A fantastic opportunity for a motivated and detail-focused rural professional to enter the growing natural capital sector.

HF Environmental is a leading Defra-designated Responsible Body that works with many of the largest private and institutional landowners in England, overseeing delivery of long-term nature outcomes.

The existing portfolio of natural capital projects includes over 40 Biodiversity Net Gain sites delivering measurable habitat recovery outcomes across England, with landowners collectively controlling over 100,000 hectares of land. Our ethos is to build decades-long partnerships to support environmental outcomes.

Role Purpose

HF Environmental is seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated candidate to join a growing team overseeing one of the UK's largest natural capital portfolios. As a leading Responsible Body, our team's focus is on delivering exceptional compliance and governance oversight of land management outcomes through long-term relationships with partners.

The Natural Capital Portfolio Manager will be responsible for all aspects of scheme oversight and governance, reporting directly to the Delivery Director. Key responsibilities will include building landowner relationships, overseeing project governance and compliance with habitat delivery obligations, and ensuring delivery of high-integrity nature outcomes. The role spans the full lifecycle, from scheme inception through to long-term delivery.

Working Pattern

The role would require 2-3 days in our London office (Victoria) or out on site, and 2-3 days working remotely. Visits to remote habitat sites may require occasional overnight travel. Requests to work a four-day week will be considered.

Key Responsibilities

Oversight of Compliance: Monitor and oversee scheme compliance with legal and environmental delivery obligations, ensuring best practices are followed.
Governance Procedures: Drive structured governance processes to assist partners in identifying and addressing risks before they arise.
Project Management: Lead and manage delivery of new projects, ensuring efficient and effective structures for long-term nature delivery are established.
Trusted Advisor and Stakeholder Relationships: Build strong relationships with landowner partners and stakeholders across the industry, offering pragmatic, dependable advice throughout delivery.
Negotiations and Scheme Enforcement: Conduct and lead negotiations with landowners, clients, and stakeholders where required, as legal arrangements and compliance issues evolve over time.

Skills & Experience

You will ideally have:

Relationship Building: Proven ability to build effective working relationships with clients and stakeholders, both internally and externally.
Exceptional Attention to Detail: Ability to absorb scheme information requirements and track, implement and enforce high standards of governance on internal and external stakeholders.
Project Management: Experience in managing the delivery of projects, ensuring effective and confident oversight.
Legal Knowledge: Ability to assess and review legal frameworks and documents and turn this into tangible actions and processes associated with scheme delivery.
Problem-Solving: Ability to identify and mitigate risks, providing strategic solutions to complex challenges.
Estate Management Experience: Track record managing and overseeing compliance with environmental regulatory regimes (e.g. Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship (CS) applications and delivery, or permitted nature works within protected sites).
Passion for Nature: Interest in delivery of long-term nature outcomes. Willingness to continually develop ecological and land management capabilities.
Enthusiasm and Energy: Motivated to take ownership, contribute ideas and make a difference.

This is an exciting opportunity for a driven, commercially minded, forward-thinking candidate to join a highly successful and growing team in the emerging natural capital sector.

To apply, please contact us at contact@hfenvironmental.com and provide an up to date CV.

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Natural Capital Portfolio Manager