Project Manager

Job Title: Project Manager 

Team: Strategy and Governance 

Location: Hybrid (split between home-working and our London office)

Salary on Appointment: £41,400 - £45,540 per annum (earning potential to £62,100)

It’s an exciting time to join the Ramblers as we have recently refreshed our strategy and created new roles to support the delivery of our long-term ambitions.

We need your drive, knowledge, skills, and creativity to help us raise awareness of the Ramblers and what we stand for, enabling the charity to grow its supporter base and open up the joys and wellbeing benefits of walking to many more people.

About us

The Ramblers is Britain’s walking charity. We open the way so everyone can enjoy the benefits of walking.

It’s easy to think everyone has the same opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. But look a little deeper and you’ll find lots of barriers standing in the way.So we’re continuing to fight for change.We campaign for the public’s right to enjoy the outdoors, protect paths, build skills and offer different ways to get out walking in nature.

Our programmes have a big impact in local communities: Ramblers Wellbeing Walks help people take the first step to a healthier happier lifestyle, and the Ramblers Out There Award gives young adults aged 18–26 the opportunity to kickstart their journey into the outdoors.

Through our refreshed strategy, we’ll build on this experience and grow our impact through activities that prioritise the needs of communities who have the least access and face the most barriers walking outside in nature.

Purpose of Role

This is a new role within the Strategy and Governance team, a team which supports delivery of the Ramblers’ strategy through business planning, project management and impact measurement, and oversees the management of governance matters.

The purpose of the Project Manager role is to:

• Manage project teams to drive delivery of key initiatives in the business plan using best practice project management approaches. (80% of time)
• Provide a Project Management Office (PMO) function, helping to raise standards and rigour in project management across the organisation. (20% of time)

Key responsibilities

• Oversee the end-to-end project lifecycle of key projects including:

- preparing a project mandate / business case and updating as required

- identifying and tracking a clear set of measurable outcomes / benefits

- establishing and overseeing appropriate project governance arrangements

- developing a project plan setting out activities, deliverables and milestones

- identifying and managing key risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies

- preparing and managing a project budget and a resourcing schedule 

- developing and implementing communications and engagement plans, working with the comms team

- motivating and managing project teams to deliver the desired outcomes on time and on budget

- coordinating with external partners, suppliers and contractors to ensure project requirements are met

- updating stakeholders on progress through regular status reporting

- managing project closure, lessons learned and transition to business as usual

• Improve standards and rigour in project management across the organisation through the introduction of best practice approaches and by coaching project teams.
• Enable senior leaders to effectively support project delivery by providing a regular portfolio health report.

Impact

• Key strategic projects and programmes will be delivered on time and to budget and achieve the desired outcomes; standards of project management across the organisation will be raised and the confidence of the Executive Leadership Team in delivering the strategy will be enhanced.

Other

• Undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required of the post.
• Engage and proactively develop excellent working relationships across the organisation.

This job description will be reviewed in conjunction with the postholder to ensure successful delivery of our goals.

The Person

Qualification

• A formal project management qualification is desirable but not essential.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Knowledge

This section specifies the theoretical understanding or specific expertise needed for the role:

• Comprehensive knowledge of project management principles, methodologies and best practices.
• Knowledge of best practice approaches to change management.

Skills

This section details the specific abilities and competencies required to perform the job effectively:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to facilitate meetings and workshops resulting in clear actions and outcomes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective leadership and team management skills.
• Proficiency in using tools, technologies, or software required for the job (e.g., Microsoft Office suite).
• Ability to prepare and manage project budgets.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Experience

This section specifies the practical, hands-on experience required for the role:

• Proven track-record in successfully managing complex projects or programmes in medium-sized or large organisations.
• Experience of managing cross-functional projects involving different departments and third-party suppliers and contractors.
• Experience of designing and implementing project management tools and templates.
• Experience of facilitating meetings and workshops and coaching project teams.

Desirable:

• Experience of working in a Project Management Office (PMO).
• Experience of working in the charity sector, particularly in volunteer-involving organisations.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive and resourceful, with a positive and resilient attitude.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively as part of a team.
• Flexible and adaptable, with a willingness to take on different tasks and responsibilities as needed.
• Willingness to mentor and support the development of others.
• Delivery-focused, with a strong sense of accountability and responsibility.
• Attuned to the needs of others with an understanding of how to support people through change.

The Ramblers promote diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Values and Behaviours 

Our values are the core principles that guide us daily in our work and our membership of the Ramblers. We all share the passion that walking is for everyone and by living our shared values we can ensure the Ramblers is an organisation to be proud of. Our values will earn trust for the Ramblers brand which will allow us to open up a world of walking opportunities for even more people. 

Inclusive – We make everyone feel welcome and part of the Ramblers community. We make sure we all feel respected and accepted and know our contributions make a difference in achieving our mission.

Inspiring – We strive to inspire people through the way we act and the things we say. We channel our passion and ambition so others are moved to help us achieve our mission.

Empowering – We empower and encourage each other to make a positive contribution to our teams and the Ramblers. We do all we can to make sure everyone has the ability, and feels confident, to take action.

Responsible – We take responsibility for ourselves and those around us seriously, by always acting in a safe and supportive way. We care about the environment and make sure we do what we say we will do.