Projects and Technical Manager

About the role

South Cumbria Rivers Trust is looking for an experienced Projects & Technical Manager to join our senior management team and provide technical leadership across our growing programme of river restoration and conservation work.

This is a senior role combining strategic oversight, technical expertise, project and programme management, and people leadership. Reporting to the Trust Manager and working closely with the Senior Management Team and Board of Trustees, you will help ensure our projects are well designed, properly resourced, financially controlled and delivered to a consistently high technical standard.

You will act as SCRT's senior technical lead for river restoration and conservation, overseeing our project portfolio while remaining hands-on where required. This includes leading complex or innovative projects, undertaking technical assessments and fieldwork, supporting project officers, managing delivery risks and contributing to the development of new projects and partnerships.

Key responsibilities

You will:

• Provide senior technical leadership across river restoration, catchment management and conservation projects.
• Oversee project design, delivery standards, environmental compliance, health and safety and regulatory requirements.
• Lead particularly complex, innovative or high-risk projects.
• Oversee SCRT's project portfolio, including project plans, budgets, schedules, risks and resource requirements.
• Support funding applications, tenders and the development of new project opportunities.
• Mentor, coach and support Project Officers, helping to develop technical capability across the team.
• Build effective relationships with funders, landowners and partner organisations and represent SCRT at strategic meetings.
• Contribute to organisational strategy, governance and risk management.

About you

We are looking for someone with significant professional experience in river restoration, catchment management and environmental conservation, together with strong project management and leadership skills.

You will have:

• Strong knowledge of freshwater ecosystems and river processes.
• Experience designing and delivering practical conservation projects.
• Experience managing multiple projects and project budgets.
• Knowledge of environmental legislation, permitting and planning, including experience implementing CDM requirements.
• Experience developing and supporting staff, with the ability to provide constructive challenge while empowering others.
• Excellent communication, partnership-working, negotiation and conflict-resolution skills.
• The confidence to work independently, exercise sound professional judgement and contribute effectively at senior management level.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to undertake fieldwork.

Professional qualifications in ecology, geomorphology or environmental science, and experience of GIS, BNG, RHS or similar methodologies would be advantageous. Experience of working within a Rivers Trust, NGO, local authority or statutory organisation is also desirable.

Why work with South Cumbria Rivers Trust?

SCRT is a small, ambitious organisation with a big opportunity to make a difference. We work across the rivers, lakes and freshwater environments of South Cumbria, within the southern Lake District UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Working for a small Rivers Trust offers the opportunity to see projects through from conception to delivery and to have a genuine influence on how the organisation develops. You will work closely with colleagues, trustees, landowners, funders, communities and partner organisations, with your expertise directly contributing to practical environmental improvements at catchment scale.

Our size also means that every member of the team matters. We value collaboration, professional judgement, technical quality and the willingness to support one another. This role offers the opportunity to shape both our project portfolio and the systems and technical capability that will support SCRT's future growth.

For further information, please download the full Role Specification.