We are recruiting for a Project Manager ! See below for details:

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job title: Project Manager 

Location: Cheshire/Greater Manchester

Salary: £20,000 - £21,500, dependent on experience + pension

Closes: 18 February 2022

Position: Project Manager

Hours: Full Time, 37.5 hours per week. Flexibility required (some evening & weekend work)

To apply: 

If you wish to apply, please send a CV (no more than two sides of A4) and covering letter (no more than two sides of A4), outlining how you meet the requirements of the person specification and job description and why you want to work for the Trust. Please email your application to the Operations Director of the Mersey Rivers Trust, Paul Henbrey (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Applications must be received by email no later than the end of 18 February 2022.

Interviews will be held in February/March either via Zoom or face-to-face depending on circumstances.

If you would like more information about the role before submitting an application, you may contact Paul Henbrey 07747 446103 (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or John Sanders 07821 117396 (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

 

Background

Mersey Rivers Trust is the principal environmental charity working to improve the quality of rivers across the Mersey Basin. As we continue to grow and succeed in attracting more grant-funded projects, we are now seeking an experienced project manager to lead different projects and engage people across the Mersey Basin.

Our projects range from river restoration and catchment management schemes (such as Natural Flood Management) through to public engagement and communications. Project values range from £20k to over £1m. 

The role requires strong project management skills combined with excellent communication skills with a wide range of stakeholders from funding bodies to local community groups and individual volunteers. The successful applicant will be able to effectively deliver projects as well as undertake communications and engagement activities.

Role Overview

The Mersey Rivers Trust (MRT) operates in the Mersey Basin catchment covering Greater Manchester, Merseyside and much of Cheshire. The Trust has expanded rapidly over the past three years and has been successful in securing funding to deliver a variety of environmental river-based improvement and engagement projects.

Our project portfolio continues to grow and we are now looking to recruit a competent, dynamic and enthusiastic person with experience in delivery of river improvement and engagement projects. The role will include engagement activities with stakeholders, landowners and local communities, training and managing our volunteers, as well as delivery of physical improvement works such as invasive species control, river restoration and wetland creation projects. The role holder will report to one of our Senior Project Managers.

The successful candidate will have knowledge of topics such as catchment management, river conservation, river restoration and be confident in communicating with stakeholders, landowners, local communities and our volunteers. 

The post holder will be home-based and will need to travel throughout the Mersey Basin catchment (predominately within Greater Manchester and Cheshire).

Key Duties:

The main duties of the role will be to support Mersey Rivers Trust staff in the delivery of its River Bollin/BEACON Partnership environmental enhancement and public engagement projects within the River Bollin catchment (parts of Greater Manchester/Cheshire). The post holder will be supervised by a Project Manager or Senior Project Manager but will be expected to take ownership and lead specific tasks following appropriate training/competence development.

Specific duties will include: 

• To carry out water quality sampling, biological sampling and other aquatic surveys within the River Bollin catchment.
• Support and lead engagement with the BEACON partnership, local communities and stakeholders as part of project delivery.
• Support and lead the organisation of outdoor public volunteer events (e.g. invasive species control and litter picks) and support the co-ordination of volunteers.
• To support the delivery of environmental enhancement and nature-based solutions projects (e.g. Natural Flood Management schemes, river restoration schemes, Invasive Species control).
• To support the Senior Project Manager in project management and reporting activities, including financial reporting, as well as management of contractors.
• To help promote water environmental messages to the public through presentations, displays, events, social media and general publicity.
• To assist in the development of monitoring and evaluation systems and to document, monitor and evaluate all projects in line with funding requirements.
• To support the preparation of funding bids for the Trust.
• To attend regular internal and external meetings as required, including the BEACON partnership meetings.
• To work in a flexible manner and to undertake any other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time, which are commensurate with the grade of the job.
• To travel throughout the River Bollin catchment area and occasionally elsewhere in the Mersey River Basin as required.
• To carry out all of the above duties with full regard to the Trust’s Equal Opportunities, Non-Discrimination, Safeguarding, Environmental, Health and Safety policies.

Candidate Profile

• GCSEs (or equivalent qualifications) in maths and English is essential. Education to A level (or equivalent qualifications) in relevant subjects or equivalent relevant vocational qualifications is desirable.
• Valid driving licence and own vehicle, insured for business use is essential.
• Competent and confident in the use of email, Excel and Word. Experience in GIS and Powerpoint would be desirable, along with social media (Facebook, Twitter).
• A confident and clear communicator with experience in delivering engagement projects with a variety of stakeholders and local communities.
• Experience of successful environmental project delivery working as part of a team, ideally in the river environment and/or in catchment management.
• Understanding of how different physical improvement projects are meant to perform in relation to river catchments, river channels and river ecology.
• Experience in working with contractors and volunteers is desirable.
• Self-motivated and able to work effectively from home without supervision and to a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to work flexibly, including some early mornings, some evenings and some weekends/bank holidays.
• Ability to prioritise and plan activities to meet strict deadlines.
• Reliability, good attendance and work performance.
• Strong team working skills and able to work collaboratively with partners, contractors, volunteers and community groups.
• Good organisational / admin skills and attention to detail –

General Notes

• Travel around the Mersey Catchment will be necessary and therefore a current driving licence and access to an appropriately insured vehicle is desirable.
• This position will from time to time require work during some evenings, weekends and public holidays. A time-off in lieu system is operated by the Trust.

Term and Conditions

The following terms and conditions are typically offered to Mersey Rivers Trust staff and are set out as a guide only. Terms and conditions may vary according to circumstances and this summary does not form part of any subsequent employment 

Contract duration: Permanent.

Annual leave: 28 days annual leave (including 3 day Christmas shutdown) pro rata plus bank holidays.

Time off in lieu: The Trust operates a time off in-lieu system for work at weekends, evenings or bank holidays. We do not pay overtime or double time. 

Location: Home-Based. Some working may be required from time to time in our offices in Styal. The work will include some home-based computer / planning activities, alongside working across the Mersey catchment area, both indoors (e.g. in community spaces) and outdoors.

Travel expenses: travel expenses will be paid for all work-related travel within the Mersey catchment (Greater Manchester, MerseysideCheshire plus small areas of Lancashire (parts of West Lancs and Rossendale districts) and part of the High Peak district of Derbyshire. Candidates living outside the catchment area will need to cover their own travel costs from their home to the catchment boundary.