Programme Manager

Blue Marine Foundation is seeking a Programme Manager who will be responsible for the development and delivery of the Convex Seascape Survey and lead relations with the project’s funder. This role may suit someone from a corporate or account management background, preferably local to London or the southeast and willing to travel internationally as needed. This is an incredible chance to work on pioneering global science project and to join a highly impactful charity at the cutting edge of marine conservation.  

The Convex Seascape Survey is two years into a five-year, multi-million-pound pioneering research project working to quantify and understand blue carbon stored in the coastal ocean floor and its potential to help mitigate climate change. Convex Seascape Survey is a partnership between Blue Marine Foundation, Convex Insurance Limited and the University of Exeter, delivered in partnership with a consortium of over sixteen other organisations.

Project management

·        Lead the project management process, matched to the project grant agreement, including oversight of project finance and all deliverables.

·        Coordination of project partners to ensure activities and deliverables are achieved in keeping with quarterly milestones.

·        Relationship management with project partners, serving as a main point of contact and ensuring their ongoing satisfaction with the project’s progress and outcomes.

·        Responsible for organising and feeding into Steering Committee meetings, as well as contributing as required to Advisory Group meetings.

·        Managing supplier relationships, overseeing contracts and work package delivery. 

·        Representing the project at relevant conferences and forums or visiting fieldwork sites. International travel will be required at times.

Reporting

·       Report progress into the steering committee on a quarterly basis, flagging areas of concern and actioning steering committee advice.

·       Develop quarterly reports and updates for the funder against deliverables.

·       Create annual reports for public viewing, promoting the success and progress of the survey, with support from the communications team.

·       Creation of visual presentations for advisory and steering committee updates. 

Finance

·       Overseeing budget spending data for the project with support from Blue Marine’s finance team, and co-ordinate invoicing and budget reporting for the partners.  

·       Liaising closely with Blue Marine’s finance team to ensure efficient deployment and tracking of project funds. 

·       Coordinating finance reports for the funder and partners. 

Communications

·       Present the Project at public conferences and various stakeholder events

·       Supporting the communications lead in delivery of project outreach through press, digital and social media

·       Contribute interviews or quotes for press on project developments.

·       Assisting the development and delivery of a bespoke, project-linked education programme

The successful applicant will be highly organised, with a rigorous approach to project management. Desired experience includes:

·       Successful delivery of multi-million pound, multi-year research programmes or other projects

·       Track record of high-impact project management, accurate reporting and successful project delivery

·       Competent and confident public-speaker with the ability to communicate complex subjects to a range of audiences which could include corporate, political and public audiences

·       High level of numeracy with the ability to track multiple budgets over time 

·       Excellent communicator with a diplomatic approach to management

·       Skilled at reporting, with the ability to condense complex information quickly

·       Aptitude and ability to work under pressure

·       Basic scientific understanding may be valuable, but is not a prerequisite

Salary: Negotiable depending on experience

Hours: Full time, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with some evening and weekend work required from time to time.

Location: Flexible with some time at Somerset House, London. Frequent travel required, including internationally to conferences, project partner locations and events.

Contract: Fixed Term until 30 May 2027, three-month trial.

Holidays: 5 weeks leave per annum plus national holidays

Title: Programme Manager

Reporting to: Blue Marine director