Project Manager – Species Survival Fund

The Project Manager will oversee the development, and manage the delivery of the Newcastle’s Nature Networks project, acting as the key point of liaison for partner organisations, and
ensuring that the approved purposes of the Species Survival Fund grant are met within the timeframe.

With a sound ecological knowledge, and understanding of restoring sites for habitats and
species, the postholder will be equally passionate about nature recovery, and sharing its importance
with people and communities in urban areas. With the ability to draw together a multi-disciplinary team across multiple partners, the Project Manager will ensure that everyone involved in
delivery is motivated, well informed, and that proper provision is in place to deliver success on time
and to  budget.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

The principle purpose of the postholder will be to deliver the approved purposes of the grant. However, this list is not necessarily exhaustive and other duties of a similar nature and level
may be required from time to time.

• Lead on the delivery of the Species Survival Fund project Newcastle’s Nature Networks, in
  close liaison with all 8 partner organisations, ensuring that it is delivered on time and to budget,
  and demonstrating good project management practices.
• Co-ordinate the Strategic Project Steering Group, and Operational Working Group, planning meetings, preparing papers, and collaborating closely with partners and stakeholders to ensure meetings are productive and effective.
• Work with partner bodies and their teams to draw up plans, co-ordinate specialist advice,
  and manage contracts as required to ensure delivery of capital works across 41 sites, to improve their value for pollinating insects. To include: restoration and creation of grassland,
  heathland, wetland, woodland restoration and coppicing, installation of a floating biomatrix and green roof, and improved shrub and flower borders.
• Working with key staff from partner bodies, in particular Northumbria University and NHSN, ensure the development and implementation of a programme for survey and monitoring to demonstrate the beneficial impacts of the interventions being carried out.
• In consultation with NHSN and Northumbria University, establish a training programme for volunteers and staff to improve survey skills and ensure long-term monitoring continues beyond the lifetime of the project.
• Working with key staff from all partners, identify key stakeholders and ensure effective involvement and engagement throughout the lifetime of the project.
• Carry out publicity, promotion and public engagement as required and in accordance with the funding requirements, and represent the project on behalf of the partnership.
• Working with key staff from all partners, increase opportunities for productive and
  meaningful volunteering, including through practical conservation and monitoring, to deliver the required uplift in volunteering hours.
• Produce briefs, work-plans, monitoring data , risk assessments and reports as required for partner bodies, Project Board and funding bodies, to ensure delivery of the project to time and on budget.
• Establish and manage a monitoring and evaluation framework for the project, to meet funding requirements.
• Ensure project delivery adheres with the requirements of partnership agreements, statutory regulations and organisational requirements, including health and safety, risk assessment, and sound environmental practices.
• Working with key staff from all partner bodies, explore opportunities for further
  partnerships and funding throughout the lifetime of the project, with the aim of extending and expanding the initiative longer term.

About the Project

Newcastle’s Nature Networks is a project funded by the Species Survival Fund, a short-term programme to create and restore habitats and reverse the decline of species across England, delivered on behalf of Defra by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF). The total cost of
the project is £916,152, with a grant contribution from the Species Survival Fund of £701,417.

Newcastle’s Nature Networks (NNN) is the second phase in a long-term partnership programme to develop and improve pollinator pathways across the city. Building upon momentum generated since 2021, NNN will deliver further habitat improvements to create and restore 41 green spaces across public parks, nature reserves and previously developed land, to support assemblages of pollinator species. Learning from studies and expert advice, focus will be on the co-ordinated conservation and management of habitats for a range of species across a large area, providing better connectivity across urban and peri-urban areas, and improving specific habitats on individual sites to halt the decline in UK Priority BAP species, including Dingy Skipper, Wall
and Small Heath. Focusing efforts within or close to the city’s Wildlife Enhancement Corridors,
sites include:

• 33 public parks (1 SSSI, 5 Local Nature Reserves (LNRs), 15 Local Wildlife Sites (LWS), 2
  Sites of Local Conservation Importance (SLCI), 4 ancient semi-natural woodlands; 6 sites within Registered Parks and Gardens)
• 4 nature reserves (2 SSSI, 2 LWS, 1 SLCI)
• Areas of previously developed land (1 LWS) and public open space
• 1 urban farm grazing orchard
• 1 community garden (1 LWS).

Working with expert advisors, the project will create / restore wildlife-rich habitats through:

• improving 18.3ha open mosaic habitats (OMH) and existing neutral / calcareous grassland, and creating more species rich meadow
• restoring 2.2ha lowland heathland
• improving 20ha across 3 wetland sites, including lowland fens and reedbed, and installing a floating biomatrix
• restoring 80.5ha lowland mixed deciduous woodland
• tackling invasive non-native species

Capital and management works cover:

• removal of scrub, scarification, and seeding/planting of grassland
• improved mowing regimes
• removal of scrub, fencing and introduction of grazing to heathland
• woodland management and coppicing, opening up glades and improving the understorey
• transforming 1,800sqm of borders with nectar-rich and native plants
• planting 50,000 native bulbs and 17,000 plants
• trials of a biocontrol rust fungus for Himalayan balsam
• reduction in pesticides harmful to wildlife

The Project will also engage people across the city, supporting volunteers of all ages,
abilities and backgrounds to develop skills and undertake training in survey and monitoring, and practical conservation and horticulture.

The Project will commence in April 2024, and require completion by the end of February 2026. It will be managed by a Steering Group comprising each of the partners.