Biodiversity Project Manager

This is a unique opportunity to be involved in an innovative, forward-thinking project which seeks to redefine how nature-based projects are designed and managed in the wider context of rural life.

CAERLAVEROCK ESTATE is excited to offer the role of PROJECT MANAGER for the DEVELOPMENT PHASE of a LARGE-SCALE BIODIVERSITY PROJECT.

Location: Caerlaverock Estate, Southwest Scotland.
Contract: Fixed term
Hours: Full-time (flexible working arrangements possible)
Salary: Competitive, based on experience
Closing Date: Wednesday 23rd April 2025

WHAT’S THE ROLE?

Caerlaverock Estate has a longstanding history of conservation and environmental stewardship. Having recently completed a nature restoration project (which involved the creation of ponds, wildlife corridors and meadows in a low-lying area of the Estate, adjacent to the saltmarsh), the Estate is now working with its tenant farmers and neighbouring landholders to plan a landscape scale nature-based restoration project to deliver environmental and community benefit to the wider Caerlaverock area.

This collective has secured development phase funding through the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund (administered by NatureScot) to fully scope and plan for this exciting new Project. An experienced Project Manager is now required to lead this development phase activity.

The Project Manager will work closely with Caerlaverock Estate, its tenant farmers, neighbouring land holders, and the local community to ensure the successful design and planning of what will be a truly transformational and landscape changing project, spanning an area of circa 20km², designed to enhance the area’s biodiversity and resilience to climate change.

The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping an innovative nature-based restoration project that balances environmental benefits with sustainable land management, commercial enterprises and local interests.

WHAT’S THE PROJECT?

Through this development phase, the vision is to design, scope and prepare for the ultimate delivery project which would deliver a large scale, connected biodiversity landscape aimed at:

• Further restoration and creation of habitat through the formation of ponds, wildlife corridors, and meadows, carrying on the theme of responding to coastal squeeze but also expanding this work further inland.
• The improvement of water flow and water quality to meet the needs of nature, food production and the community, and the restoration of habitats adjacent to these freshwater courses.
• Specifically providing for species that are coming to Caerlaverock because of, or as indicators of, climate change, thereby future proofing the area for these species and making this coastal location more resilient to the effects of climate change.
• Controlling invasive, non-native species that could be detrimental to the delivery of the above points and to the community more generally.

The project will be a unique example of landowners and tenants coming together as one rural community to support the interests of nature and the environment in a way that still enables them to run successful and sustainable agricultural and land-based businesses.

It will showcase how nature-based solutions can be employed to address not only the biodiversity improvements for which they have been designed, but also the infrastructure challenges faced by communities and landholders alike.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Project Manager’s responsibilities will include:

• Preparing a detailed process and timeframe for the development phase activities.
• Advertising the development phase project and conducting engagement work to identify additional landholders who may wish to be involved.
• Conducting community engagement activities.
• Liaising with relevant wildlife or environmental groups and organisations (including relevant species-specific organisations).
• Instructing the advice of nature/environmental experts to refine the guiding principles of the project.
• Working with landholders and subject matter experts to review each holding and identify the opportunities they present to achieve the objectives in a way that creates a connected biodiversity landscape.
• Mapping out (using GIS mapping software or equivalent) across the geographical area of the project how the proposed holding-by-holding activity will link together to provide a large, connected biodiversity landscape. Presenting this to stakeholders and project team.
• Fully scoping and costing the work involved in bringing the design to life. Identifying sources of funding available for each activity and creating a funding plan for the project.
• Preparing a project timeline detailing additional preliminary work required prior to commencement of the delivery phase project.
• Finally, preparing and presenting a project completion report to document all of the above.

THE PERSON

Essential:

• An open and questioning mind.
• A keenness to learn.
• Proven experience in project management.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across different interest groups.
• Strong problem-solving ability.
• Self-motivated and able to manage own workload to deliver outcomes on time.
• Full UK Driving Licence.

Desirable:

• Experience in managing nature or environmental based projects, particularly in land use, nature restoration, conservation, or sustainable agriculture.
• Knowledge of funding mechanisms for environmental and rural projects.
• Familiarity with Scottish rural and land management policy.
• Experience working in or with agricultural communities.
• Experience working with mapping software.

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

The Project Manager will work on behalf of the collective of stakeholders but will be employed by Caerlaverock Estate and will report to the Caerlaverock Estate Manager.

The Project Manager will be based at Caerlaverock Estate Office primarily, but some travel within and outside of the Estate will be required as part of the role.

The contract will be of fixed duration, commencing as soon as possible after 1 April 2025 and ending 30 March 2026.

It is anticipated that this role will be a full-time role, but there is some flexibility in that. Equally, flexible working arrangements are possible.

A cottage on Caerlaverock Estate can be rented, by way of a separate arrangement, for the contract period if required.

How to Apply

To apply, please email your CV and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you are interested in the role to info@caerlaverock.com.

Closing Date: Wednesday 23rd April 2025

For further information, please contact Anna Austin, Estate Manager for Caerlaverock Estate by email at anna@caerlaverock.com.