Lead Project Manager (Landscape Recovery)

Norfolk County Council

Lead Project Manager (Landscape Recovery)

Contract: Three-year fixed-term contract

Salary: £45,395 to £49,379 per annum (Scale L)

Basis: 37 hours per week

Location: Norwich

We are seeking a confident and engaging leader, with genuine enthusiasm for working with a wide range of stakeholders to drive forward new approaches to nature recovery across the pilot region. Farmers and land managers are at the heart of this project - you will work closely with them to develop land use change for species recovery and river restoration, whilst exploring new opportunities for blended finance models. You will coordinate outcomes around project structure and governance, engagement and access plans across the project partners (Norfolk Coast Partnership, Norfolk Rivers Trust, Holkham and Natural England). You will maintain strong and effective working relationships with academic collaborators and with statutory bodies such as the Environment Agency and District Council.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to shape the future of land management and conservation in the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). We are looking for a motivated environmental management professional with a genuine passion for nature, communities, and rural economies to lead delivery of this exciting project.

North Norfolk: Wilder, Wetter, Better for Nature is one of 22 first round pilot projects selected to develop innovative approaches to Landscape Recovery as part of the new Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS). This is a unique opportunity to shape national policy on the future of farming, whilst delivering meaningful progress towards species recovery and river restoration. You will play a central role in making lasting space for nature in an agricultural landscape, directly contributing to the creation of new high-quality habitat within the AONB.

As Lead Project Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing the successful delivery of the project development phase. You will report into the Project Steering Group, supporting the group to make informed decisions and providing regular updates on project progress and budget. You will lead on the strategic management of project activities, track project progress towards delivery and financial targets, and report this to Defra each quarter. You will coordinate development of briefs to procure expertise in feasibility and monitoring, blended finance, and legal permissions, consents, and agreements, and will supervise appointed contractors. You will bring together relevant stakeholders into task and finish groups to ensure the right skillsets and expertise are fed into the project, and added value opportunities for the landscape are secured.

This high-profile post will formally report to the Head of Environment and will be managed day to day by the Protected Landscapes Manager. The postholder will be based within a busy multi-disciplinary team responsible for the Norfolk Coast AONB, The Wash and North Norfolk Coast Marine Protected Area Network and National/Norfolk Trails. You will be supported by project staff and experts within the wider Norfolk County Council Environment Service and at the Norfolk Rivers Trust. The role will carry budget management responsibility and you will need to be confident in making decisions, steering project development, and delivering high quality collaborative outcomes.

We are looking for someone with a good mix of ecological and/or land management knowledge, project delivery expertise, partnership working experience and proven leadership skills to join our growing team. This position requires a full driving license and willingness to travel across North Norfolk.

Norfolk County Council offers flexible and hybrid working with the opportunity to work from home and/or our offices in Holt and Norwich. This is a three-year fixed-term position with potential to extend pending future funding opportunities.

For an informal conversation about this role, please contact John Jones (john.jones@norfolk.gov.uk) or Dr Katy Owen (katy.owen@norfolk.gov.uk)

We want our people to be inspired and motivated to work well together, make the most of our workspaces, enjoy a healthy work-life balance, and deliver excellent services to Norfolk and its people. Flexibility is built into the way we work, with hybrid working a key feature for many roles. Our technology platform and equipment are first class, enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We ask that you have in place good Broadband connectivity.

Already a Norfolk County Council employee? See and apply for all internal and external vacancies via myOracle using your @norfolk.gov.uk or @nccal.ac.uk email address.

Before you apply please see the full job description and person specification in the below link – this will help you to shape your application to demonstrate how you meet the criteria for the role.

Job description and person specification

You can also find out about the rewards and benefits we offer as well as our other terms and conditions.

These are some benefits you can enjoy by working for Norfolk County Council:

• Competitive salary
• Generous holiday entitlement with the ability to buy and sell leave
• Health and Wellbeing services including fast-track physiotherapy and a free counselling service
• Flexible working opportunities including flexi-time, part time, remote and hybrid working – dependent on your job role and business need.
• Financial benefits such as:
• ‘Norfolk Rewards’ our employee discounts programme which helps you save money on almost anything, from everyday groceries and clothes, to holidays, new technology, gym membership, trips to the cinema and days out.  
• A Blue Light card for Fire Service and Social Care Workers
• Relocation expenses paid upfront (where applicable)
• An advance of your expenses if you travel for work
• Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution, life assurance, death in service payments and dependants’ pensions .
• A payment if you refer someone you know to a hard to fill job.
• Tax efficient ways of getting extra pension, new bikes and electric cars.

Closing date: 19 September 2023.

Apply Here