Saving nature is going to take leadership, innovation, and the ability to unite people to a common cause. We’re looking for an experienced programme manager who lives and breathes these attributes to improve the RSPB’s approach to membership recruitment and retention.

Your role in saving nature:

A people-powered approach to conservation has been at the heart of the RSPB’s work for over 100 years, and we need to reach even more people and inspire them to support our vital work if we’re going to stop the nature and climate emergency. We have an ambitious membership target for the next ten years, and we need your help to achieve this.

As such a crucial part of our support base, membership touches on nearly every aspect of the RSPB’s work. We, therefore, need you to build great relationships across the charity, coordinate the work of different teams, and maintain a clear focus on schedules and deadlines. You will use the RSPB’s programme management tools to keep the programme, and the projects within it, on track and aligned to our strategic priorities

One of your key responsibilities will be to lead a number of workstreams to deliver continuous improvement to our existing membership product, as well as making the space to innovate and test new ways to engage with different audiences. You will ensure the RSPB builds a cohesive supporter journey for our new members, and coordinate a range of projects to deliver the best possible member experience. 

As a skilled communicator, negotiator and influencer, you will be proactive in seeking out opportunities to develop yourself and your colleagues. Ultimately you will be aiming to set up all of the foundations to ensure that we can not only meet but exceed our member goal.

There will be deadlines to achieve. There will be budgets to stay within. There will be multiple channels to coordinate. But above all else, you’ll be an advocate for saving nature. The climate emergency and loss of habitat are pushing some of our best loved species towards extinction. We won’t let nature fall silent. This role is your chance to make real change possible. Are you with us?

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Demonstrable leadership ability, able to lead without line management authority.
• An ability to produce clear written communications.
• An ability to persuade, inspire and influence a wide range of people, both internally and externally.
• Ability to manage programmes of work, and changes within programmes.
• Experience of working to a standard project management approach (eg RSPB Project Management Framework, Prince II).
• Experience of putting in place the right governance structures to keep the programme, and the projects within it, on track
• Experience of leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience of delivering a number of projects simultaneously.
• Cost and budget management.

Additional Information

The successful candidate can either be home or office-based, depending on personal requirements and location. There will be a requirement for occasional travel within the UK, as well as to our Headquarters in Sandy, Bedfordshire.

This is a Contract, Full-Time role for 12 months. The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

As part of this application process, you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete a full application form including evidence of how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience requested. 

Should you have any queries regarding this vacancy, please contact: matt.goulson@rspb.org.uk

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the successful applicant will need to have pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.