Programme Manager – Wyescapes Landscape Recovery

To support the continued development and expansion of Herefordshire Rural Hub we are seeking a
Programme Manager to join our team. This is an exciting opportunity to develop and manage the
Wyescapes project, to be funded by DEFRA’s Landscape Recovery scheme.

The Landscape Recovery scheme presents an entirely new way of working; putting landowners in
the driving seat to design bespoke and ambitious stewardship schemes that use a blend of
government and private funding to enable long term changes to land management. The scale and
potential impact of the project, both environmentally and economically, is significant for the
participating businesses, the county and the river. Herefordshire Rural Hub is small dynamic
organization that adapts its activity to support the needs of our users. As an organisation our
objective is to help rural businesses thrive, in our role as the lead organisation for
Wyescapes we want to ensure that the solutions and mechanisms developed are fit for purpose for
the land managers, as well as the environment. We are working in partnership with landowners,
NGOs, and other organisations to develop this innovative approach.

We are looking for an experienced Programme Manager to provide a vital central coordination and
management role, both internally, and externally with project partners and Defra, to ensure
that the project is fully resourced, delivery contracts are on track (on time, to budget, to
quality), progress is communicated to stakeholders and programme-level risks are managed. The
postholder will need to work effectively with people, in particular the participating land
managers and build strong working relationships with project partners including DEFRA’s
Landscape Recovery team, the Environment Agency a range of delivery partners.

Job title: Programme Manager

Job purpose: To manage delivery and develop governance for the Wyescapes project, managing a range of
delivery contracts, and maintaining effective communication with the projects key stakeholders.

Salary range: £40,200-£45,200 pro rata (depending on experience)

Annual leave: 33 days (including bank holidays) pro rata

Contract: Fixed term contract to March 2026.

Hours: 27 hours/week (Flexible Working)

Location: Combination of office and remote working. Expected to work in Herefordshire or at the Hub
office at twice a month by mutual agreement.

Travel: Mileage paid at HMRC rate (currently 45p per mile) for delivery of the role within
Herefordshire or for designated tasks elsewhere in the UK.

Start date: 1st April 2024

Responsible to: Managing Director (Project Executive for Wyescapes)

Key Responsibilities

• Project Management – Ensuring deliverables are on track, to time, to quality and within
  budget across multiple contracts. Producing regular progress reports to support grant claims,
  report progress of deliverables and inform the project steering committee.
• Project Governance – Develop Governance plans for 2 year development phase and the 20 year
  implementation phase including establishment of a single legal entity for Wyescapes, terms of
  reference for its governance board, outline of the financial management arrangements.
• Risk Management – Tracking project-level and deliverable-level risks and issues and
  mitigating as appropriate.
• Procurement -Developing and managing the open tender process to ensure delivery contracts
  are awarded openly and fairly, providing the best value for money.
• Partner liaison – Participating in monthly meetings with the project steering committee and
  working collaboratively with project partners.
• Land manager liaison – Maintaining communication with participating land managers
• Project liaison – Act as central point of contact with the Environment Agency’s Project
  Liaison Officer and DEFRA’s Landscape Recovery team.
• Long term vision – Ensuring the Wyescapes project is developed effectively to ensure the
  smooth transition from the two-year development phase to the twenty year delivery phase.

Please note that this list is indicative of the key responsibilities of this role but is not
exhaustive and may change over time as the project develops. Candidates can request a scope of
the deliverables required for Wyescapes from [email protected]

Knowledge, Experience and
Capabilities

Essential

• Educated to degree level, in a relevant subject or equivalent experience or qualifications
  related to land management or environment management.
• Demonstrable experience of project management. Proven project/programme management skills
  to plan and manage complex programmes and projects, manage risks, costs, time and project
  teams.
• Proven ability to influence others, communicate effectively, build collaborative
  relationships, represent and advocate for the organisation.
• Established individual with a strong network that can enhance the delivery and development
  of the project in relation to innovative land management approaches and/or securing external
  funding/private finance
• Experience of successfully managing budgets and producing evidence to support grant claims.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Competent IT user (full Microsoft office suite of tools)

Desirable

• Experience of working on large scale land/environmental management projects
• Project management qualifications e.g. Prince II
• Passionate about British agriculture and enhancing the interface between land management
  and the environment
• Knowledge of UK conservation issues
• Knowledge of green finance markets

Personal qualities and values

• Strong interpersonal skills, being able to build positive and effective working
  relationships, and communicate well to a wide range of stakeholders and audiences.
• Motivated and solutions orientated. You will have the ability to manage multiple priorities
  under pressure, trouble-shoot and meet short and long term deadlines.
• Ability to adapt to changing circumstances, able to solve issues quickly, efficiently and
  creatively.
• Logical, methodical, analytical and with a good eye for detail.
• Impressive time management and organisational skills.
• A good team player with effective collaboration with a wide range of team members, partner
  organizations and funders. While also using own initiative, motivation and drive to also work
  effectively on their own.

How to apply

Please submit your CV with a covering letter outlining your interest, relevant skills and
experience for the role to [email protected]

Applications close at 5pm on 16th
February.

Interviews for shortlisted applicants will be conducted week beginning 26th February.

Thank you for your interest in Herefordshire Rural Hub.