As the UK’s largest nature conservation charity, we spend £100m/year in pursuit of our vision - a world richer in nature. You will be joining a workforce of over 14,000 employees and volunteers dedicated to realising that vision, alongside our many partner organisations.

We are a complex organisation, operating across the four countries of the UK and internationally. We manage over 200 nature reserves, influence policy and legislation and deliver many research, conservation and people engagement projects. Our impact-generating activities depend on a range of enabling services and our ability to win the support of new partners and access new resourcing opportunities.

What's the role about? 

Our vision for the future is ambitious and challenging, but achieving it is vital – not only for nature, but for people too. Accessing finance at scale and unlocking international grant funding will be crucial to ahieving the impact nature needs.

As we develop our strategy for Conservation Investment, we need your expertise, focus and energy in leading complex programmes to help ensure our work to leverage new investment funding for conservation is delivered within agreed governance and resourcing frameworks.

As part of the Conservation Investment team you'll lead the development of the RSPB’s financial model, investigating the role of debt and equity finance in enhancing our ability to deliver our conservation objectives.You'll work closely with colleagues from across our income, conservation, and operations directorates, co-ordinating work to access emerging investment markets which have the potential to enable conservation restoration and management at scale. You will help build support for this work across the RSPB, managing dependencies and risks to facilitate delivery of programme benefits.

Key activities will include:

Putting in place the right vision, approach, governance structures and reporting processes to keep the programme on track and aligned with strategic need
Supporting the Programme Executive in promoting the programme, ensuring it is receiving the required levels of support and resources
Acting as a key relationship owner, ensuring internal and external stakeholders are fully involved and informed
Leading and motivating programme and project teams to achieve change by focussing on a common goal with possible line management responsibility
Identifying, managing and communicating risks and issues, putting in place appropriate mitigations as well as dependencies between projects within the programme and wider RSPB
Ensuring changes to programme baselines are managed effectively
Managing the programme budget against forecast
Benefits management and realisation
Agreeing and implementing a strategy and determning outputs and objectives
Managing handover of and embedding change activities to normal organisational operations

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

(The first 5 skills are the most important skillset for the right person)

1. Significant experience of applying programme management approaches to deliver complex programmes
2. Demonstrable experience of working in partnership to achieve shared outcomes, including in the early stages of relationship development
3. Self-directed with experience of focussing stakeholder time and attention on the most urgent/important matters
4. Able to lead without line management authority, with strong organisational skills and experience of leading and managing multidisciplinary project/programme teams
5. Logical and analytical approach, encompassing financial literacy and a high level of attention to detail, with experience of managing programme budgets
6. Able to communicate clearly and influence and negotiate with a wide range of people, both internally and externally
7. Logical and analytical approach, encompassing financial literacy and a high level of attention to detail, with experience of managing programme budgets
8. Excellent problem-solving skills and track record of identifying solutions to barriers to progress.
9. Able to work under pressure, making or escalating decisions where necessary and adapting approach to meet changing circumstance
10. Experience of developing and embedding project/programme methods and standards, and coaching and/or mentoring colleagues in support of these

This is a Permanent, full-time role at 37.5hours per week.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position week mid October, dates tbc. For further information please contact rebecca.lorusso@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.  We would also like you to attach a covering letter addressing why you are the best fit for this position and addressing your essential skills.

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.