Programme Manager - Nature Towns and Cities

Luton Borough Council; Luton; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in the UK is seeking an experienced Programme Manager to lead the 'Nature Towns and Cities' initiative. This role involves coordinating with multiple partners to enhance community engagement with green spaces, particularly for underrepresented groups. The successful candidate will manage delivery and ensure compliance with funding requirements, all while working towards the council's vision to eliminate poverty in the community. The position offers a salary of £47,181 – £50,269 plus benefits and is a fixed term/secondment opportunity for 24 months.

Benefits

Annual leave benefits

Pension scheme with employer contributions

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experienced project and programme manager with a proven track record.
• Skills in developing project plans and documentation.
• Strong knowledge of relevant policy and legislative requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the Nature Towns and Cities programme.
• Manage delivery and build relationships with partners.
• Oversee community engagement and monitor programme evaluation.

Skills

Project management

Program management

Stakeholder engagement

Community engagement

Biodiversity knowledge

Job description

About The Job

Salary: £47,181 – £50,269 a year plus £3,203 car benefit allowance

Hours per week: 37

Contract type: Fixed Term/Secondment for 24 months

This position is available as a secondment opportunity for 24 months. If you are a permanent LBC employee, you must have written approval (an email will suffice) from your manager prior to applying and a copy will need to be submitted with your application. Please note: we will not be able to proceed with your application form without your manager’s permission.

We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Programme Manager to lead and deliver Nature Towns and Cities - Roots to Healthy Places: Nature Connections in Luton, an ambitious new initiative funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This flagship programme will strengthen connections between people and nature across Luton, with a particular focus on supporting underrepresented communities, including young people, people with disabilities and South Asian communities, to access, enjoy and shape their local green spaces.

The project will engage communities who currently face barriers to using and benefitting from green spaces, offering opportunities to co-create improvements and take part in a range of cultural and physical activities that enhance health and wellbeing. It also includes a full survey of council-owned land to inform nature recovery priorities and develop new opportunities for investment in nature.

As Programme Manager, you will lead and coordinate all aspects of this multi-partner initiative. This includes managing delivery, building strong relationships with partners and stakeholders, overseeing community engagement, and ensuring all National Lottery Heritage Fund requirements are met. You will line manage a Volunteering Officer and contractors, lead project communications, and identify new income streams for nature conservation, such as biodiversity credits. You will also be responsible for programme monitoring, evaluation and reporting within the Climate Change Service.

Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.

About You

You will be an experienced and confident project and programme manager, with a proven track record of delivering projects on time, within budget, and in line with value-for-money principles. You have demonstrable experience in managing, commissioning, and overseeing projects, including heritage or biodiversity-related initiatives, and in leading project teams, motivating others and driving consistent performance. You are skilled in programme and change management, maintaining quality assurance systems, performance frameworks, and transformational change projects.

You are adept at developing clear project plans, business cases, and contract or project documentation, and can produce dashboards and workflows to ensure compliance and performance. You can prepare and deliver clear, compelling reports and presentations, and possess strong knowledge of relevant policy and legislative requirements. You bring a strategic yet practical approach, ensuring projects achieve key performance targets while delivering meaningful outcomes for communities and stakeholders.

About Us

Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no‑one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents. The people of Luton depend heavily on this council – and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough.

Application Process

On occasions, we may close a vacancy early due to a very high number of applications being received.

Benefits

• From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
• Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
• Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
• Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant
• Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
• Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
• Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part‑time hours and alternative working patterns
• Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
• Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
• Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel

How To Apply

We understand that job applications take time and effort, but a high‑quality application shows that you are professional with a good attention to detail. The recruiting manager may receive a number of applications for each job advertised so you want yours to stand out! Our “How to apply” page has more tips to help with your application: How to apply.