Project Manager - Species Survival Fund - Fixed Term

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, skilled and passionate Project Manager to play a leading role in 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, joined, 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 covering 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 a Project Manager to manage the day-to-day delivery of conservation and community engagement work across the 14 sites. You will directly deliver some of these projects and support existing teams and dedicated SSF staff to manage other projects in line with the RSPB’s Project Management Framework. You will also support the Programme Manager with programme-level activities such as preparing grant claims.

The postholder will need to work across a range of projects simultaneously. If you enjoy variety and working with people, then this is the role for you!

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.

What we need from you

We need you to be well organised, flexible and adaptable, with excellent communication skills to develop collaborative working relationships with our partners, RSPB teams and external stakeholders. You will need to be able to motivate and inspire others to get things done, whether you are line managing them or not.
You will need to be competent at managing project processes to ensure things go smoothly and risks are managed, and to be solutions-focused to help sort problems if they arise (as rarely projects run smoothly all the time!).

Essential criteria:
• Understanding of managing complex projects to a standard project management approach (eg Prince II).
• Time management and organisational skills
• Ability to solve issues quickly, efficiently and creatively, and to manage change.
• Report writing and communication skills.
• Great interpersonal skills whether 1-2-1, chairing a meeting or presenting to a large audience.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Leadership ability, able to lead without line management authority.
• Logical, methodical, analytical and with a good eye for detail.
• Competent IT user (e.g. MS packages, Outlook etc).
• Experience of managing budgets
Desirable qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:
• Project Management Qualification or relevant training.
• Experience of working with external stakeholders such as agencies and contractors.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and working in partnerships to achieve shared outcomes.
• Experience of managing grant-funded projects, particularly habitat creation and restoration.

Further Information
This is a Fixed-Term, Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week to 28th February 2026. We will consider flexible working arrangements. This could be a great secondment opportunity for internal candidates. 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 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.
For all application/role enquiries please contact emilie.brignall@rspb.org.uk.

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