Programme Coordinator - Nature Based Neighbourhoods

The Vacancy

Hiring: Wates Family Enterprise Trust
Programme Manager – Nature Based Neighbourhoods (NBN) 
Contract: Full-time, 5-year fixed term (with potential for extension) 
Location: Hybrid – remote working with one day fortnightly in WFET’s Leatherhead office (Wednesdays) 
Travel: Regular travel to project sites across England
Reporting to: NBN Partnership Programme Lead 

About the Role 

We are seeking a strategic and community-focused programme manager to lead the delivery of the Nature Based Neighbourhoods (NBN) grant programme – a five-year partnership between Lund Trust and the Wates Family Enterprise Trust (WFET). 

The NBN programme supports urban communities to create greener, more connected neighbourhoods. It provides core funding, peer networking, and long-term planning support to community organisations working to improve access to nature. 

You will oversee all aspects of programme delivery, including grant management, stakeholder engagement, impact reporting, and communications. This is a unique opportunity to shape a long-term initiative that builds community power and drives nature-based change. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead programme planning, delivery and annual review cycles, ensuring it is delivered on time and to budget in a way that works towards its overall vision and aims.
• Manage relationships with funded community partners ensuring they are well supported to deliver against their grant ambitions. 
• Foster cross-sector relationships in community
• Oversee grant administration and budget management 
• Work with the programme’s learning and impact partners to facilitate peer learning, evaluation and storytelling to share impact 
• Convene programme boards, partner meetings, providing key stakeholders with timely updates 
• Collaborate with internal teams to amplify programme visibility and creatively share learnings, supporting local and national movement building.

Person Specification 

Essential: 

• Experience managing multi-year, large-budget projects, preferably in the third sector 
• Strategic thinker with a track record of driving change 
• Strong community engagement and facilitation skills 
• Skilled in impact evaluation and reporting 
• Passionate about climate action, social justice, nature and community-led approaches 
• Willingness to travel regularly 

Desirable: 

• Experience in grant-making
• Expertise in urban green infrastructure or climate transition 
• Ability to raise public profile of initiatives 
• Experience in cross sector collaboration 

How to Apply 

Candidates must apply via the Wates Application Portal (link to apply below). It is essential that you submit the following: 

• Completed application form 
• Covering letter outlining your interest and suitability, no more than two sides of A4 
• CV 

Deadline: 27 October 2025 - Midnight.
Interviews: 19th and 20th November 2025 in London

About the Programme

Connection to nature can have powerful social, health, economic and environmental benefits. These benefits are not shared equally. Our most deprived communities also have the least access to nature where they live. Communities are working to tackle this problem, but their efforts are often stifled by a lack of investment.

The NBN programme aims to strengthen community organisations, providing the financial and non-financial resources they need to create greener neighbourhoods and communities more connected to nature. 

This work will take place in a small number of places and explore how sustained commitment, engagement and investment can transform outcomes for a place, people and nature.

Specifically, this funding partnerships will:

• Provide direct support in the form of core funding to selected urban community organisations that share our aims.
• Provide communities with the means to connect with the great work already happening around the county and develop peer network.
• Enable communities to co-develop equitable long-term plans to increase nature connection locally.
• Support community-led story telling of this work, its challenges and successes.

The rationale and development of this work can be found in our theory of change.

ABOUT WATES FAMILY ENTERPRISE TRUST

The Wates family envisages a fairer, more sustainable, more prosperous society – a world in which connection to place and planet, underpinned by a sense of belonging and empowerment within a supportive community, provides the foundation for every individual to thrive. To belong in a healthy home. To belong to a community and feel connected to nature.

Find out more about or work here: www.wfet.org.uk 

We are proud to be recognised as Gold Investors in People and as a Disability Confident employer. We also ensure that our recruitment processes do not treat anyone less favourably due to an offending background.