Project Manager

Job description

We are looking for a dynamic project manager to lead the next stage of this innovative and high profile project. The project manager will lead the four key workstreams (Nature recovery, tourism & visitor experience, commercial enterprises and partnership working) working collaboratively with delivery teams across North Devon and Somerset. One of the focus areas over the next 12 months will be delivery of Green Recovery Challenge Fund 2 a £1.2 million project focusing on delivering vital conservation work benefiting nature, the climate and people. As well as managing delivery of current projects you will be looking over the horizon scoping and helping secure funding and support for future projects to help deliver the four workstreams. One of the successes of the wider landscape-scale work so far has been the reintroduction of the beaver and water vole at the Holnicote Estate in Somerset – could you play a part in developing the next success story on the Exmoor Coast?

Jess’s who is currently doing this role said "Leading a project that is so diverse, driven and ambitious is hugely fulfilling and means everyday is different with getting to work with truly wonderful colleagues in a variety of disciplines"

We are looking for an experienced Project Manager who is excellent at working with people and building relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery and progression each of these workstreams.

PLEASE NOTE: We have several hubs you can work from at your convenience – Holnicote in West Somerset, Heddon Valley OR Croyde in North Devon.

This is a fixed term contract due to end when the previous employee returns from maternity leave. At this point we cannot confirm exactly how long this contract will last, but it is unlikely to be more than12 months.

Interview will be held on Friday 10 September 2021

As the Project Manager for the Exmoor Coast, you’ll be joining our passionate team to become a voice of our landscapes, a conservation champion, and a lover of all things outdoors. You will be working with driven and highly motivated teams leading the way on one of the National Trusts most ambitious outdoors projects.

The Exmoor Coast from Combe Martin to Minehead is a landscape that is as close to being natural and wild as it is possible to get in southern Britain. The Trust owns 55% of this stretch of outstanding coastline which lies within Exmoor National Park and stretches from the West Exmoor properties in the Heddon Valley through Watersmeet and Countisbury (the highest sea cliffs in England) to the great Holnicote Estate in the East. Together the two Exmoor Coast portfolios of North Devon and Somerset Coast and Countryside in total cover 10,500ha, which is 21% of the entire SW Region. Our properties here are renowned for their nature, including extensive tracts of heathland, ancient oak woodlands, and a host of upland and Atlantic species. Yet despite the presence of significant tracts of remaining habitat, much has been lost to agricultural improvement since the Second World War. There is tremendous scope for linking what remains to create what could be one of the finest landscapes in the UK.

It will be your role to lead and manage the next stages of the Exmoor Coast project including delivering multiple large projects such as Green Recovery Challenge Fund 2. You will be working alongside the General Managers for Somerset Coast & Countryside and North Devon, and the highly engaged Project Team. Using the National Trust Project Management Framework, you will be implementing the best plans to deliver these ambitious projects whilst managing inter-dependencies and risks and working closely with property teams and our own consultancy.

With a number of areas of activity, you will need to draw on your experience of leading and managing multiple work streams in order to co-ordinate teams effectively, helping them to keep track of deadlines, find the most favourable option to complete the task and ensuring this is delivered within budget. As you monitor the success of your activities, you’ll take overall responsibility for project budgets, financial reporting and governance.

You’ll achieve all of this through collaborative working and great information sharing across the multi-disciplinary team. Working with stakeholders both internally and externally (including local community, statutory bodies and funders) you’ll influence where necessary to ensure results are achieved. This will be a highly varied and exciting role and working though others and supporting key individuals in both properties will be vital.

Please also read the full role profile, attached to this advert.

To be successful in this role you’ll need;

• Experience in Project management practices and the use of frameworks to deliver projects
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including public presentation, facilitation and training experience
• Excellent leadership and communication skills including the ability to manage and motivate project teams
• Sound experience of funding, procuring, contracting and financial processes. Proven track record of managing budgets to control costs
• Proven experience in sponsor, stakeholder and client / supplier relationship management

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

Wherever you’re from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from you – and it doesn’t matter if you’re jam first, cream first, or even if you don’t like scones at all. Everyone is welcome.

Benefits for working at the National Trust include:

• Flexible working whenever possible

• Free parking at most locations

• Free entry to our properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.