports or suggestions to the Health and Safety Officer on any matters of concern.
c) Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: Work at all times within the EDI policy, and to contribute to any role-related objectives that form part of overall EDI strategy.
d) Adhere to the policies and plans and be a responsible representative of the team and to external stakeholders, groups, individuals and funding bodies.

For more details and a full job spec please contact Michelle on (url removed) or (phone number removed)

About us: Allen & York have been matching purposeful people with purpose-led organisations for 30 years. We partner with our clients and candidates on roles that build an understanding of climate change, promote sustainability and create inclusive and responsible organisations, working towards a sustainable world for us all. Committed to inclusiveness in the workplace, we aim to increase diversity across all areas and therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, or whether or not they have a disability. Let's help build a better world, together.