Project Manager

Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust; Stowmarket; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust invites a motivated Project Manager to lead river restoration and nature-based solutions across Essex and Suffolk. You will coordinate projects from feasibility to on-the-ground delivery, balancing practical delivery with biodiversity outcomes.

You will work in a hybrid role, with travel to the Stowmarket office and frequent visits across the East Suffolk and Combined Essex catchment areas. Strong collaboration with landowners and partners is essential to success.

Qualifications

• Experience managing projects from development through to delivery.
• Experience coordinating budgets, timelines and reporting requirements.
• Understanding of relevant environmental legislation, permissions and regulatory processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects to protect and restore rivers across Essex and Suffolk.
• Oversee all stages from feasibility and design through to permissions and delivery.
• Engage with landowners, partners and stakeholders to maximise environmental benefits.
• Secure funding and maintain a pipeline of future projects; manage budgets and report outcomes.

Skills

Communication

Problem solving

Project planning

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Risk management

Job description

Hours

Full time (37.5 hours per week). This role can be offered part time for the right candidate.

Place of work

This is a hybrid position with a mix of home working, and from our office in Stowmarket, Suffolk. Regular travel throughout the East Suffolk and Combined Essex catchment areas required.

About the role

As a Project Manager you will lead projects that will help to protect and restore rivers across Essex and Suffolk. The role focuses on delivering nature-based solutions that provide multiple benefits, including improved habitats, enhanced biodiversity, and stronger links with wider environmental initiatives.

Working with landowners and partners, the postholder will develop and deliver projects such as river restoration, wetland enhancement, and wildlife corridor improvements. You will oversee all stages of project development, from feasibility and design through to permissions and on-the-ground delivery, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

The role also involves community engagement, securing funding, and maintaining a pipeline of future projects. Strong partnership working is essential, particularly with the Environment Agency and local stakeholders, to maximise environmental and community benefits. The postholder will work closely with the wider team to manage budgets, report outcomes and promote completed projects.

About You

We’re looking for a motivated and organised project manager with a genuine interest in rivers, nature conservation and environmental restoration. You will have experience of managing projects from development through to delivery, building strong relationships with landowners and partners, and balancing practical delivery with environmental outcomes.

You’ll be a confident communicator, able to manage budgets and competing priorities, identify funding opportunities and work collaboratively to deliver projects that make a lasting difference for rivers, wildlife and local communities.

You will likely bring:

• Excellent communication, problem-solving and project planning skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to identify opportunities, manage risks and adapt to changing project needs
• Experience coordinating project budgets, timelines and reporting requirements.
• An understanding of relevant environmental legislation, permissions and regulatory processes.

Full details of the role and responsibilities can be found in the applicant pack.

If you have the skills and potential to grow into the role, we’d love to hear from you, even if you don’t meet every requirement.