Programme Manager – Species Survival Fund

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.

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 [email protected]. 

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.