Location
Cambridge, UK or Brussels, Belgium (Hybrid working)

Hours
Full-time: 35 hours per week (Cambridge) or 37.5 hours per week (Brussels)

Salary
GBP £38,000 - £42,000 or EUR 77,560.00

About the Role
BirdLife ECA, part of BirdLife International, is seeking an experienced Nature Restoration Project Manager to lead priority restoration projects across Europe and Central Asia. This role involves managing all project stages from planning to reporting, ensuring donor obligations are met, budgets are managed effectively, and risks are mitigated. You will work closely with BirdLife Partners, the Europe and Central Asia team, and technical colleagues to deliver impactful conservation outcomes aligned with strategic goals.

Your responsibilities include leading the continuation of the RENATE (REstore NAture in The East) project, identifying follow-on funding opportunities, and integrating best practice restoration methods. You will also lead fundraising efforts by identifying donors, developing high-quality proposals and budgets, and fostering long-term collaborations between Partners and donors.

Additionally, you will contribute to the Nature Restoration Working Group agenda, ensuring alignment between fundraising, project delivery, and other BirdLife ECA programmes to maximise conservation impact.

Experience
- Substantial experience managing and delivering large-scale conservation or nature restoration projects in Europe and Central Asia, including at least three projects with budgets of EUR 500,000+ (ideally EU-funded).
- Proven track record securing funding from institutional donors (EU, UN, governments), corporate sponsors, or philanthropic foundations.
- Strong understanding of financial mechanisms, project budgeting, grant writing, and financial reporting.
- Familiarity with European biodiversity, conservation principles, and relevant policies such as the EU Nature Restoration Law, EU Biodiversity Strategy, Bern Convention, Ramsar, and CBD.
- Good knowledge of European institutions, environmental policy, and regional legal frameworks.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, able to present complex ideas to policymakers, funders, and stakeholders.
- Fluency in English.

About you
You are a motivated and strategic professional with a passion for nature restoration and conservation. You have excellent project management skills, are adept at building partnerships, and can navigate complex funding landscapes. You thrive in collaborative environments and are committed to delivering measurable conservation impact.

Qualifications
A degree in environmental science, conservation biology, ecology, natural resource management, or a related field is required.