This role is an exciting opportunity to be part of the EU LIFE funded Recreation ReMEDIES (LIFE18 NAT/UK/000039) project led by Natural England. Recreation ReMEDIES (Restoring and Mitigating Erosion and Disturbance Impacts affecting the Seabed) seeks to improve the condition of subtidal and intertidal habitats such as seagrass and maerl in 5 Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) in southern England: Isles of Scilly, Fal & Helford, Plymouth Sound & Estuaries, Solent Maritime and Essex Estuaries. It will achieve this by working with a number of partners, including the Marine Conservation Society, Ocean Conservation Trust (National Marine Aquarium’s charitable arm), Plymouth City Council and the Royal Yachting Association, to deliver improved management of recreational impacts, better stakeholder awareness and demonstrate habitat restoration/management techniques including seagrass restoration and infrastructure improvements in key sites.

The project needs an experienced and motivated Project Manager with excellent leadership skills to drive forward and manage delivery. As well as overall management the Project Manager will lead on specific actions within the project (with support from project staff, other NE staff and partners) including changing stakeholder behaviour, installation of eco-moorings, managing access, monitoring, communications and networking. An understanding of marine recreation and marine biodiversity would be advantageous, but is not essential as technical input will be provided by NE specialist staff.

LIFE Recreation ReMEDIES projects objectives are:

1. Protect from, and reduce, recreational pressures to England’s most important and at risk seagrass beds, moving intertidal/subtidal mud and sand habitats across 5 SACs towards Favourable condition. This will be achieved by utilising best practice management techniques for reducing recreational pressure such as environmentally friendly moorings (eco-moorings), voluntary codes, targeted training, behavioural change, managing access and habitat restoration.
2. Demonstrate large scale successful restoration and management techniques across the project’s SACs and elsewhere.
3. Promote awareness and inspire better care of sensitive habitats such as seagrass by recreational users and use networks of relevant stakeholders and public at a local, national and trans-national level to maximise the longevity and sustainability of the project actions.

LIFE ReMEDIES:(LIFE18 NAT/UK/000039) is financially supported by LIFE, a financial instrument of the European Commission. 

Key tasks/accountabilities

The Project Manager will spend 100% of their time on the project and ensure its successful delivery. The following key tasks and work areas will need to be undertaken under the direction of the Project Governance Group:

• Develop and monitor overall delivery of the project through work planning, including management of the work programme and working closely with the project staff.    
• Provide functional management of the project delivery team which will include a Finance Officer and Assistant Project Manager (Communications).    
• Coordinate and let contracts for goods and services.    
• Convening and chairing Project Steering Group and Stakeholder Advisory Group meetings    
• Acting as secretariat to the Project Governance Board.    
• Undertake all administrative, financial and project management responsibilities in accordance with the LIFE Grant contract    
• Ensure all progress (and final) reports, financial claims and audit trails are collated and maintained in compliance with LIFE requirements, supported by the Finance Officer.    
• Obtain support from major stakeholders and investigate further opportunities to share learning from the project with wider audiences and other interested groups.    
• Collating, writing drafts in consultation with partners and finalising technical, interim/progress and final reports.    
• Lead on all evaluation and monitoring work.    
• Oversee the preparation and finalisation of project audits.   

Please register and search for this role on civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk for more information.