With funding from the GRCF and in partnership with Kent Wildlife Trust and Canterbury City Council, the RSPB is embarking on an ambitious landscape-scale project to create and restore habitats to boost biodiversity in a landscape already compromised by the effects of climate change. We are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic Project Manager to oversee this unique opportunity to deliver transformative change for nature at Seasalter Levels and Wraik Hill in North Kent. 

Produced in partnership with Natural England, Canterbury City Council and Swale Borough Council, the Seasalter Levels restoration plan will incorporate habitat improvements that will enable the site to become a major link in a chain of lowland wet grassland nature reserves across North Kent. Restoring Seasalter Levels to its full potential will provide a sanctuary for a range of wildlife, from breeding waders and over-wintering wildfowl to water voles and rare invertebrates, creating a reserve that is well managed for nature and resilient to climate change. Wraik Hill, owned by Canterbury City Council and managed by Kent Wildlife Trust, is a small Local Nature Reserve comprising grassland and scrub habitats that provides an important resource for the local community to access nature. 

As Project Manager you will take responsibility for all aspects of delivery over the lifetime of the project. You’ll have the confidence and leadership skills to drive the project forward and to coordinate multiple aspects of the project. Working in accordance with the agreed project plan, to its conclusion in March 2022, the project will be necessarily fast-paced so you’ll be an effective problem solver and thrive in a deadline-driven environment. 

With strong communication and people skills you will work alongside staff from the RSPB, partner organisations, contractors, consultants and volunteers to deliver the project, reporting to the project board and relevant stakeholders to ensure they are well informed to agree changes and to deal with emerging issues and risks. Experience in delivering complex projects or programmes on the ground is desirable. 

Key areas of work will include: 

• Responsibility for all aspects of project coordination and delivery at Seasalter Levels and Wraik Hill. 
• Working with local communities and stakeholders to ensure that the project is embraced by them. 
• Manage the project budget ensuring that that necessary changes are escalated and approved. 
• Identify, record, manage and communicate risks and issues, putting in place appropriate contingency actions where required. 
• Acquiring all consents and licences. 
• Coordinating partner activities. 
• Managing the procurement and contractor tendering process. 
• Managing and overseeing consultants & contractors. 
• Reporting and claiming - produce the relevant project documentation to meet the requirements of the RSPB, our partners and our funders. 

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

1. Energy, enthusiasm and adaptability to ensure that a complex programme of works is delivered on budget, on time and delivers the best outcomes for nature.
2. Excellent communication skills. 
3. Well organised approach to work. 
4. Experience of contractor management. 
5. Knowledge and experience of acquiring planning permissions, consents, derogations etc. is desirable. 
6. Experience of procurement and contractor tendering processes is desirable. 
7. Knowledge of land management for conservation is desirable. 
8. Experience of delivering large-scale/ complex projects/ programmes is desirable. 

This is a Contract, Full Time role until 31st March 2022. The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term. This role provides an exciting secondment opportunity, and we would welcome applications from internal candidates looking to broaden their experience of project management.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 28th October 2021. For further information please contact Alan.Johnson@rspb.org.uk.

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete a full application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.