Our client, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, is welcoming applications for the role of Project Manager for LIFE on Machair.
Job Description
The appointed LIFE On Machair Project Manager will be responsible for managing and coordinating the EU LIFE project ‘Protecting and restoring Ireland’s network of machair systems and associated breeding wader and pollinator communities’, which runs from February 2022 for a six-year period. The successful candidate will lead the Project Team (consisting of two Project Ecologists, two Community Engagement Officers, and a Project Administrator) and foster productive relationships with stakeholders, particularly in agriculture, tourism, State bodies, local authorities, local communities, and the EU Commission External Moderator. The successful candidate will report to a Principal Officer within the National Parks and Wildlife Service and liaise regularly with DHLGH professional/scientific staff, the Project Steering Group, and an Associated Beneficiary Panel.
Location
The person appointed will operate in an office in Westport, County Mayo, or in an office agreed by NPWS. A blended working pattern will be available, subject to approval by DHLGH. The successful candidate will be required to work in the established office (except when undertaking other project-related work off-site, as required) from the date of appointment for the project duration.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
The Project Manager is a full-time position from the date of appointment to the end of the project, expected 31st January 2028. The Project Manager will ensure that the project is delivered on time, within budget, and to a high standard through standard project management techniques. Risk assessments, project progress, and outputs will be shared with the Project Steering Group, coordinating beneficiary and associated beneficiaries at regular intervals. The key tasks of the Project Manager will include:
1. Full delivery of the LIFE On Machair Project, implementation of all project actions, and delivery of expected results to a high standard, to an agreed timetable, and over the full area as set out in the Project Grant Agreement.
2. Ensuring the preparatory actions are delivered on time and to a standard that facilitates the successful rollout of concrete actions from 2022.
3. Contributing to recruitment of the project team, identifying training requirements, and ensuring delivery of training with the aid of the HEO.
4. Leading and managing the Project Team.
5. Managing the project budget and financial reporting.
6. Managing the project offices.
7. Liaising with the Project Steering Group and an Associated Beneficiary Panel to ensure alignment on project deliverables and milestones.
8. Reporting to, and being the key contact for, the contracting authority, DHLGH.
9. Land ownership investigation.
10. Identifying requirements for external assistance, leading, and supporting the procurement and management of contracts, including for scientific and other services.
11. Coordinating the project team's contributions to knowledge exchange groups, agri-environment measures, and sustainable amenity usage guidance.
12. Leading on networking and communication, including media events, stakeholder engagement, project website, publications, attendance at and presentation to relevant conferences and events.
13. Liaising with the managers of other LIFE projects with a similar ecological or geographical focus and other relevant projects.
14. Ensuring that all project actions are undertaken in compliance with National and EU legislation, including management of licenses, permissions, or consents, as may be required.
15. Establishing or maintaining management and administrative systems as necessary.
16. Approving and coordinating baseline assessments and monitoring for all three ecological foci (waders, habitats, and pollinators).
17. Identifying any changes from the project proposal that may be required in good time to obtain agreement from the EU Commission.
18. Developing the overall communications strategy with the aid of the project team, approving the content of communications materials, and helping to identify opportunities for outreach along with the communications officers.
19. Leading on stakeholder engagement, particularly liaison with landowners and users, as well as building good relationships with the wider community; coordinating and taking part in raising awareness of the project and disseminating results to both a technical and non-technical audience, with the support of the project team.
20. Liaising with staff of NPWS, NBDC, NGOs, and academic institutions with competence in monitoring of waders, coastal habitats, and pollinators.
21. Leading on socio-economic elements of the project, monitoring the socio-economic impacts of the project actions on the local economy and population.
22. Coordinating monitoring of the impact of project actions on the restoration of ecological and ecosystem functions.
23. The Project Manager will organize and take part in Advisory Panels for scientific and local stakeholders. Where required, they will liaise with Beneficiaries to support training, workshops, and meetings for Beneficiary staff and other bodies.
24. The Project Manager will oversee the development of the AfterLIFE plan for the project (i.e., the improvement, continuation, and expansion of project actions and goals).
Key Competencies for the Role
Candidates are required to demonstrate, with relevant examples in the Application Form, how they satisfy the competencies listed below:
* Leadership
* Management and Delivery of Results
* Judgement, Analysis and Decision Making
* Interpersonal and Communication Skills
* Specialist Knowledge, Expertise, and Self Development
Eligibility Requirements
Qualifications and Experience
Essential:
Candidates must, on or before closing date for the competition:
1. Have achieved at a minimum Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications in a subject relevant to this role, such as natural sciences (ecology, botany, zoology, environmental science) or agricultural science.
2. Have a minimum of 5 years’ experience relevant to this post (including project and financial management experience).
3. Have a full clean driving licence and access to their own transport.
In addition, candidates must demonstrate an appropriate level of competence in those competencies listed in the ‘Key Competencies for this Role’ section above.
Desirable:
* An understanding of Irish and EU policy relating to agri-environment schemes and biodiversity conservation and management.
* Geographical Information Systems (GIS) experience.
* Training in Project Management, preferably through a project management qualification (e.g., Prince 2, PMP).
* Experience of managing multi-stakeholder projects.
* An ability to communicate in spoken Irish.
* Familiarity and experience of working on projects targeting conservation, monitoring/assessment, or restoration of two of the following: coastal habitats, waders, pollinators.
Specific Candidate Criteria
Candidates must:
1. Have the knowledge and ability to discharge the duties of the post concerned.
2. Be suitable on grounds of character.
3. Be suitable in all other relevant respects for the appointment to the post concerned; and if successful, they will not be appointed to the post unless they agree to undertake the duties attached to the post and accept the conditions under which the duties are, or may be required to be, performed.
4. Be fully competent and available to undertake, and fully capable of undertaking, the duties attached to the position.
Eligibility to compete and certain restrictions on eligibility
Citizenship Requirements
Eligible candidates must be:
1. A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway; or
2. A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or
3. A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or
4. A non-EEA citizen who has a stamp 4 permission or a Stamp 5 permission.
If your visa expires, this may result in your being stepped down from your employment until such time as you have regularised your permission to work in the State.
How to Apply
An application must be made on the Application Form which is available for download from the https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/453df-recruitment-in-the-department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/
Candidates do not need to submit a Curriculum Vitae.
Your fully completed application form must be submitted to NPWS@cpl.ie by the closing date and time of 17th January 2025 at 12pm noon, as stated on the Application Form.
The admission of a person to a competition, or invitation to attend an interview is not to be taken as implying that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is satisfied that such a person fulfills the requirements.
On receipt of an application, you will be issued with an acknowledgement by email. Please note that all further correspondence will be carried out via email.
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