Assistant Reserves Officer (East Berks)

Salary: £25,213 per annum 

Contract: Permanent  

Hours: 35 hours per week

Based: Woolley Firs near Maidenhead

The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust has a vision for “more nature everywhere, for everyone”. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. This includes you being comfortable bringing your whole self to work, and us co-working with the diverse communities we serve to ensure we are meeting everyone’s needs. 

The Assistant Reserves Officer will help nature recover by managing a number of important nature reserves in East Berkshire. They will work with roving and site-based volunteer teams and contractors to implement a range of practical works. 

The Assistant Reserves Officer will work within a friendly, capable and enthusiastic team, including two reserves officers, a Land Manager and an experienced team of volunteers. You will help to implement all aspects of management of the Trust’s nature reserves in Berkshire.

What you’ll be doing:

• Practical conservation and estate management work on 16 reserves
• Organising and leading the Mid-Week volunteer team
• Managing a key volunteer/work party leader
• Handling livestock and assisting with livestock management and transport
• Managing the workshop facility, and ensuring all tools and equipment are maintained and safe to use

What we’re looking for:

• Practical conservation management experience using hand tools, power tools and machinery
• An ability to work with a minimum of supervision and show high levels of initiative
• Supervisory skills and experience
• Experience and competence working with livestock

This post will be DBS checked at basic level. A criminal conviction will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining the position. BBOWT will not unfairly discriminate on the basis of criminal convictions. BBOWT’s policy regarding this matter and the Disclosure and Barring Service Code of Practice are available on request.

For all your hard work you can expect a great rewards package in return. In addition to being part of a friendly, skilled and knowledgeable team, passionate about making a difference, when you work for us, you’ll also receive

• Generous annual leave entitlement with paid birthday leave, balance days, urgent personal business leave and generous occupational sick pay 
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and family-friendly policies
• Flexible working to achieve work-life balance
• Salary exchange pension with generous employer contribution
• Learning & Development Programme for all 
• Wellbeing initiatives including qualified Mental Health First Aiders, YuLife benefit package - access to immediate and confidential help for any work, health, or life matters; 3x life assurance, online GP access, discounts and trade YuCoin points for gift cards
• Salary sacrifice Cycle scheme & Electric Vehicle scheme
• Membership to BBOWT’s, and The Wildlife Trusts’, Staff Network Groups for social interaction, peer support, mentoring and personal development

How to apply

For full details, please read the job description and T&Cs below. To apply, please follow the application link.

The closing time and date for applications is 11.59pm on Sunday 1^st November 2026. 

Speed interviews will be held online on Monday 9^th November 2026. Following successful speed interview there will be an in person interviews held at Hasker House, Woolley Firs, Maidenhead on Thursday 12^th November 2026.

BBOWT values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We want every candidate to have the best chance of success as part of this process. In order to do this, we know that some candidates will need reasonable adjustments. Contact us on recruitment@bbowt.org.uk if there are any reasonable adjustments we can provide during the recruitment process, including completing your application. 

When applying for the role you can expect to answer a few questions online relating to the skills required and what you would be doing in the role. Your responses will be anonymised, randomised, and scored by a panel of reviewers.

We don't use an application form, or CVs - your answers to our situational based questions will be scored against a review guide and scores from these will decide which candidates go through to the interview stage.  See here to find out why we do this.

Whilst we appreciate ChatGPT and other AI platforms can answer these questions, we know what they have to say (and generally the answer they generate isn't great). We want to hear your perspective written in your own words. If it is clear that any of your answers are not your own work, we reserve the right to reject your application on that basis. 

You’ll also be asked for information about your background, anything you feel comfortable sharing will be anonymised and will not be shared as part of the selection process, it will only be used to help us understand how we are performing against our equal opportunities metrics. All candidates will receive feedback on their application. 

We want our people to be as diverse as nature, so we particularly encourage applications from people who are underserved within the communities in which we operate. This includes people from visible ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities (including those who are neurodivergent), the LGBTQ+ community, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and younger people. We are committed to creating an organisation that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities. 

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, Compass House: 1 Farmoor Court, Farmoor, Oxford, OX2 9LU

Registered Charity No. 204330 www.bbowt.org.uk