Nature Ridge Project Development Manager

Salary: £39,862 - £41,771 per annum

Hours per week: 37 hours 

Fixed term: Until October 2027

Interview date: Thursday 18 June 2026

Do you want to help two iconic chalk National Landscapes and a National Trail adapt in the face of climate change? We are seeking an experienced Development Manager to lead our Nature Ridge Landscape Connections project at its formative stage. Working closely with partners and a wide range of stakeholders, you will shape the programme, identify opportunities, assemble and submit a strong Development Application.

Nature Ridge Landscape Connections project (NRLC) is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) through the Landscape Connections programme. This aims to put landscapes into recovery supporting habitats and species alongside rich cultural heritage in better connected, working landscapes and to enable people to connect with nature and the environment. This development work will align with NLHF priorities and support the North Wessex Downs and Chilterns’ Nature Recovery Plans, National Landscape Management Plans, emerging Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Plans, and County Local Nature Recovery Strategies.

This is a rewarding role for a creative, innovative person with excellent people skills, strong landscape and habitat knowledge, and proven experience guiding teams to define development needs and secure funding. You will be self-motivated, highly organised, and confident working in partnership across conservation, landscape, or land management sectors, ideally with local knowledge of these landscapes, their wildlife, heritage and communities. You will be an outstanding communicator, able to build trusted relationships with farmers, land managers and conservation bodies. Experience of developing and managing Lottery and/or Defra-funded projects is desirable. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.

Why us?

Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos. Find out more about Our Identity, staff networks, and employee benefits here.

Our hybrid working model means office staff are on site for at least half their hours, community-based staff carry out at least half their admin time in a workplace, and customer‑facing roles work entirely from their service location.

We are committed to creating a workplace where positive relationships thrive and everyone feels engaged, supported and able to do their best. We do not tolerate discrimination, bullying or harassment. Everyone is expected to promote a culture of inclusion, dignity, trust and respect, guided by our vision and Our Identity.

Contact details 

Corinna Woodhall, Senior Project Development and Funding Officer at CorinnaWoodall@northwessexdowns.org.uk

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Application criteria

Please download and read the role description and person specification carefully before you apply.

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Statement of commitment to equality and inclusion

Disability Confident Employer

Application process

Wiltshire Council does not accept unsolicited CVs or candidate details from recruitment agencies that are not appointed under a current, valid contract or approved supplier arrangement (including through our neutral vendor, Comensura).

Submission of unsolicited CVs or candidate details to the Council, whether directly or to individual employees, will not be considered as an introduction and will not create any obligation on the Council to pay any fees. If a candidate whose details have been submitted speculatively is subsequently appointed through a compliant route, no agency fee will be payable in respect of the unsolicited submission.

Agencies wishing to work with the Council must do so only via our approved procurement processes and neutral vendor arrangements.