Programme Manager – Seasearch

Overview

The Organisation

We are the Marine Conservation Society, a UK charity fighting for a cleaner, better-protected, healthier ocean: one we can all enjoy.

Right now, our ocean is at a tipping point. We’re polluting our waters and destroying precious habitats. We’re harming the species that live there. This is reducing the ocean’s ability to help fight the climate crisis. While a third of UK seas are protected on paper, less than 1% are well managed. We are determined to change this. Using people-powered action and with science on our side, we defend habitats and species, working with communities, businesses and governments to encourage ocean-based climate action solutions across the UK.

Seasearch is a project for recreational divers and snorkellers who want to do their bit for the marine environment by collecting information about habitats, plants and animals that they see under the water.

We are now looking for a Programme Manager to join us and lead our Seasearch project on a permanent, full-time basis.

The Benefits

• Salary of £33,000 – £38,000 per annum
• Annual leave starting at 25 days per year, plus Bank Holidays (we also close between Christmas and New Year as extra time off)
• 6% employer contributions to our stakeholder pension scheme
• Sick pay at full-pay for 8 weeks, then 8 weeks at half-pay (after probation ends)
• Great work life balance through flexible and in many cases, remote working
• Support for your health and wellbeing with a programme of activities plus an employee assistance programme for you and the people who live with you

This is an incredible opportunity for a qualified scuba diver with great programme management skills and first-class knowledge of the marine life and habitats of Britain and Ireland to join our impactful organisation.

You’ll have the chance to lead our high-impact Seasearch project, playing a vital part in preserving marine habitats and species, fighting the climate crisis and making a tangible difference in the health of our seas.

What’s more, we’ll support you to enjoy a great work-life balance with flexible and remote working options, ensuring you can maintain personal commitments whilst excelling in your career.

So, if you want to use your passion for the ocean to advocate for meaningful change and raise awareness about marine conservation issues, we want to hear from you!

The Role

As our Programme Manager, you will lead the national co-ordination, development and delivery of our Seasearch citizen science partnership programme. The key elements of the role will be overseeing the Seasearch volunteer training programme and ensuring the collection of marine data.

Specifically, you will support volunteer divers and snorkelers, ensuring they are trained to collect and report on underwater species and habitats. You will manage the creation, development and delivery of approximately 30-40 per year online, blended, or face-to-face courses and events that aim to train and support our volunteer divers and snorkelers.

You’ll work closely with regional Wildlife Trusts and freelance contractors to provide support in local areas, whilst operating internally with a team to deliver data analysis and promote the training. Identifying and maximising opportunities for Seasearch activities to contribute to our Ocean Goals, you will also help to maintain and develop the Seasearch website and maximise the use of Seasearch data in reports and publications.

Additionally, you will:

• Provide team leadership and line management support to the Seasearch Team
• Support the management of the programme budget
• Create, update and maintain risk assessments, guidelines and policies
• Maintain published Quality Assurance standards for Seasearch tutors and volunteers
• Seek feedback from volunteers

About You

To be considered as our Programme Manager, you will need:

• Experience of partnership working, including contract managemen
• Detailed knowledge of the marine life and habitats of Britain and Ireland
• A high level of expertise or substantial practical and applied knowledge in a marine, conservation, ecological and/or environmental area
• The ability to manage a complex partnership project on an international scale
• The ability to manage and develop a team of people and volunteers
• To be a qualified scuba diver to an advanced level with experience of local temperate conditions (please note, you will not dive as part of this role)

Please note, this role will involve occasional travel to internal and external meetings and events and to other office locations in Rosson-Wye, London and Edinburgh as well as travel to all jurisdictions in which Seasearch currently operates (British Isles – UK, Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands) to attend meetings, conferences and events.

Other organisations may call this role Senior Project Manager, Charity Programme Manager, Research Programme Manager, Conservation Programme Manager, Marine Programme Manager, Programme Development Manager, or Programme Lead.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 4th August 2024.

Interviews will be held the week commencing 19th August 2024.

Webrecruit and the Marine Conservation Society are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.

So, if you’re ready to dive in and make a difference as a Programme Manager, please apply via the button shown. This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit. The services advertised by Webrecruit are those of an Employment Agency.