Programme Manager Greater Manchester Strategic Habitat Delivery for Great Crested Newts

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council; Dukinfield; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the UK is seeking a Programme Manager to lead conservation efforts for Great Crested Newts in Greater Manchester and Warrington. The role requires expertise in ecology, habitat management, and strong organizational skills. The ideal candidate will ensure the successful operation of the District Licensing Scheme, managing contractors and budgets while delivering high-quality conservation strategies. Commitment to community values and biodiversity is essential for this position.

Qualifications

• 2+ years post qualification experience in a similar role.
• Maintained membership of a regulated body where applicable.
• Professional standards practised to the highest expected level.

Responsibilities

• Manage the successful operation of the District Licensing Scheme.
• Oversee contractors and manage budgets.
• Enable the delivery of conservation strategies for newts.

Skills

Knowledge of great crested newt ecology

Practical habitat creation

Contractor management

Budget management

Good communication

Education

Relevant professional qualification at Level 6 or above

Job description

Overview

Great crested newts have declined dramatically in the UK over the last 50 years and although they are still widespread across lowland England they are no longer common. Despite strict protection under UK and European wildlife law, numbers are still declining, and habitat loss is their biggest threat. As a response to population decline, in 2020 the Great Crested Newt District Level Licensing (DLL) Scheme was launched in Greater Manchester to provide a new way of conserving newts. The District Licensing Scheme has significant advantages for newt conservation over previous conservation efforts, and the Scheme provides wider biodiversity benefits through fully funded region‑wide conservation strategies that create high‑quality habitat at a landscape scale and deliver long‑term management and monitoring for newts. The scheme also benefits developers because the licensing process for great crested newts is simplified and streamlined. Since 2020 the Scheme has delivered 250 new or enhanced ponds for Great Crested Newts across Greater Manchester and Warrington, together with associated terrestrial habitat. We now need a new DLL Programme Manager to build on the valuable work undertaken so far.

Programme Manager Responsibilities

The role needs someone with knowledge of great crested newt ecology, practical habitat creation and management, management of contractors and budget management. The Programme manager needs to be well‑organised, a good communicator and able to carry out a variety of tasks to enable the successful operation of the District Licensing Scheme in Greater Manchester and Warrington.

Qualifications and Experience

1. Relevant professional qualification for the job role at Level 6 or above.
2. Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience in the role.
3. Maintained membership of a regulated body where this is a requirement to practice in the role where applicable.
4. Professional standards practised to the highest expected level.

Employer Commitment

At Tameside, we are committed to ensuring all our citizens lead long, fulfilling and healthy lives. We are committed to supporting economic growth, providing high‑quality health and care services, protecting our most vulnerable and creating strong and supportive, self‑sufficient communities. We pride ourselves on living by our STRIVE values of Support, Trust, Respect, Integrity, Value Diversity and Engage. Our values underpin our practice and behaviours and are at the heart of everything that we do.