Consultancy & Development Manager

Responsible to: Head of Programmes
Location: Hybrid working, with office-base in Norfolk. Visits across Norfolk and Cam and Ely Ouse (CamEO) catchment with mileage expenses £0.55 per mile
Line Management: Up to 5 direct reports
Job term: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week (Part- time considered)
Annual leave: 25 days plus public holidays (pro-rata)
Salary details: £38,531 at Grade 4
Benefits: 9% Employer Pension Contribution; Employee Assistance Programme; Flexible working opportunities

About Norfolk Rivers Trust:

Norfolk Rivers Trust’s ambition is to deliver catchment-scale change to our water environment. We are dedicated to protecting our watercourses from pollution, improving habitat and ecological functioning of streams and rivers, and enhancing resilience to climate change.

Since our founding in 2011, the Trust has grown to a team of over 30 employees. Together, we are delivering major projects such as river re-meandering and floodplain connections, farming and land management advice, new constructed wetlands, species re-introductions and community engagement.

Purpose of this role:

This role will lead business development and oversee consultancy-based services for Norfolk Rivers Trust (NRT) consultancy and Rivers Ecology Limited (REL). The postholder will identify and develop environmental market opportunities and partnerships across NRT and REL, while maintaining oversight of the commercial pipeline to ensure contracts achieve performance targets.

Working collaboratively with teams across river restoration, nature-based solutions, GIS and spatial services, and farm advisory, you will shape and deliver new commercial opportunities. A key focus will be on delivering high-quality projects that maximise environmental and organisational impact, ensuring all commercial activity aligns with the Trust’s mission and strategic objectives.

You will also manage and support a small team of ecologists, providing leadership and oversight to ensure the successful delivery of high-quality consultancy and environmental projects.

Job Description:

Responsibilities:

Business Development and Consultancy

• Drive the growth of consultancy and commercial services across the organisation
• Identify and secure new business opportunities, partnerships and funded projects
• Develop environmental market opportunities and expand income-generating services
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of consultancy and project opportunities

Funding, Bids and Contracts

• Lead the preparation and submission of funding applications, tenders and grant bids
• Oversee contracts and funding agreements, ensuring compliance with delivery and reporting requirements
• Maintain strong relationships with funders, clients and partners throughout project lifecycles

Client and Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a key point of contact for clients, partners and stakeholders
• Translate requirements into clear, deliverable project plans
• Communicate technical information effectively to a range of audiences
• Represent the organisation at external meetings, events and partnerships

Programme, Project Oversight and Reporting:

• Oversee the delivery of programmes and projects, ensuring quality, timeliness and impact
• Monitor progress against milestones, outputs and KPIs
• Maintain accurate project documentation and reporting systems
• Use performance data to drive continuous improvement
• Prepare and deliver reports to funders and the Senior Management Team (SMT)
• Coordinate data collection and analysis to evidence impact and performance

Line Management and Team Leadership

• Manage and support team members including performance, development and wellbeing (staff and volunteers where applicable)
• Allocate resources effectively across projects
• Promote an inclusive and values-driven team culture, championing equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
• Lead recruitment, onboarding and team development

Budget and Resource Oversight

• Manage project budgets and monitor expenditure
• Oversee resource planning and procurement activity
• Ensure value for money in line with organisational principles

Compliance and Quality

• Ensure adherence to organisational policies, safeguarding, health and safety, and GDPR
• Manage risks and escalate issues appropriately
• Maintain accurate records to support audit and reporting requirements

Strategic Contribution

• Contribute to organisational strategy and business planning
• Identify opportunities for growth, innovation and partnership
• Ensure all activities align with the organisation’s mission and objectives

Person Specification:

Experience and knowledge:

Essential:

• Strong understanding of the environmental consultancy and/or charity sector, including commercial and grant-funded project delivery
• Experience leading and developing teams, with responsibility for performance, delivery and resource management
• Proven ability to manage project budgets, resources and competing priorities to deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timescales
• Strong understanding of contract management, procurement processes and compliance requirements (including safeguarding, GDPR, health & safety, risk management and EDI)
• Proven track record of securing income through bids, tenders, partnerships, or commercial opportunities
• Strong commercial awareness, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, with experience building effective relationships across clients, funders, public bodies, community organisations and partners
• Excellent organisational, communication, report writing and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate technical or environmental information clearly to varied audiences

Desirable:

• Experience working across both charity and commercial consultancy environments
• Understanding of environmental markets and finance mechanisms, including biodiversity net gain, carbon markets and nature-based solutions
• Knowledge or experience in ecology, water, catchment management, river restoration, or related environmental disciplines
• Experience improving organisational systems, operational processes, or consultancy delivery models
• Experience using GIS, spatial tools, or environmental data systems

Education:

Essential:

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field such as ecology, environmental science, geography, business development or a related discipline

Desirable:

• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant field
• Project or programme management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, MSP, Agile, or equivalent experience)
• Leadership or management qualification (e.g. ILM, CMI, or equivalent experience)
• Professional membership of a relevant body (e.g. CIWEM, CIEEM, Basis or equivalent)

Personal Attributes

• Analytical, organised and delivery-focused, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and develop practical, evidence-based solutions
• Collaborative and relationship-focused, with the ability to work effectively across clients, charities, public bodies and partners while balancing consultancy delivery and environmental objectives
• Proactive and resilient, with strong attention to detail and a commitment to continuous improvement
• Confident communicator, able to present technical and environmental information clearly to a range of audiences

Other Essential:

• Full UK driving licence, access to vehicle and willingness to travel as required (including to sites and meetings)
• Right to work in the UK at the time of appointment (please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role)

Applications:

If you have any questions regarding this role, please contact: Polly Penn on 07496 394545.