Programme Manager - Species Survival Fund - (Fixed Term)

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, skilled and passionate Programme Manager to lead our Species Survival Fund programme.

What’s the role about?

Species Coastal and Wetlands: more, better, bigger, joined has secured funding from the Species Survival Fund.
Guided by the Lawton principles of more, bigger, better, more, this programme will deliver transformative landscape-scale restoration across 14 sites for the benefit of species abundance, people, and communities.

Our work will contribute to halting the decline in species abundance by increasing the extent, quality and connectedness of wildlife-rich priority coastal and wetland habitats across all 14 sites. This will significantly contribute to nature recovery and align to Local Nature Recovery Strategies for the Solent, Greater Thames, Upper Thames, Suffolk Coast and Norfolk Broads.

Working in coalition with local partners, landowners and communities we will implement innovative, sustainable land management solutions to directly address key threats to species and strengthen climate resilience and ecological networks on a landscape-scale.

We are looking for an experienced Programme Manager to oversee all aspects of deliver. You will ensure that all projects are fully resourced, on track (on time, to budget, to quality), that progress is communicated to stakeholders and that programme-level risks are effectively managed.
The postholder will need to work effectively with people, as this role will directly lead a cross-organisational team. You will line manage a Project Manager and Conservation Scientist, who will work across the programme.
This project is funded by the Government's Species Survival Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.

Key activities will include:

1. Direct line-management of the Project Manager and Conservation Scientist.
2. Coordination of activities across the 14 sites within the programme.
3. Ensuring deliverables are on track, to time, to quality and within budget across the projects.
4. Tracking programme-level risks and issues and mitigating as appropriate.
5. Chairing monthly meetings with those working on the programme, ensuring consistency of approach and compliance with NLHF guidelines, and ensuring teams have the tools to fulfil their role.
6. Coordinating functional input from internal teams as required, ensuring sufficient resource is available at the right time.
7. Providing a central programme-level liaison role with NLHF.
8. Ensuring funding claims are submitted on time and with appropriate supporting evidence.
9. Producing regular progress highlight reports for stakeholders, escalating issues as needed.

Essential criteria:

• Proven project/programme management skills to plan and manage complex programmes and projects, manage risks, costs, time and project teams.
• Proven ability to influence others, communicate effectively, build collaborative internal and external relationships and represent the organisation.
• People management skills, with the ability to build high performance and a positive culture across geographically dispersed teams.
• Great interpersonal skills to build strong relationships with people and to motivate and lead others.
• Ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Ability to solve issues quickly, efficiently and creatively.
• Logical, methodical, analytical and with a good eye for detail.
• Impressive time management and organisational skills.
• Experience of successfully managing budgets.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Competent IT user (full Microsoft office suite of tools)
• A tangible passion for nature’s recovery.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience of working to a standard project/programme management approach (eg RSPB Project Management Framework, Prince II).
• Good general knowledge of the conservation issues facing species and habitats on England’s soft coasts and lowland wetlands.
• Experience of delivering significant grant-funded projects, particularly involving habitat creation and/or restoration.

Further Information

This is a full-time role for 37.5 hours per week, fixed-term to 28th February 2026.
This role will be homebased, with location flexible across England and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. However, there will be an expectation to travel to project areas regularly which are dispersed across England, so may require overnight stays.
This could be a great secondment opportunity for internal candidates.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.
As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position W/c 6th May and w/c 13th May . For further information about the role please contact Emilie.brignall@rspb.org.uk.

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

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.