Finance Manager Jobs
Senior Project Manager - Minsmere Mitigation
Reference: APR20248817
Location: Minsmere
Salary: £38,389.00 - £41,212.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Pension, Life Assurance and Annual Leave
Duration: 36 months
This is a fixed-term, full-time contract for 36 months for 37.5 hours per week. The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.
We are looking for an energetic, insightful and organised person to help us deliver a resilience project to mitigate the impacts of the Sizewell C development on the visitor experience at RSPB Minsmere.
What’s the role about?
This is a stimulating role which represents an important opportunity to make a significant and direct contribution to enhancing the visitor infrastructure at a flagship RSPB reserve and a key visitor destination on the Suffolk Coast. We’re looking for someone with an understanding of how to prioritise, plan and deliver visitor infrastructure projects.
We need someone who is highly organised and has a good attention to detail. This role requires a collaborative approach, which combines the ability to adapt to changing priorities and work under pressure, while working under your own initiative to achieve results to tight deadlines.
Minsmere is one of the most famous bird reserves in the UK and one of RSPB’s most popular reserves. The reserve borders the Sizewell Estate where SZC Co plans to build a new nuclear power station, Sizewell C. The RSPB led a campaign against the potential threats of the Sizewell C development called LoveMinsmere, bringing people together to demonstrate the value of and concern for the reserve and its wildlife.
In July 2022, the UK government approved the application to build Sizewell C, after a lengthy planning process and Examination. As part of the approval, a Resilience Fund was set up for mitigation of the impacts on visitors to RSPB Minsmere.
These impacts will begin as soon as works commence and last for the construction period (currently estimated to last 12 years). This project will enable RSPB Minsmere to maintain a great visitor experience despite these changes.
The Senior Project Manager will manage a series of infrastructure projects funded by the Resilience Fund. Initially, they will work with the Minsmere team to develop a costed programme of works with agreed priority projects. They’ll then manage consultants and contractors to deliver that plan on the ground.
About the project
Vision: RSPB Minsmere offers an exceptional visitor experience despite the Sizewell C construction works.
Objectives: By Feb 2027, RSPB Minsmere has improved infrastructure that enhances the visitor experience and mitigates the impacts of Sizewell C on the visitor experience.
Outcomes: Maintained quality of visitor experience, retaining the reserve’s income levels.
Outputs (To be kept under review as the project develops):
New visitor infrastructure, likely to include a redeveloped toilet block, car park improvements and play area among other items. Including all designs and consents.
Consolidation and improved interpretation of Leiston Abbey (first site) as outlined in the Deed of Obligation and improvements to physical access to the site.
Infrastructure enhanced to allow enhanced reserve events programme.
The postholder will be required to work with the following key internal stakeholders:
- Staff and volunteers at RSPB Minsmere
- Communications Officer/Manager
- Rural Surveyor
- Building Surveyor
- Reserves Archaeologist
- Ecology
- Finance
- Fundraising
- Project Management (dotted line report)
What we need from you
The Senior Project Manager will lead on the following activities:
- Convening groups of stakeholders and leading sessions to develop the mitigation programme of works.
- Communicating with RSPB colleagues and key stakeholders regularly to report on project progress.
- Managing risks, issues and change as required.
- Producing of a costed programme of works, supported by quotes and/or evidence from similar projects.
- Procuring and managing consultants and contractors to design and deliver the chosen projects.
- Ensuring that consents are in place for all works within the programme
- Working with colleagues to ensure the project programme is reviewed for other opportunities to seek potential funders – to maximise delivery.
- Working to the Resilience Fund budget, including expenditure reporting as required
- Ensuring that all financial records are kept to enable annual financial statements to be produced and to satisfy external audit requirements.
We are looking for somebody with:
Essential skills, knowledge and experience
- Leadership ability
- Flexibility and ability to manage change
- Problem solving skills and ability to find solutions
- Proven time management and organisational skills
- Logical and methodical in approach
- An able communicator
- Experience of successful working with a range of contractors
- Experience of standard Project Management approaches
- Experience of working with and influencing multi-disciplinary teams
- Experience of cost and budget management, working with projects with costs of at least £250k.
Desirable skills, knowledge and experience
- Experience of working with external stakeholders
- Experience of complex projects
- Experience of construction project management
- Experience/understanding of nature reserve operations and managing visitor infrastructure.
Closing date: 23:59, Fri, 24th May 2024
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 3 June 2024.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.
The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more diverse people on nature’s side.
No agencies please.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Margins Project, Union Chapel’s Frontline charity, work with people who are homeless or who are at risk of homelessness and helps address pertinent social justice issues these communities face.
The charity runs three integrated programmes:
• a community drop-in programme providing access to nutritious hot meals, and limited access to showers & laundry services.
• advice and engagement programme providing one-to-one as well as group advice service on benefits and housing, and onward referrals to pertinent services.
• support employment programme offers a paid catering training to 10 people who have had experience of homelessness, substance misuse, mental ill-health, and or imprisonment.
Our range of services are designed to help guests (service users) at varying stages, from having no roof over their head to getting back into employment.
This role offers an opportunity for an experienced adviser to help shape and evolve Margins services. Experiences on the ground at the drop-in programme inform the charity’s strategic direction. The role will involve expanding our partner network to link into pertinent statutory and other charitable organisations that provide services that will help our guests with their housing, substance misuse, recidivism, and mental health challenges.
We work closely with people on an individual case work basis to get guests off the streets, into hostels or temporary accommodation where possible, and work with private and social landlords on a range of issues. We support and represent the people we work with on the phone and in person, including at the council, the doctors, the job centre, and benefits tribunals.
Our drop-ins run on Mondays and Wednesdays 11:00am to 1:00pm where attendance is currently from 65 to 75 guests. The advice and engagement worker works more intensively with smaller numbers of up to 20. The demand for more follow up work and advocacy support has been increasing over the last two years and this in-house advice worker is critical for this demand.
Working collaboratively with the Drop-in Community worker (currently vacant), the head chef, and a small group of dedicated volunteers, you will be responsible for the support of a caseload of guests, some with complex needs, and will undertake key work responsibilities including registering the guests, identifying their housing, benefit and personal needs and conducting all necessary follow ups including occasional advocacy support, where deemed necessary.
Job Title: ADVICE AND ENGAGEMENT WORKER
Responsible to: Head of Margins
Location: Margins Offices at Union Chapel, Islington, London
Salary: £32,500 - £35,000
Terms: Full time 37.5 hours per week with 1 hour unpaid for lunch.
Three-month probation, two months’ notice.
23 days annual leave + bank holidays. Workplace pension scheme (NEST)
Start date: May 2024
Purpose of Job:
• To advise and assist guests (service users) with benefit claims and related issues, e.g., Housing Benefit, DLA, PIP, Income Support, ESA, Universal Credit, and other benefits. In particular, assisting them to claim Housing Benefit and UC to reduce risk of rent arrears.
• To develop significant contact and liaison with comparable housing and benefits advice organisations.
• To encourage guests engage with Margins activities, and where practicable, with the wider Union Chapel activities.
• To develop, facilitate and deliver group advice workshops/training programmes and open discussions forums to engage guests who historically do not engage with Union Chapel.
• To Refer Margins guests to relevant internal and external services.
• In liaison with the head of Margins and the chef to refer potential candidates to Margins’ Supported Employment Programme.
The Advice and Engagement Worker will have an active role in identifying and engaging guests as well as referring potential candidates to the Supported Employment Programme, a programme anticipated to expand beyond its current services in Margins catering.
Responsible For:
• Working with caseload of guests
• With the support of drop-in services community worker (currently vacant) to ensure the smooth running of the drop-in services
• Identifying opportunities to improve services both at a project and organisational level.
• Assist the Head of Margins in ensuring that the Margins Project remains GDPR compliant.
• Represent the organisation effectively internally and externally.
• Working in partnership with statutory and other charities to deliver co-ordinated support to guests.
• Identify relevant training opportunities in capacity building.
• Initial liaison with and acting as the first referral contact for the Supported Employment Programme
Key Duties:
• To encourage and assist guests achieve the maximum income from benefits to which they are entitled to, and to refer to relevant support services such as mental health, social services, community support.
• To advise guests on basic budgeting and where applicable to refer to Tenancy Support Officers or outside agencies for more complex help.
• To liaise closely with local authorities, social, and private landlords to try to achieve the best outcome for our guests.
• To identify if the guest is accessioning the right benefit that will support their long-term wellbeing.
• To support newly arrived refugees with their housing and benefit advice needs.
• To actively assist guests with formal appeals against Local Authority, DWP and HMRC decisions regarding benefit entitlement. Representing at Appeal Tribunals.
• To signpost guests to resources that can assist them in finding work.
• When needed, signposting guests to specialist providers in mental health or drug and alcohol support services.
• To Support guests on paying their rent, including providing advice on benefits and debt management.
• To Address breaches of occupancy agreements and develop strategies that would prevent and avoid eviction.
• To assist guests with backdated claims for Benefit by supporting their applications through to completion.
• To ensure all guests’ files are up-to-date and that data is captured on our management system.
• To provide written reports and statistics as and when requested.
• To attend supervision, training, and meetings as and when required.
• To provide advocacy support to guests as and when required.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential:
• Good knowledge of the benefits system, including Universal Credit.
• Experience of working with homeless and marginalised people and understanding of the issues that face them.
• Experience of working or collaborating with people with mental health issues.
• Experience of working with refugees and their needs.
• Ability to manage challenging behaviours.
• Embrace a strength-based approach.
• A clear understanding of professional boundaries.
• A knowledge of the best practice in Safeguarding Adult procedures.
• Excellent written and oral communication skill.
• Ability to work proactively as part of a team.
• Ability to plan, manage and action follow-ups on time and manage and contain workload.
• Proficient in IT skills and competence in Microsoft Office applications.
• Committed to personal and professional development through ongoing training.
Desirable:
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience of providing advice to vulnerable groups
• Experience of delivering provision for the benefit of vulnerable backgrounds
Equal Opportunities:
• Ensure consistent and effective implementation of Union Chapel Equal Opportunities & Diversity policy and procedures.
• Positively promote an environment which respects and values the diversity of staff, volunteers, and Guests.
This is a guide to the nature of the work required of the Advice and Engagement Worker. It is therefore not comprehensive or restrictive and may be reviewed with the postholder and the line manager from time to time. The post holder may undertake any other reasonable duties within the capabilities and scope of the post as specified by their line manager. In such circumstances appropriate training will be provided.
How to apply
Please apply with your CV and a support statement, both no more than two pages, outlining your skills and experiences to meet the criteria of the role, why you want to work for Union Chapel Project and your availability to start with “Advice and Engagement Worker” in the subject line. Please also complete our Equal Opportunities Form.
Closing date: Tuesday 30 April 2024, 8am
Interviews will take place w/c 13 May 2024
Size: 51 - 100
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.