Project Manager Ash Dieback

Your expertise and passion are valuable in assisting with the protection and preservation of our beautiful countryside. In a role where each day varies, you can make a significant impact.

Salary: £45,441 to £48,474 per annum.

Location: Your main office will be in Clapham Depot nr. Worthing, and you will also work across depots and sites in West Sussex. You will have the opportunity to occasionally work from home, with this being determined by the service's needs.

Contract: Permanent.

Working pattern: Full-time, 37 hours per week. Flexible working options available, to be agreed with your line manager.

Employer Pension Contribution: 19.70% this alters per annum on the 1 April each year.

Annual leave: 30 days holiday + Bank holidays = 38 days.

Following surveys of the county's tree stock, the County Council has developed an Ash Dieback Action Plan to tackle the impact of Ash Dieback and promote long term recovery and resilience in our treescape. Would you like to lead on this?

As Project Manager, you will lead the delivery of the Highways Action Plan and manage activities to achieve objectives. You will collaborate with Arboriculturists to create work packages, engaging with stakeholders and landowners to effectively remove ash trees.

You will be responsible for managing budget and resources to ensure optimal value. Using project management skills and tools, you will track progress, update the business case, and secure funding for future removal requests. You will manage a small, dedicated Ash Dieback team, consisting of Project Support Officers and Arboriculturists.

The role will include:

• Preparing and presenting reports and briefing papers.
• Managing projects involving contractors, traffic management, and landowner liaison to ensure best value.
• Ensuring County Council compliance with laws and creating a safe environment by advising on Ash Dieback implications and negotiating with landowners to minimise risk to Council land.
• Providing accurate advice to partners, stakeholders, and employees to ensure policy compliance with regulations.
• Supporting projects and improvement programs to meet deadlines, budgets, and standards.
• Managing a small team to support contract delivery.

What we need from you:

• Strong problem-solving skills to anticipate and resolve issues independently, make pragmatic decisions impacting service directly.
• Relevant advanced theoretical, practical and procedural knowledge associated with operating a demanding project management service.
• Skilled in leading a team, able to set and monitor goals, develop individual skills, provide effective team communications and carry out recruitment as necessary.
• Highly developed customer service skills and the ability to seek and introduce continuous improvement and innovation, for self and team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrable evidence of applying in depth specialist knowledge and providing advice in relation to specific specialist area.
• Demonstrable evidence of managing an effective, efficient professional quality service to a range of customers and clients.
• Experience of managing and monitoring budgets and projects for a specific service within a specialist, technical service.
• Experience of staff management and support.
• Relevant advanced theoretical or organisational knowledge of systems, procedures and policies associated with operating a demanding and customer focussed service.
• Full current driver's licence.

Rewards and Benefits

We care hugely about wellbeing, allowing time for a good laugh, and developing our team to be the best they can be. Alongside this, we also offer the below benefits:

• 30 days annual leave + bank holidays.
• A generous pension scheme.
• A strong supportive management team.
• Training and development opportunities, including a range of apprenticeships, technical training, coaching and mentoring opportunities.
• A range of discounts including Argos, Samsung, Asos, B&Q and many more.
• Free access to employee assistant programmes.
• Discounted membership at selected local sports and fitness centres.
• A range of commuting and business travel discount and initiatives.

For a full list of the benefits offered to you as a West Sussex County Council employee you can find them on our Rewards and Benefits page.

Further Information

For issues or queries regarding your application please contact .

Apply now and be a part of shaping the future of transportation in West Sussex.

Click the apply button below, upload your CV and cover letter explaining how you meet the key skills in the attached job description. Remember to give examples.