Project Manager (Operational Property)

Job Description

About the Trust 

We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?  

Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.

Join Our Team: Project Manager - Operational Property

We’re excited to welcome a new Project Manager within our Estates team.

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.

Working Hours & Location  

This role follows 37 hours, Monday to Friday working pattern. The vacancy will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces as and when required.

This role follows 37 hours, Monday to Friday working pattern. The vacancy will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces as and when required.

Relevant Hubs: Leeds, Ellesmere Port, Burnley, Birmingham, Gloucester, Crickhowel.

Role Overview

The Trust is undergoing significant change to become more efficient, agile and technology‑enabled. This transformation involves reviewing and improving existing processes and ways of working across the Investment & Commercial - Estates directorate (Operational Property Team) and potentially wider areas of the organisation.
Working collaboratively across the Trust, the post holder will manage the successful delivery of a range of projects and programmes. These may not always be high‑value but will be multi‑faceted, potentially complex and highly impactful, spanning areas such as people processes, IT, equipment and business operations. By leading this work effectively, the post holder will make a key contribution to the long‑term financial sustainability of the Trust and support its ambitions as the waterways and wellbeing charity.

Key Accountabilities:

• Manage projects in accordance with the Trust’s policies and defined standards to ensure compliance, from conception to final completion.
• Capture project requirements, assess user and stakeholder impact, preparation of business cases to justify investment in a project.
• Develop, implement and monitor progress against a schedule of project activities and key milestones to achieve the project objectives. Develop and implement reactive strategies to address emerging project circumstances.
• Identify project people resource needs, recruit for, assign, lead and motivate the project team to ensure all project objectives are achieved. Work collaboratively with Trust teams and, where needed, influence them to participate and support project implementation.
• Represent the Trust with external parties/ organisation in the furtherment of the project programme. 
  Develop and agree project budgets and control forecast and actual costs against the budgets. Plan and control forecasts and actual costs against the project budget.
• Manage risks, issues and changes on the project.
• Maintain communications with stakeholders and the project team/organisation to satisfy their differing needs. Maintain progress and other reporting relating to projects through a range of media – written, oral, presentation, digital – for both internal and external audiences and a range of people and seniorities. Adapt approach as appropriate.
• Identify procurement needs required for projects, work with internal Trust teams to implement required procurement.
• Handover and closure of the project in a controlled manner highlighting any areas for improvements or elements of good practice to be considered in future projects.
• Work safely ensuring the safety of others and contribute to safe working in all activities
• Identify opportunities for, recruit for and lead volunteers as appropriate in the delivery of the project programme.
• Display the Trust values and behaviours at all times
• Ensure that diversity and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of Trust life and promoting inclusion by challenging behaviour, practices, actions, or decisions that are counter to the objectives of the Trust’s policies and values

About you

You’re an organised and adaptable project professional with experience delivering complex projects from concept to completion. You can analyse requirements, build clear plans and manage budgets, risks and changes effectively.
Collaborative and confident, you work well with a range of teams, communicate clearly at all levels and can influence others to support project goals. You lead project groups with clarity and motivation, and you’re comfortable representing the Trust with external partners.
You bring a solutions‑focused approach, a commitment to safe working and the ability to keep projects on track in a fast‑moving environment. Experience involving or leading volunteers is an advantage.

Skills & Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in a related discipline e.g. Project or programme management
• Project/Programme Management accreditation/qualification i.e. APM Project Management Qualification, Managing Successful Programmes (MSP), Prince2; or ability to work towards it.
• Technician/Associate level (or equivalent) membership of an appropriate professional body e.g. .Association for Project Management (APM), Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), , Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
• Proven post qualification experience of successfully managing multiple complex projects across different sectors.
• Comprehensive knowledge of project management processes and systems
• Some experience of SAP particularly in the Logistics, Accounting and Information System modules
• Some experience of various approaches to procurement, applicable contracts and requirements.
• Authoritative and able communicator in a range of media – written, oral and digital; for a range of audiences and seniorities to executive level – both for internal and external audiences.
• Ability to manage internal and external stakeholders, taking account of their levels of influence
• Proficient in the use of a personal computer and business applications software e.g. Excel, Word and other MS office applications.
• Proven ability to prepare and maintain schedules for activities and events for projects, taking account of dependencies and resource requirements.
• Proven ability to develop and agree budgets for projects and control forecast and actual costs against the budgets.
• Valid UK driving license
• Comply with Canal & River Trust Health & Safety policy and defined standards, report incidents, accidents and near misses. Assess the risks and make adjustments to work methods where appropriate. Ensure all equipment (PPE, plant, materials etc.) is appropriate for the task. Consider your own and others behaviour.
• Safeguarding - To be aware of your own responsibilities regarding safeguarding and to support our commitment to providing safe environments and working practises that promote and protect the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk at all times

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Contact & Application

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.

What We Offer

We offer an annual salary of £39,500 + £390 per month Car Cash Allowance. Enjoy a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here: EVP - 1.  

Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits 

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Our values

We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes.

All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis.

We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.

At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception - are made by our hiring managers. 

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.

Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us

Job Details

• Pay Type
• Salary

• Travel Required
• Yes

• Hiring Min Rate
• 39,500 GBP

• Hiring Max Rate
• 39,500 GBP