Project Manager (Ecology)

Southern Ecological Solutions (SES); Essex; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday Leave

Generous Holiday Allowance

Life Assurance

Hybrid working

Private Medical Insurance

Flexible Benefits Programme

CPD support

Professional membership fees covered

Job summary

Southern Ecological Solutions (SES) is seeking an experienced Project Manager (Ecology) to lead projects from initiation to close-out. You will ensure delivery within budgets and timelines, while applying SES/RSK procedures and offering high-level client guidance with specialist support.

You will build knowledge of SES services, resource effectively, and manage client relationships, mentoring staff and contributing to business development across SES and related RSK entities.

Qualifications

• Experience in project management within ecology/environment sectors.
• Strong commercial awareness with risk management skills.
• Good understanding of financial management, program management and QA.

Responsibilities

• Define project scope and objectives with technical support.
• Develop detailed project plans including budgets, timelines and milestones.
• Coordinate infrastructure projects across SES and wider RSK group.

Skills

Excel

MS Projects

Budgeting & cost control

Project planning

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Education

PM qualification

APM membership (or working towards)

Tools

MS Projects

Job description

Project Manager (Ecology)

Here at Southern Ecological Solutions, part of the wider RSK Group we are currently recruiting for either an experienced or senior level project manager to join our team.

As our project manager you will be responsible for managing and overseeing small/medium/large sized projects from commencement to completion and close out. All project work will be carried out with an appropriate level of care and attention, compliant with SES /RSK procedures and completed within the given cost budgets and time scales agreed.

You will also be expected to develop a comprehensive working knowledge of the services SES offers, to be able to effectively resource and manage SES services and provide high-level advice to clients with support of specialist technical staff within the company.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Define the project scope and objectives with relevant technical support.
• Develop a detailed project plan that outlines financial aspects, timelines, resources and milestones.
• Strategic planning and coordination of infrastructure works.
• Strategic planning and coordination of projects across the wider business.
• Identify and acquire the necessary resources including financial,
• Manage the project team by assigning tasks and responsibilities
• Manage small/medium/large tender submissions with relevant specialist technical lead, working with other RSK companies to ensure we have the best opportunity for winning the tender.
• Develop and manage project budget to ensure project stays on budget with support from the commercial team as required
• Track monthly project operations with the assistance of the consultant team to manage budgets with variations to aid billing.
• Create and manage a project schedule.
• Ensure timely completion of project milestones and deliverables Quality and Client Management.
• Develop strong client relationships and coordinate responses to their requests for all services provided by SES.
• Build very good relationships with team members of other SES departments and provide them with support for the services that we provide.

Qualifications & Experience

• Previous experience of project management.
• Previous experience in an Ecology or Environmental based role.
• Show strong commercial awareness and risk management skills, with an ability to identify threats and opportunities for projects.
• Demonstrable experience of project delivery including a good understanding of financial management, program management and quality control including a track record of returning good profitability.
• Experience of operating under different contractual conditions that affect our projects and an understanding of how to minimise project risks by effectively using contract administration processes.
• Experience of successfully managing moderate/ high value moderate /high risk and complex projects with multiple resources and activities and multiple milestones and stakeholders.
• Achieved or working towards recognised & relevant PM qualification.
• Competent to take responsibility for mentoring staff and taking a wider involvement in business development and building client relationships.
• Member of / working towards Full Membership of Association for Project Management.

Key Skills Required

• Very good competence in the use of Excel and the ability to interrogate, analyse and present data within spreadsheets.
• Understanding where costs fall over time.
• Use Excel and MS Projects, as appropriate, to create complex project programmes and schedules.
• Be able to delegate effectively to junior staff, setting shared objectives and ensuring they are exposed to the right level of work for their capabilities and to meet the requirements of the client.
• Undertake project commercial risk reviews and understand levels of project risks and how they are managed.
• Able to effectively collect and interrogate financial information for the projects they manage.
• Ability to communicate confidently and effectively with peers relating to project work including the ability to ask for help when needed.
• Effective at delegating project work to junior members of staff, setting shared objectives and ensuring they are exposed to the right level of work for their capabilities and to meet the requirements of the client.

Personal Attributes

• Fantastic attention to detail.
• The ability to work as part of a team and also independently.
• Being able to manage multiple projects and tasks.
• Great coordination.
• Being able to be a good communicator.

Company Benefits

Along with a competitive salary of £38,000 - £50,000 depending on experience you will enjoy a wide range of company benefits including:

• Birthday Leave: Enjoy a day off to celebrate your birthday in addition to your annual leave.
• Generous Holiday Allowance: Start with 23 days of holiday (plus bank holidays), increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 28 days.
• Life Assurance: Benefit from our life assurance plan to provide peace of mind.
• Hybrid working: Flexible working from home, site and the office with flexible working hours (role dependant).
• Private Medical Insurance: Access private medical insurance to take care of your health.
• Flexible Benefits Programme: Tailor your benefits with options to buy additional holidays, health cash plans, and discounted gym memberships, allowing you to choose what suits you best.
• Targeted CPD plan: Support, and rapid progression for ambitious candidates.
• Professional membership: Fees will be covered by the company.

RSK Is an Inclusive employer.

About Us

We are a multi-disciplinary consultancy specialising in ecology, habitat management, arboriculture, and landscape design, based in Essex, UK. Since our company’s founding, we have grown to become a leading UK provider of specialist ecological, arboricultural and landscape design consulting services. We are known for devising sustainable, pragmatic, and client-focused solutions. Our diverse portfolio includes clients in the fields of infrastructure, development, conservation charities and individual bespoke projects. Our business is continuing to expand into new markets, and we are forming new teams to meet future challenges.

SES has a team of 52 qualified ecologists, landscape architects, arboriculturists and coordination and support staff. Currently, we’re working with Barratt Homes and the RSPB on a large residential housing development, Kingsbrook, a case study in the biodiversity net gain best practice principles for development. Our ecological work includes due diligence reporting, land appraisals, habitat design and creation, protected species surveys and ecological impact assessments. Landscape design and planning services teams specialise in strategic projects, combining an innovative and context-led approach to design.

SES is part of the RSK Group, a leading integrated environmental, engineering, and technical services business providing dynamic, multidisciplinary services to a wide range of sectors. RSK was founded in 1989 and has grown considerably since then.

At RSK, we operate as a group of businesses that work together seamlessly, aiming for growth through diversification. Our strategy helps us build a strong and resilient business, capable of weathering external challenges, while also providing greater value to our clients and more opportunities for our employees.

Since the beginning, our philosophy has remained the same: employ, develop and reward talented individuals. People are crucial to our company, and we recognise that our success hinges on our colleagues' growth. We're committed to preserving RSK's people-first culture, promoting innovation, and fostering a supportive and caring environment for collaboration. At RSK, we want you to be part of our successes and help you reach your career aspirations. We take pride in offering employees fulfilling and challenging careers by promoting ongoing growth and empowering individuals to excel.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We firmly believe that embracing and celebrating the diversity in our workforce makes us a stronger and more innovative company.

By providing workplace adjustments, we make it easier for people to confidently explore and pursue our career opportunities and recognise that flexibility is key to fostering a dynamic and thriving workplace. Many of our office-based positions benefit from a flexible working arrangement, allowing our team members to achieve a balance between professional and personal commitments.

We actively encourage applications from candidates of all genders, races, ethnicities, ages, neurotypes, religions or beliefs, sexual orientations, and those with disabilities.

If you're passionate about making a difference, join us as we work together to build a brighter, more equitable, and sustainable future for all. Do you have what it takes?