Head of deer and woodland management

Salary/Vehicle: Circa £42,000
Location: Home-based (with occasional travel to BASC head office)
Reporting to: Head of land and wildlife management
Closing Date: 8 November 2026
Reference: HDWM/OCT/2026

To lead BASC’s strategic approach to sustainable deer and mammal management across the UK, with deer management as the principal focus. The postholder will develop and implement BASC’s strategy, ensuring effective, responsible and evidence-based management is recognised as an essential component of responsible land management, woodland restoration, nature recovery and the sustainable use of the countryside.

The role will provide strategic leadership across BASC, strengthening practical capability and professional standards, developing the evidence base, influencing policy and regulation, supporting members, and building understanding and confidence among government, stakeholders and the wider public in the environmental, economic and social value of effective deer and mammal management.

All BASC employees are expected to contribute to our vision:

Fight for sustainable shooting and conservation of the countryside.

• Strategic leadership
  Lead and continually develop BASC’s strategic approach to deer management, ensuring a clear, evidence-based and credible strategy is reviewed, updated and aligned with BASC’s wider objectives and effectively delivered across the organisation.
• Sustainable deer management and evidence
  Lead BASC’s work to define, promote and demonstrate sustainable management of deer through robust evidence, research, data, monitoring and management approaches that demonstrate their contribution to responsible land management, woodland, biodiversity, nature recovery and sustainable land use.
• Practical deer management and professional standards
  Lead the development of practical capability, competence and high standards in deer management, through effective training, guidance, codes of practice and best-practice approaches that promote responsible, ethical and evidence-based deer management and stalking.
• Policy, legislation and regulatory influence
  Lead BASC’s policy and advocacy on deer management, influencing government, regulators and other decision makers to ensure that legislation, regulation and policy recognise the requirements and environmental and economic value of effective deer management.
• Stakeholder partnerships and landscape-scale management
  Develop strategic partnerships and collaborative approaches with land managers, government, conservation organisations, researchers and other stakeholders to overcome barriers and embed effective deer management within landscape-scale land management, woodland and conservation programmes.
• Social licence, communications and member engagement
  Lead BASC’s work to build understanding, confidence and support for responsible deer management and stalking, demonstrating its environmental, economic and social value while ensuring members have access to authoritative information, advice and relevant opportunities.
• Venison and the sustainable use of deer
  Work with colleagues and external partners to strengthen the role of venison within sustainable deer management by supporting resilient supply chains, increased consumption and greater recognition of wild venison as a sustainable food resource.
• Delivery, resources and organisational leadership
  Ensure the effective delivery of BASC’s deer strategy through clear priorities, plans, measures and resources, leading cross-organisational collaboration and ensuring the people, budget and governance arrangements are in place to achieve the desired outcomes.
• Additional responsibilities
  • Manage and promote our deer stalking scheme opportunities.
  • Provide…