Nature Restoration Project Manager

Application deadline: Friday 14 November 2025
Location: Cambridge, UK or Brussels, Belgium (Hybrid working)
Contract: 1 year fixed-term contract with possibility for extension
Full-time: 35 hours per week (Cambridge) or 37.5 hours per week (Brussels)
Salary: GBP £38,000 - £42,000 or EUR 77,560.00

BirdLife ECA is one of the six regional Secretariats that compose BirdLife International, the global authority on the status of bird species. Based in Brussels, it supports the European and Central Asian Partnership and is present in 47 countries including all EU Member States.

We are looking for an experienced Nature Restoration Project Manager to lead the delivery of priority restoration projects across the Europe and Central Asia region. The role includes driving fundraising efforts to ensure a strong pipeline of impactful projects aligned with the BirdLife Partnership’s strategic goals. It combines project implementation, proposal development, and donor engagement, working closely with BirdLife Partners, the Europe and Central Asia team, and technical colleagues to meet donor commitments, secure funding, and maximise conservation impact.

How you will do this:

Lead the delivery of key nature restoration projects, managing all stages from planning to reporting. This includes:

• Ensuring donor obligations are met, budgets are effectively managed, and risks are identified and mitigated.
• Working closely with other key roles to integrate best practice restoration methods into project delivery.
• Leading the implementation of a vision for the continuation of the RENATE (REstore NAture in The East) project, aligned with BirdLife’s Strategy and Regional Implementation Plan for ECA, identifying opportunities for follow-on funding.

Lead fundraising for restoration projects, identifying and pursuing new funding opportunities. This includes:

• Scoping donors and funding mechanisms relevant to the restoration agenda in the Europe and Central Asia region.
• Developing and writing high-quality project proposals, concept notes, and Budgets in collaboration with Partners and technical staff.
• Facilitating connections between Partners and donors, fostering opportunities for long-term collaboration.

Contribute to the planning and delivery of the Nature Restoration Working Group agenda, ensuring alignment with fundraising and project delivery priorities.

Ensure strong links between restoration fundraising, project delivery, and other BirdLife ECA programmes to maximise impact.

What we are looking for:

• A Degree in environmental science, conservation biology, ecology, natural resource management, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of financial mechanisms and funding opportunities for large-scale conservation/restoration projects.
• Strong knowledge of European biodiversity, including birds and their habitats, as well as principles of practical conservation and restoration of habitats, ecosystems, and landscapes.
• Good understanding of European institutions, environmental policy, and regional legal frameworks. Familiarity with relevant international and regional policies, such as the EU Nature Restoration Law, EU Biodiversity Strategy, and key conservation frameworks (e.g., Bern Convention, Ramsar, CBD).
• Substantial experience in developing, managing, and delivering large-scale conservation or nature restoration projects within the Europe and Central Asia region, including managing at least three projects with budgets of EUR 500,000+ (ideally EU-funded).
• Track record in securing funding from institutional donors (e.g., EU, UN, governments), corporate sponsors, or philanthropic foundations.
• Ability to design, plan, and execute large and complex projects within set timelines and budgets, thus experience in project budgeting, grant writing, and financial reporting.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex ideas to policymakers, funders, and stakeholders.
• Fluency in English

See the full job description on our website.

Some of our benefits:

UK benefits include a generous pension scheme, up to 12% company contribution, full access to LinkedIn learning and a flexible work-life balance.

Belgium benefits include meal vouchers worth €8 per working day, with an employee contribution of €1.09; pension savings scheme of up to 4% of gross salary; reimbursement of public transport costs or a cycling allowance.

BirdLife values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Find out more about our Diversity statement.

We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive and supportive culture, a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We aim to promote a more inclusive environment, which attracts all candidates and signals our commitment to celebrate and promote diversity.

We will consider putting into place appropriate reasonable adjustments for candidates who may have a disability.

Please note: under the UK Government criteria this role will not be eligible for Visa Sponsorship, unless you meet the exception criteria detailed here: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/when-you-can-be-paid-less

Interviews: Interviews will be held in during the weeks of 24 November and 1 December 2025.