Flexa
RSPB • Flexible in England

Senior Programme Manager - Flexible in England (Hybrid - WFH)

Employment type:  Contract
Salary:  £42,768 – £47,446 per annum

3–4 days/week at home

Fully flexible hours

Dog friendly

Job Description

To lead and drive forward our biodiversity net gain (BNG) programmes, we are seeking an experienced individual who can work right across the organisation and with partners nationally and internationally. You will lead the delivery of the RSPB's UK BNG programmes, with a focus on England, in tandem with other ecosystem services (ESS) and support the development and delivery of BNG projects across the RSPB's priority countries and territories.

What's the role about?

We are seeking someone with proven leadership abilities to oversee and manage the RSPBs business development of biodiversity net gain, developing a pipeline of projects and contributing to the development of consultancy outside of the organisation. You will work closely with the Head of Conservation Investment and the rest of the Conservation Investment team which includes experts in areas such as carbon, finance, and investors. You will help to inspire action across the UK.

The post-holder will work with area teams across the UK, with a focus on England, to identify and bring to market biodiversity units. There will be a close relationship with our corporate sales team to enable the brokerage of Biodiversity Units with specific corporates or in different schemes.

You will be responsible for creating the short term and medium-term pipeline of BNG projects in-house that focus on projects we can deliver on our own land. You will define the criteria, value, and schedule of projects. The Snr PM will be responsible for liaising with landowners, developers, and Local Planning Authorities, and will be supported by the RSPB conservation investment team. The post-holder will have access to a wide range of expertise within the RSPB and will be at the forefront of conservation investment in the UK and globally. You will support the brokering of key relationships with potential buyers of units – ideally a strategic approach to place (fitting our pipeline), reputation (policy) and how to build a smoother transaction. Support Areas Manages in this process focussing on South East, Teesside, Somerset and Humber.

The successful candidate will need to be able to build excellent relationships with clients and have experience of successful project management or business development in a similar situation. Needing to be both entrepreneurial and able to work within the RSPBs emerging CI strategy.

You will be leading, managing and working with key personnel across the RSPB and be able to provide strategic direction and develop capability and capacity across the organisation. You will ensure BNG is developed in tandem with other ESS markets to ensure the RSPB and others develop full environmental and financial value from ESS.

You will work with all relevant teams across the RSPB, especially policy and science and our Area based reserve teams, to help implement an approach to biodiversity net gain that delivers nature recovery ambitions

The UK programme will be made up of delivery plans for each of the four UK countries, and therefore requires careful coordination. You will support the development of projects and structures across the four countries while also holding the overview of programme risks.

You will use the RSPB programme management framework to manage these complex programmes of work as integrated pipelines of projects with effective mechanisms for the monitoring and resolution of any issues that arise. You will be responsible for the management of any Conservation Investment BNG budgets, for project governance, and for the production of relevant reports and other documentation.

What we need from you

Essentials:

  • Extensive relevant experience in the conservation sector, with a specific understanding of biodiversity and other environmental markets, including leadership of teams and/or programmes
  • Demonstrable ability to interpret and provide advice on policies and procedures associated with project and programme management and manage complex programmes
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to find creative solutions
  • Experience of leading teams/programmes of work and demonstrable ability to use diplomacy and negotiation skills to drive programmes forward without direct line management authority
  • An understanding of UK based land management issues such as agri-environmental schemes, the UK Planning System, consents and designations.
  • Knowledge of habitat creation projects, their challenges and risks.
  • Clear communication skills - able to summarise progress and challenges and articulate solutions to the Head of Conservation Investment and internal Programme Board structures as well as represent our work to external stakeholders, giving clear guidance on RSPB objectives.
  • Confidence to make decisions without needing to refer upwards, within agreed boundaries
  • Knowledge and experience of financial management
  • Logical, methodical, and analytical, with good attention to detail

Desirables:

  • APM or PMI registered
  • Some knowledge of the basics of land acquisition and tenure would be an advantage, but you will be supported in the role by professional Rural Surveyors.

Additional Information

This is a full-time, fixed-term role to the 1st April 2025. 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 looking to conduct interviews for this position on 8th and 9th December 2022. For further information please contact paul.cottington@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application process, you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form providing 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.

Company benefits

Open to part-time employees
Open to compressed hours
Sabbaticals
Enhanced maternity leave
Enhanced paternity leave
Adoption leave
Shared parental leave
24 days annual leave + bank holidays
Enhanced sick pay

The FlexScore® is the result of a rigorous 2-step verification of a company’s flexibility

First we assess the flexibility options RSPB provides and then we anonymously survey a statistically significant proportion of their employees to make sure RSPB is as flexible as they say they are. Our assessment is based on the six key elements of flexibility: location, hours, autonomy, benefits, role modelling and work-life balance.

We ask the hard questions so you don’t have to.

Working at RSPB

Company employees

2400

Gender diversity (male:female)

41:59

Office locations

Across all 4 UK Countries

Hiring Countries

Liberia
United Kingdom

Awards & Achievements

Most flexible companies

Most flexible companies

Flexa100 2024
Charity & Tech For Good

Charity & Tech For Good

Industry awards 2023
Most flexible companies

Most flexible companies

Flexa100 2023
2nd – Charity & Tech For Good

2nd – Charity & Tech For Good

Industry awards 2022