Smarter Water Catchment Programme Manager

Smarter Water Catchment programme for the Thame Catchment

The River Thame Conservation Trust and the Thame Catchment Partnership are embarking upon an ambitious Smarter Water Catchment (SWC) programme for the Thame Catchment. The programme, funded by Thames Water, will identify solutions to the range of pressures upon river health using insights, knowledge and capabilities held locally and within catchment partner organisations, thus benefitting from insight and resources which water company investment priorities and actions do not typically benefit from.

The programme is restricted to non-capital activities, although is intended to clearly identify capital solutions which can then be presented “shovel-ready” for delivery by capital funding sources including, but not restricted to, water company investment programmes. The programme will also seek to influence river health by addressing opportunities via business, construction, agriculture, and household practices. Nature-based solutions are likely to feature as solutions.

The role

The Thame Smarter Water Catchment Programme Manager will lead the delivery of the SWC programme. The role is responsible for developing a programme of catchment-scale interventions, and changes in organisational and individual behaviour that improve water quality, enhance the aquatic environment, and support sustainable land and water management. The postholder will identify the measures by evaluating existing evidence, commissioning new evidence (Data, insights and investigations), identifying interventions required to address the impacts or otherwise improve river health, and securing the basis for delivering those interventions (landowner agreement, stakeholder buy-in and planning permission). The role will also seek to integrate with key partner organisations and their processes such that SWC evidence and solutions capitalise upon synergies, and are recognised, and reflected in plans and priorities of those organisations (spatial plans and policies, operational policies and practice, business plans and investment).

The postholder will manage project resources, build and maintain strong partnerships, and ensure successful delivery of project outcomes, budgets, and reporting requirements. The role will provide leadership to a growing project team and work collaboratively with colleagues across RTCT, Thames Water, landowners, farmers, local authorities, environmental organisations and other stakeholders to maximise impact across the catchment.

Leadership & management

• Lead the operational delivery of the Smarter Water Catchment Programme within agreed timescales, budgets and performance targets.
• Identify additional recruitment needs for the SWC programme, develop business cases for these, and attain approval for recruitment
• Lead a wider RTCT SWC team (i.e. those under direct line management and wider RTCT team members) to optimise resource use, and delivery of SWC

Operational responsibilities

• Work with the project team, steering group and wider partners to identify project needs, activities and develop plans to deliver those activities, drawing on your technical knowledge of catchment management and organisational remits.
• Commission and oversee externally delivered tasks, projects and activities undertaken by project partners, consultants etc.
• Implement and manage project monitoring, evaluation and reporting processes, ensuring delivery against agreed outcomes and funding requirements, capturing environmental, economic and behavioural impacts.
• Support the Project Director in managing the Project Steering Group, including meeting agenda reporting, and administration.
• Identify risks, issues and opportunities, implementing appropriate mitigation measures and adaptive management approaches.
• Manage the portfolio of project plans and activities to ensure collective efficiencies, integration and synergy
• Create, and maintain a project programme – using appropriate project management tools and approaches, ensuring the programme is adaptable to changing circumstances, emerging findings from the project, and opportunities which arise

Partnership & stakeholder engagement

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with Thames Water, acting as a key interface between the funder and RTCT.
• Identify, engage and build relationships with partner organisations who RTCT need to work with to optimally deliver SWCs
• Facilitate collaborative working between partners to maximise environmental benefits and leverage additional opportunities and resources.
• Act as an ambassador for RTCT and promote the benefits of catchment-based approaches to water management.

Compliance & governance

• Ensure project delivery complies with contractual obligations, funding agreements, environmental regulations and organisational policies.
• Prepare high-quality technical, financial and progress reports for Thames Water and other stakeholders.
• Ensure health and safety requirements are met across all project activities.
• Maintain accurate project records, audit trails and documentation.

Financial responsibilities

• Manage the project budget and associated expenditure within delegated authority limits.
• Monitor financial performance and prepare forecasts, funding claims and budget reports.
• Ensure value for money is achieved through effective procurement and resource management.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to secure additional funding and investment to enhance project outcomes
• Identify and develop opportunities from emerging private markets for ecosystem services, where these can be employed as part of catchment solutions.

Continuous improvement

• Implement and manage a Programme Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Framework - providing regular reports to the SWC Steering group and the RTCT Board
• Capture lessons learned and contribute to organisational learning across RTCT.
• Capture and employ insights and best practice from other programmes and projects such as the Mainstreaming Nature-Based Solutions Programme,
• Identify an approach to sustaining the legacy of SWC beyond its current 4 year period, in particular identifying funding sources and models: blending public, philanthropic and private finance, including the potential for emerging private nature markets.

Other specific requirements

• Candidates must be legally entitled to live and work in the UK
• Ability to commute/relocate: Oxford OX33 1XW
• Experience: Water sector /or Environmental : 5 years (required)

Benefits:

• Company pension (6% salary contribution by employee plus 9% employer contribution)
• Life insurance
• Home working
• Flexitime
• Free, on site parking