Development Phase Programme Manager

An exciting opportunity to be TRT’s Development Phase Programme Manager

We are seeking an experienced programme manager to lead Thames Catchment Community Eels Project.

The Thames Catchment Community Eels Project (TCCEP) is a £3 million flagship programme delivered by Thames Rivers Trust in partnership with 7 NGOs and catchment groups. The Development Phase, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, runs from January 2026 to April 2027 and lays the groundwork for a three-year Delivery Phase (2028–2030) across six sub-catchments. This builds on the successful Phase 1 pilot funded through The Green Recovery Challenge Fund (2020–2022).

This essential role will oversee the coordination, governance, and planning of the TCCEP Development Phase. The Programme Manager will supervise the programme’s daily operations, manage partner input into key workstreams (capital design, education, citizen science, inclusion), and ensure that timelines, budgets, and deliverables meet The Heritage Fund expectations. The role involves direct responsibility for preparing the Delivery Phase funding application and ensuring that the Development Phase creates a strong legacy platform for long-term impact. This includes coordinating evaluation planning, risk registers, governance frameworks, and a sustainable funding strategy. The role requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to facilitate collaboration among multiple partners across diverse catchments and disciplines.

• Role Title: Development Phase Programme Manager
• Hosting Organisation: Thames Rivers Trust (TRT)
• Responsible to: TRT Chief Executive Officer
• Responsible for: Oversight of programme development, partner coordination, timeline management and funding bid preparation
• FTE: 1.0
• Contract Type: Fixed term (12 months)
• Start Date: February – March 2026 (subject to The National Lottery Heritage Fund Permission to Start)
• Salary Range: £40,000 – £45,000, dependent on experience
• Location: Home-based with regular travel to London and Thames Basin partner locations
• Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week, with occasional evening or weekend commitments
• Annual Leave: 25 days per year plus public holidays
• Probation Period: 3 months, during which annual leave is by agreement only
• Pension: TRT operates a contributory pension scheme; details available on request

Key Responsibilities

Programme Management and Delivery

• Lead day-to-day coordination of all Development Phase activities across partner organisations. You will be supported by a team including a Learning & Engagement Officer, Finance & Admin Officer and four external consultants (activity, conservation, interpretation, evaluation), alongside the TRT CEO and key staff from the delivery partners
• Manage and update the programme timeline, risk register, and delivery plan
• Oversee preparation and submission of the Delivery Phase application to The National Lottery Heritage Fund
• Track milestones and ensure high-quality deliverables across capital planning, education, evaluation, and engagement workstreams

Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination

• Convene and chair monthly partner meetings and quarterly Programme Board meetings
• Act as the central contact for The Heritage Fund, Environment Agency and strategic stakeholders
• Facilitate input from delivery partners, ensuring alignment with shared priorities and timelines

Communications and Reporting

• Support production of communication materials including briefings, reports, and evaluation summaries
• Collate and submit regular updates to The Heritage Fund
• Ensure clear and effective internal communications among partners

Legacy and Strategy

• Lead development of the project legacy strategy and post-2030 sustainability plans
  Coordinate funding strategy work with TRT’s Fundraising Officer
• Embed climate resilience, equity, and inclusion principles across project planning

We look forward to hearing from candidates that will relish this role. A full Job Description is available on our website.