Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust

Project Manager (Wetland Habitats)

WWT Steart Marshes, with visits throughout the project area

37.5 hours a week

£29,351 per annum

This is a fixed term contract until the end of March 2022

Role Context

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust has been successful under the Green Recovery Challenge Fund in receiving £1.6M to further its ambition under its strategic Waterscapes Programme. The GRCF is aimed to support projects that are ready to deliver and focus on nature restoration, nature-based solutions and connecting people with nature, delivering against the goals of the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan (25YEP), whilst helping to sustain and build capacity in the sector.

The funded project ‘Enhancing Climate Resilience on the Somerset Coast’ is a partnership project predominantly based along the Somerset coastline from the Mendip Hills south to Bridgwater including land either-side of the Parrett Estuary and a number of Parishes within freshwater catchments west of the Quantock Hills.

This exciting project aims to deliver interventions across a landscape-scale to create and restore wetland habitat for biodiversity and ecosystem services, and enhance its resilience to climate change. It will also embed the knowledge and skills within local communities to continue this work in future.

The Project will contribute to:

• Wetland nature conservation and restoration, by creating or restoring over 100ha of habitat, including priority habitats such as coastal saltmarsh, freshwater ponds and wet woodlands.
• Delivering nature-based solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change, through natural flood management and improved land management, helping to enhance flood resilience, improve soil and water quality, and further our knowledge on blue carbon sequestration.
• Connecting people with nature, by engaging local stakeholders (eg. landowners, students) in wetland conservation through community events, volunteering and citizen science. It aims to find new ways to support our mental and physical wellness by seeking ways to engage people with wetlands.

The project will create jobs and posts and retain positions within WWT and its partners. We will enhance local knowledge and skills, offering specific upskilling and work experience opportunities for young people.

Role outline

Your role will be responsible for the delivery and successful completion of extensive wetland habitat enhancement work at Steart Marshes and at sites in Bridgwater as advised by WWT’s Bridgwater Blue Heritage Project Team. You will be responsible for coordinating the delivery of all capital works at these sites and by working positively with project managers and stakeholders to ensure that the work not only complies with the conditions of the funding but also all regulations around delivering the work including gaining formal statutory consents. You will be responsible for drawing up the designs and agreeing the work with contractors in line with the funds allowed in the budget. In line with WWT procurement policy you will issue and manage contracts and ensure Health & Safety and CDM compliance.

You will need to ensure that you liaise closely with Project Managers with an interest in the habitat enhancements and regularly report progress through the Senior Project Manager to WWTs Project Management Governance Structure. You will be responsible to the WWTs GRCF Senior Project Manager and will work with the expertise of WWT Unit Heads and WWT Steart Marshes Site Manager to deliver site and organisational strategic objectives. You will be responsible for budget management and for ensuring all grant claims are supported with the necessary paperwork.

It is anticipated that you will have a respect and working knowledge of the natural environment and be experienced in creating UK wetland habitats and species, particularly within a lowland and coastal context. You will be an experienced conservationist and project manager, adept at building links between statutory stakeholders, local communities and volunteers. The successful candidate will be at the heart of one of the most high profile conservation initiatives in the South West, and will need to be inspiring, collaborative, diplomatic and forward thinking.

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) is a conservation charity that protects wetlands for wildlife and people. We conserve, restore and create wetlands. We are pioneers in saving wetland wildlife, both in the UK and around the world. At our 10 UK sites around a million visitors a year engage with wetland nature. We work internationally in key global wetland areas, balancing conservation with sustainable livelihoods and influencing national and international conservation policies.

In return for your hard work and dedication you’ll enjoy a wide range of benefits including:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Contributory pension scheme (conditions apply)
• Life assurance
• Free parking
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free entry to all our centres

WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.

For more information, and to apply for the role, please click here

Closing date: 31st January 2021

Interview date: 11th February 2021

Registered Charity Number England & Wales, no 1030884 and Scotland, no SC039410

The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is funded by Defra and is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.