Land of the Curlew Project Manager

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead the Gwlad y Gylfinir project over three years. As an ambassador for Welsh Curlew, you will drive the project forward by engaging with farmers and rural communities, fostering community stewardship, and linking with wider initiatives such as Gylfinir Cymru. Your role will be central to delivering the Project Plan objectives, promoting long-term sustainability, and supporting the conservation of curlew populations across Wales.

Post Title: Project Manager
Type of appointment: From April 2026 to March 31st 2029 (fixed term)
Reporting to: Project Director Wales
Location: Working from home Mid-Wales / travel to.
Hours of work: Full time, 37.5 hours a week
Salary: £29,000-£33,000 (depending on experience)
Closing Date 8th May

The Eurasian Curlew – IUCN listed as Near Threatened - is one of the highest bird conservation priorities in Wales. Without urgent intervention, its rapid and ongoing decline means it could well become extinct as a Welsh breeding species within ten years.

Gwlad y Gylfinir is a major new project to help reverse this decline and ensure that breeding curlews have a future within the Welsh landscape.

Funded through the Nature Networks Fund (Round Five) via the Welsh Government and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, targeted recovery works will be focussed Montgomeryshire, North Radnorshire and Gladestry Surrounding Area.

This post is for an enthusiastic and self-motivated Project Manager, employed by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust Wales Team from April 2026 to March 2029

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• Project manage the delivery of the project against objectives set within the Project Plan, whilst collating information and submitting of claims and reports to HLF.
• Project budget management, ensuring that the plan and budgets are accurately developed, maintained, and achieved, whilst delivering value for money.
• Develop and lead the work programme for each Project Officer in the Gwlad y Gylfinir Project
• Act as the intermediary between the Project Steering Group and the NHLF Grant Administrator
• Accountable for project financial transactions and reporting. Liaising closely with the GWCT finance team.
• Lead and develop intervention measures designed to increase curlew productivity in the project area and provide strong and effective advocacy for curlew conservation and associated benefits across Wales, based on previous project funding.
• Create strong connections between the project and local communities, championing curlew recovery objectives and encouraging dynamic community collaborations which benefit curlew.
• Communicate and engage with the rural communities within the project and share the projects events, outcomes, and achievements to the wider world through available channels including social media.
• Develop best practice advice to Curlew stakeholders and communicate through various channels including a programme of events, training, and guidance.
• Collaborate with the wider Curlew Wales - Gylfinir Cymru Partnership, helping the partnership to deliver the objectives set out in The Wales Action Plan for the Recovery of Curlew.
• Contribute to the delivery of wider GWCT Cymru projects as part of a dynamic and collaborative team 1 day a week.

Person Specification

Technical

To be a successful candidate you will have a degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject and/or relevant recent work experience and hold a current driving licence and passport.

What knowledge and skills you need?

To be a successful candidate you will have:

Essential

• A proven track record of project management, including budget and finance management, detailed financial programming, work programming and experience of applying for funding for conservation work.
• A working knowledge / good understanding of Welsh agricultural practices
• Experience of working closely with wide range of stakeholders to achieve project and strategic aims and organising and facilitating multi-stakeholder participatory processes.
• Experience managing and delivering conservation projects and/or projects with scientific attributes.
• Experience of the UK biodiversity fundraising environment and of managing grants and funding partnerships
• Good team working, organisational and communication skills and an ability to work effectively with multiple stakeholders and partnerships.
• Experience of project design, planning and evaluation
• The ability to write, clear, concise technical reports and ability to communicate to a variety of audiences.
• Negotiation, influencing and engagement skills, including dealing with conflicting opinions and positions.
• Excellent IT skills including use of Microsoft Office Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint and the use of online tools for document sharing and collaboration.

Desirable

• A recognised qualification or accreditation in project management (e.g. PRINCE2, APM
  accreditation)
• Current knowledge of national and international biodiversity conservation issues, especially conservation of curlew and their ecological needs
• Experience of implementing effective organisational governance arrangements
• Inter-personal skills to identify and mitigate disruption and safeguard reputational risk.
• Ability to work independently, prioritise workload and meet deadlines, with a high degree of autonomy over day-to-day work programme.
• Willingness to travel extensively around Wales and occasionally further afield (chiefly the UK and other countries in Europe)
• Welsh speaking or willing to learn basic Welsh.