National Nature Reserves – Built Environment Programme Manager(Ref: 5276)

East Midlands (England), East of England, London (region), North East England, North West England, South East England, South West England, West Midlands (England), Yorkshire and the Humber

This position is based nationally

The post will be part of the NNR team as part of National Operations.Job description  

 National Nature Reserves – Built Environment Programme Manager

 Role:                National Nature Reserves Built Environment Programme Manager

Grade:             Principal Adviser

Location:         National

Salary:             £45,055

Background

National Nature Reserves (NNRs) are flagship sites for nature recovery, protecting some of the UK’s most important habitats, species, and geology. They also provide access and engagement opportunities and ‘outdoor laboratories’ for science and research.

The built estate on Natural England managed NNRs stretches from Lindisfarne in Northumberland to the Lizard in Cornwall.

Role

We require a Programme Manager to oversee and lead on the management of Natural England’s built assets on the NNR Estate. We want to make our NNR estate a safe environment for staff, volunteers, visitors and contractors; improve our ability to engage more people through our NNRs; and enhance the experience of visitors.

The built estate ranges from modern reserve base offices and workshops to more traditional agricultural style buildings.

The role will be responsible for the management of our existing portfolio of NNR buildings and new future builds including the associated capital investment programme and involving a wide range of capital works projects.

The capital works programme currently stands at £30m and involves the creation of 10 new National Nature Reserve bases and multiple infrastructure projects, including smaller scale buildings, tracks, bridges, culverts, walkways, bird hides, livestock buildings, livestock handling facilities, Scheduled Ancient Monuments and heritage assets.  

NE works alongside Defra Estates to provide facilities management, and Defra Group Commercial to procure design and feasibility support and contracted works through national frameworks. The role will lead on the relevant Defra relationships and contracts.

The role will include oversight of existing Facilities Management (FM) and the development of future FM services, through the Defra Network framework.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and maintain a defined property portfolio to meet corporate and environmental goals.

The main areas of work include:

• Building new site bases
• Public Safety Works on buildings and infrastructure
• Site Access Upgrades
• Site Condition Works
• Staff and animal welfare works
• Staff Health and Wellbeing improvements
• Work base improvements to deliver the NNR strategy, legal and statutory duties.
• Facilities management
• Fire Risk Management
• Work on residential properties which NE owns/leases

Functional management of approx. 5 Defra Project Managers who project manage the building of major new reserve bases.

Develop and implement facilities management business plans to support the delivery of the national facilities management strategy and meet corporate targets.

Develop a future capital investment programme that also builds in future running costs.

Responsible for agreed delegated budgets ensuring expenditure against approved service delivery and financial processes; providing quality reports and management information.

Develop and implement systems and tools for monitoring and reporting on project delivery, to assess and interpret operational performance / compliance and advise senior managers on implications and appropriate action.

Close working and support for Area Teams, through identifying risks and issues, advise on risk management and their investment programme.

Close working and alignment with Land Agents in the national NNR Team, especially the Lead Land Agent who leads on the capital investment pipeline of land acquisitions.

Work with Natural England’s Governance groups to secure approval for expenditure.

Manage internal and external relationships, and contracts with suppliers of support & services including:

• Defra Group Commercial teams – Build, Infrastructure and Services
• Suppliers on Defra Frameworks – WSP, MITIE, Allianz
• Natural England’s Health and Safety team
• Natural England’s Finance and Asset Valuation teams

Competencies

Technical Skills and Knowledge:

• Experience of managing an operational property portfolio including the ability to support facilities teams on Health and Safety, Premises Maintenance, Internal Environmental Management, contract and contractor management. 

• Qualified in Programme and project management; experience of managing budgets in excess of £10m and making the most effective and efficient use of people and finances to achieve business and environmental outcomes.

Leadership and management

• Set the direction, with clear plans and expectations, and engage and support your functional team through complex and varied projects.
• Plan, monitor and control resources to maximise the efficient and effective use of finances and people to ensure that all activities are completed to time, cost and quality targets. 

Putting People at the Heart of the Environment

• Understand how your programme drives improved and safe engagement and nature connections for people and be able to advocate and communicate the benefits.
• Lead on establishing and maintaining good relationships with senior managers and external partners, influencing them to contribute to, support and adopt policies and processes and adapt their activities in line with business and environmental needs. 

Work delivery

• Ability to work collaboratively across the organisation and bring people with you.
• Deliver effective results on time, to required quality standards and cost, to fulfil the business plan and achieve and support environmental goals.
• Understand and apply relevant policy, legislation, governance frameworks and strategies to your work. 

Personal Effectiveness

• Monitor progress of work, identify risks in the delivery of priorities and implement timely resolution of issues, to ensure appropriate reallocation of time, finance and effort and (where relevant) improvements and enhancements.
• Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience.

• Provide high level advice, support and guidance as lead expert in the NNR team, to inform and influence Senior Leadership and effectively underpin risk-based decision making. 

Qualifications 

• Degree in an appropriate discipline, or equivalent experience 

• Relevant qualification or membership of a professional body British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) or have an associated property discipline (such as The RoyaI Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). 

Please refer to Job Description

Alongside your salary of £45,055, Natural England contributes
£16,626 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

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Job contact :

• Name : Michael Woodhosue
• Email : michael.woodhouse@naturalengland.org.uk
• Telephone : 07833500908

Recruitment team

• Email : defra-recruitment-enquiries@gov.sscl.com