Project Manager (Community BlueScapes Flood Resilience Project)

Barnes Common Limited (BCL)

Project Manager (Community BlueScapes Flood Resilience Project)

Job Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join a small but dedicated and dynamic management team,
working closely with the Board of Trustees, in an award-winning community organisation,
recognised for leadership in 3rd sector service provision.

BCL is a charitable company, limited by guarantee. It works closely with the community to
respond to the challenges of climate change, biodiversity and wellbeing through active nature
conservation and participation in programmes aimed at building resilience to climate change
within the community. BCL works in partnership or collaboration with many other organisations,
especially Richmond Council (LBRuT).

BCL is looking to recruit a Project Manager to manage its role in the Community BlueScapes
Project (CBS). This is one of 25 schemes nationwide that form part of Defra / EA’s Flood and
Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme, in which BCL’s key partners are LBRuT and Wildfowl
& Wetlands Trust (WWT). The CBS programme was awarded a budget of £6m over six years to
March 2027, with the primary aim to promote innovative flood resilience relating to surface
water flooding in an urban environment and specifically within the Beverley Brook catchment in
and near to Richmond (from Richmond Park to North Barnes).

The focus of the CBS programme is on community engagement with the use of Nature Based
Solutions, Natural Flood Management and SuDS to achieve meaningful flood resilience without the
use of extensive hard engineering. Within the programme BCL is designated lead partner on eight
projects: one small project has been completed; two are approved and scheduled for delivery
later this year; and five significant projects have been approved in concept and are now at
various stages of feasibility, design and planning. The primary role of the Project Manager
will be management of the delivery of these projects by late 2026. The role will also be
expected to support other initiatives on which project partners are leading, as well as working
alongside colleagues from BCL and the CBS partnership to coordinate related community
engagement, communications and learning, raise awareness, disseminate results and optimise the
legacy of the programme both locally and nationally.

The Project Manager will work closely with and be supported by an officer (already in post
covering monitoring as well as in support of delivery), as well as by the Trustees and other
BCL staff, particularly BCL’s Nature Conservation Manager (for practical delivery), Community
Engagement Manager (for community engagement and communications) and Education Manager (for
both formal and informal learning linked to the project).

This is a fixed term contract until 31/03/2027. The post may require some work at weekends or
evenings but working hours can be flexible.

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

• To lead / project manage the CBS projects assigned to and developed by BCL, and in
  particular:
• Oversee scope, cost, budget, timelines, risk, quality issues and communications for
  the assigned projects, based on and adapting existing project proformas.
• Set and monitor objectives, along with key deliverables and milestones, identifying
  and assigning the tasks that must be completed to fulfil each.
• Coordinate the resources of BCL committed to BCS, alongside professional advisers
  and all stakeholders.
• Provide direction and leadership to BCL Staff, volunteers and other members of the
  community engaged with the programme.
• Provide up to date monitoring and evaluation reports for project performance,
  including comparison of actual against planned / scheduled performance.
• Optimise stakeholder and community involvement through co-design and co-production
  where relevant, as well as through citizen science and other volunteering
  opportunities.
• Champion the potential gains to biodiversity and wellbeing alongside climate and
  flood resilience benefits made possible through Nature Based Solutions, as promoted by
  CBS, and how these can also bring about other desirable outcomes such as improved water
  quality and healthier watercourses.
• Support the Communications and Community Engagement Action Plans to help raise
  awareness, encourage engagement and promote active participation across the wider
  community. This may include running workshops, displays or exhibitions and leading
  walks and talks.
• Support the Monitoring and Evaluation team, identifying and collecting required
  data to support both environmental and social research programmes.
• To work collaboratively with BCL’s key partners LBRuT and the Wildfowl & Wetlands
  Trust, as well as other stakeholders, in the delivery of both BCL’s assigned projects and in
  support of the programme:
• Work closely with and as a member of the CBS project management team, led by
  LBRuT’s project manager who has overarching responsibility (with the project Board) for
  the CBS programme delivery and reporting to Defra/EA.
• Work closely with the scientists engaged by WWT to monitor and evaluate the
  project.
• Develop effective partnership working with the CBS Communications Officer and
  others engaged to provide support to the CBS programme across partner organisations.
• To deliver the outputs and meet the objectives of the CBS programme effectively and
  efficiently.
• To identify and promote other innovative ideas that could contribute to the immediate
  programme or be developed as part of the programme’s legacy.
• Implement and support delivery of volunteer and citizen science activities within the
  catchment.
• At all times to work within the policies and ethos of BCL, especially on equal
  opportunities and employment law, health & safety, safeguarding, data protection and
  procurement.
• The ethos of BCL is based on actions which are sustainable, local, organic, working
  inclusively, environmental, ecological and responsible.

Job requirements:

• Good project management skills including leadership, time-management, prioritisation and
  organisation with financial / budgetary / auditing disciplines.
• Experience of consultation with stakeholders including partners, such as government bodies,
  Environment Agency, other LLFA’s, water companies and trusts.
• Someone who enjoys working with residents and volunteers from local communities, building
  strong partnering relationships.
• A sound appreciation of rivers and the main causes of flooding – pluvial, fluvial, ground
  water and tidal; the potential impacts of climate change on flooding and drought; an
  understanding of the key drivers and issues relating to sustainable Flood Risk Management and
  the potential response measures such as alleviation, mitigation and attenuation would be
  desirable to have.
• A knowledge and experience of Natural Flood Management i.e. nature based solutions and SuDS
  (Sustainable Drainage Systems) and understanding of building construction and the effects that
  flood damage can cause would be desirable to have.

Professional requirements:

• Either a degree or equivalent experience and practical knowledge in a relevant discipline,
  (e.g. natural resources / environmental management, sustainable development, or river/catchment
  restoration).
• A demonstrable track record managing projects to completion according to outlined scope,
  budget and timeline with relevant work experience. A recognised qualification or accreditation
  in project management (e.g. PRINCE2; APM) would be desirable.
• Effective IT and data skills (Outlook, Word, Power Point); skilled in use of GIS mapping
  (QGIS or ARC); experience of other data modelling / research work would be useful.
• Clean UK driving licence.
• A satisfactory enhanced DBS check and two references.

Personal Skills

• A Team player with a ‘Can do’ attitude, happy to fit in with and build on other team
  member’s expertise.
• A willing and open communicator with good verbal and written communication skills,
  providing clear guidance and technical support with high-quality presentation and formal report
  writing.
• Ability to think innovatively to develop solutions, using an adaptable and pragmatic
  approach, (problem-solving skills as well as learning from positive and negative experience).
• Track record of thinking on your feet in difficult situations, reshaping plans whilst still
  achieving goals.

Terms of Contract:

Contract: This is a fixed term contract, terminating on 31 March 2027.

Salary: £35,000 – £45,000 per annum dependant on experience.

Hours: Full time – 37.5 hours per week. There may be some evening or weekend work but hours can
be flexible including WFH.

Reporting to: The Board of Barnes Common Limited (BCL). Performance will be regularly reviewed
by the BCL Board in consultation with the CBS team. Emphasis will be placed on the delivery of
targeted outputs and contribution to the wider outcomes of the CBS programme.

Probationary Period: There will be a probationary period of four months.

Notice Period: 1 month’s notice during probation, thereafter 3 months.

Pension: A basic ‘defined contribution’ pension complying with the government ‘opt out’ pension
legislation. BCL operates a policy of postponement for the first three months.

Holiday: 28 days holiday per annum – this will be pro-rated according to start date.

Place of Work: Based at The Pavilion, Vine Road Recreation Ground, Barnes, London, SW13 0NE.

BCL is an equal opportunities employer and committed to supporting personal development and
training.

Application:

CV’s and a short covering note should be sent to [email protected] as can any initial
queries about the position. Deadline for applications is 5pm Friday 14th June with first
interviews expected to commence from 18th June and second interviews following shortly
afterwards in anticipation of a likely start date around early July.

Receipt of applications will be acknowledged but any further communication will only be with
those who are called for interview.