Location
Northern Ireland (with occasional attendance at Belfast office)

Hours
Full Time - 37.5 hours per week

Salary
£39,205 per annum

About the Role
We have an exciting opportunity for a Programme Manager to join the PeacePlus Nature project. This ambitious €20.8 million programme brings together partners to tackle the decline in priority species and habitats in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. PEACEPLUS is a cross-border funding programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and supported by the European Union, the UK Government, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland administration. The partnership includes RSPB NI, BirdWatch Ireland, Butterfly Conservation, Monaghan County Council, River Blackwater Catchment Trust, Truagh Development Association, Lough Neagh Partnership, NI Water, and An Taisce.

The programme focuses on restoring blanket bog, lowland wet grassland, limestone grassland, and priority species including Curlew, Corncrake, Hen harrier, Small Blue butterfly, and Irish Damselfly. This is an incredible opportunity to work within a programme team dedicated to increasing the populations of some of Ireland’s most iconic wildlife.

In this role, you will manage the PeacePlus Nature project and, alongside the Senior Programme Manager, lead, plan, and deliver the programme of conservation, science, data, ecology, and local community objectives with partners across Northern Ireland and border counties of Ireland to ensure successful delivery of programme outcomes.

Key activities include:
- Producing relevant programme documentation and using project management software to track and report changes, risks, and progress
- Ensuring internal and external stakeholders are kept fully involved and informed of programme progress and successes
- Identifying, recording, managing, and communicating risks and issues, and implementing appropriate contingency actions
- Working closely with external delivery partners to ensure joined-up development and implementation of projects within the programme

This is a fixed-term role until 31st July 2029, with the possibility of extension or becoming permanent depending on business needs. The role requires occasional attendance at the Belfast office for a few days each month.

Experience
- Proven ability to manage programmes and deliver multiple projects simultaneously
- Experience of working to a standard project management approach (e.g. RSPB Project Management Framework, Prince II)
- Experience of leading and managing multidisciplinary teams
- Cost and budget management skills with an ability to understand financial systems
- Competent IT user (e.g. MS Office packages, Outlook)
- Experience of working with external stakeholders such as agencies and contractors is desirable
- Demonstrable experience of developing and working in partnerships to achieve shared outcomes is desirable

About you
- Positive, highly organised, and able to get things done through partnership working
- Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to find creative solutions
- Able to work under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances
- Logical, methodical, analytical with a good eye for detail
- Strong persuasion and influencing skills across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders

Qualifications
- Project Management Qualification or appropriate training is desirable
- This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship; applicants must have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK