Job Title: White Rose Forest Green Streets® Project Manager
Location: Working from home with occasional meetings in different locations in West and North Yorkshire.
Contract type: Fixed term contract until March 2026
Salary: c£35,745 – 44,428 depending on experience
Hours: Full time, 36 hours per week
Closing date: Sunday 12 May
It is an exciting time to work with the White Rose Forest (WRF). From protecting our natural environment to improving the health and wellbeing of our local communities and adapt to climate change, the role of England’s Community Forests and tree planting has never been more important. The WRF is also helping to deliver the larger Northern Forest project between Liverpool and the Yorkshire coast.
We have support and funding in place from across local and national Government and our respective partnerships, and we have set ambitious targets to plant millions of trees across our part of Yorkshire over the next few years.
To help us achieve these targets we are now recruiting a Green Streets® Project Manager to support the delivery of our Green Streets® programme focussed on increasing tree cover in urban areas across North and West Yorkshire. It aims to improve air quality, make urban spaces more attractive for business investment and to encourage active travel.
You will lead a team of Project Officers to develop and deliver a wide range of high quality and sustainable urban planting projects and work with local communities and volunteers across the WRF. Currently this role involves delivery of programmes funded by a range of partners including Defra, Northern Gas Networks and private donations.
Green Streets® Project Officers work with the wider WRF team to identify new tree planting opportunities and initiatives through mapping analysis and public and private landowner engagement. Responsibilities of the Green Streets® team include liaison with stakeholders, drawing up detailed planting plans and supporting schemes through the regulatory approvals process, to ensure new tree planting projects grow into high quality well managed urban trees and woods.
In addition, the Social Forestry Project Officers in your team, with your support, will work closely with local authorities, WRF partners, the third sector and local communities. As a community forest this work is at the heart of our identity and ethos. Through the work of the Green Streets® team we aim to engage a wide range of audiences in a variety of ways, for example through practical conservation activity, education and learning and health initiatives.
To be successful within the role, you will require sound, previous experience within a similar project management role, with demonstrable experience of effectively working as part of a multi-disciplinary team across different technical areas.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are a must. You will also be required to have high level analytical and numerical skills to evaluate and interpret data to produce clear reporting.
A degree or professional level, relevant qualification, is also essential for the Green Streets® Project Manager Role.
The Green Streets® Project Manager, as with all members of the central WRF team, will work from home without an office base, however, there is the requirement to attend locations spread across North and West Yorkshire as required by the needs of the organisation. You will therefore require a driving licence, or the ability to travel to such locations.
In return, during your time with WRF, you will receive a competitive rate of pay, 33 days annual leave each year (including bank holidays), enhanced sick pay provisions, enrolment into the pension scheme plus other benefits, including working with an experienced and passionate Team.
Please email hr@cf-trust.org with your full CV and a covering letter detailing why you are interested in and qualified for the role or to request the full job description of the role. The closing date for applications is Sunday 12th May 2024 with anticipated interview dates from w/c 20th May 2024.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applicants from all sections of the community.
Main duties of the post will include:
- To develop, monitor and report on the urban woodland creation and tree planting projects that deliver the Green Streets® programme across the North and West Yorkshire;
- To develop, monitor and identify opportunities for continuous improvement and put in place the robust and effective processes required for designing and delivering high quality urban woodland planting projects to a high standard;
- To create and sustain strong working relationships with landowners, both public and private – including businesses and developers, to advise, promote and develop tree planting programmes across North and West Yorkshire;
- To provide additional capacity, when needed, to support the wider team e.g. Programme Manager in meeting key reporting commitments and the Green Streets® Development Manager as required to build funding programmes and the working of a Green Streets® Local Authority Partnership;
- To increase engagement in tree planting projects with WRF partners, community groups and local residents;
- To promote the White Rose Forest through presentations, displays and events, and work with communication colleagues as required.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
- Qualified to NVQ Level 4, or equivalent, preferably in relevant subjects (or proven relevant experience) – essential
- A degree or professional qualification in a related field – essential
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, working across different technical disciplines/areas – essential
- A passion for trees and woodlands, with an understanding of the multiple benefits they bring – essential
- Experience of working in the environmental sector – desirable
- Experience in team leadership – essential
Skills and personal attributes
- Excellent written and verbal presentation skills – essential
- Experience of working in partnership with others to unlock opportunities and deliver mutually beneficial outcomes – essential
- Experience of developing environmental and economic regeneration projects, preferably including urban tree planting and woodland creation schemes – desirable
- Excellent analytical and numeracy skills, with the ability to evaluate / interpret data and produce clear reporting – essential
- Good project management skills, with the ability to multi-task, problem solve and monitor/report on progress – essential
- Takes a proactive approach to managing and prioritising a busy workload and is resilient under pressure – essential
- Able to work flexibly to support the needs of the team – essential
- Demonstrate a personal commitment to tree and woodland canopy expansion – essential
- Ability to travel independently to different locations within North and West Yorkshire as required – essential
- A full, clean current driver’s license -desirable