Senior Project Manager (Marine Plastics & Bycatch)

Purpose of the role

ZSL is looking to hire a Senior Projects Manager (12 month maternity cover) to join our Aquatic
Species and Policy team, which sits in the Conservation & Policy Department. The successful
candidate will work across two projects:

• South Atlantic Plastics is a collaborative project in which ZSL is working with the UK
  Overseas Territories of Ascension and St Helena, to co-design innovative solutions to reduce
  single-use plastic use and co-develop appropriate mitigation strategies to reduce the impacts
  of plastic pollution on wildlife.
• Bycatch is the incidental capture of non-target species; of particular concern is capture
  of sensitive marine species – such as cetaceans, elasmobranch, seabirds and pinnipeds. ZSL is
  involved in two initiatives related to wildlife bycatch: Insight 360 and Clean Catch 2.

Key responsibilities:

The Senior Project Manager, with support from the Aquatic Species and Policy Programme Lead,
oversees the delivery of project objectives to time and budget. This includes the following key
responsibilities:

• Oversee project implementation and management; including project monitoring, evaluation and
  learning plans and MS Teams workflow boards, to enable adaptive management across both
  projects.
• Identify fundraising opportunities and design and secure grant funding to deliver the
  projects.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships and partnerships with agencies such as
  government authorities, national and international NGOs, private sector, research institutions,
  relevant actors and donors relevant to the projects.
• Lead budget forecasting and financial management for the projects. Ensure both ZSL and
  partner funds are appropriately spent, monitored and recorded.
• Support EDI learning across the Aquatic Species and Policy team and ensure that projects
  are approved via ZSL’s Ethical Review Process both for humans and wildlife.

About you

The ideal candidate will have: 

• Strong experience in managing and delivering complex multi-partner projects on time and to
  budget.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience using project management processes.
• Proven track record of fundraising and developing grant proposals.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of marine conservation science and policy.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail, with proven self-motivation and
  problem-solving.
• Ability to effectively build and develop relationships with a wide range of cross‐sectoral
  people and representatives.
• Excellent time management skills, including the ability to respond quickly to demands,
  effectively prioritise and meet deadlines, and work in a fast‐paced environment.
• Proven experience in report-writing for a range of audiences (scientific, technical,
  wider-public)

We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a
team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. We are committed to ensuring
our teams can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination. ZSL has
active equality networks for our staff with lived experience and those who provide active
allyship in Race and Culture, Team Pride, Disability Network, and Menopause Network,
complemented by our strategic EDI Steering Group.

About us

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our
two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated
conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals
going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to
achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and
wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink
of extinction.

What do we offer?

At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include: 

• Our vision and purpose – you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about
  science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people
  to stop wildlife going extinct
• Pension scheme - we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension
• Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do
  everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you
• Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays
• Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential
  access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from
  their first day 
• Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a
  30% discount in online and retail shops
• Cycle2Work – our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle
• Season ticket loan – we offer an interest free loan for eligibly London-based employees to
  buy a season ticket for travel between home and work 
• Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages