Location
Home-based with regular travel to London and Thames Basin partner locations.

Hours
37.5 hours per week, with occasional evening or weekend commitments.

Salary
£40,000 – £45,000 per annum, dependent on experience.

About the Role
An exciting opportunity to lead the Thames Catchment Community Eels Project (TCCEP) as the Development Phase Programme Manager. This £3 million flagship programme, delivered by Thames Rivers Trust in partnership with seven NGOs and catchment groups, is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Development Phase runs from January 2026 to April 2027 and prepares for a three-year Delivery Phase (2028–2030) across six sub-catchments, building on a successful pilot phase funded through The Green Recovery Challenge Fund (2020–2022). This key role involves overseeing coordination, governance, and planning of the Development Phase, managing partner contributions across capital design, education, citizen science, and inclusion workstreams, and ensuring timelines, budgets, and deliverables meet funder expectations. You will be responsible for preparing the Delivery Phase funding application and establishing a strong legacy platform for long-term impact, including evaluation planning, risk management, governance frameworks, and sustainable funding strategies. The role requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to facilitate collaboration among diverse partners across multiple catchments and disciplines.

Contract Type
Fixed term (12 months)

Start Date
February – March 2026 (subject to The National Lottery Heritage Fund Permission to Start)

Annual Leave
25 days per year plus public holidays

Probation Period
3 months, during which annual leave is by agreement only

Pension
TRT operates a contributory pension scheme; details available on request.

Experience
Proven experience in programme management, ideally within environmental or conservation projects. Demonstrable ability to coordinate multi-partner initiatives and manage complex project timelines, budgets, and deliverables. Experience preparing funding applications and managing relationships with funders and strategic stakeholders.

About you
Strong leadership and strategic thinking skills. Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities. Ability to facilitate collaboration across diverse partners and disciplines. Highly organised with attention to detail and proactive problem-solving skills. Commitment to embedding climate resilience, equity, and inclusion principles in project planning.

Qualifications
Relevant degree or equivalent experience in environmental management, project management, or related fields is desirable but not essential. A full job description is available upon request.