Marine Projects Manager

ZSL is looking to hire a Marine Projects Manager to join our Aquatic Species and Policy team, which sits in the Conservation & Policy Department. The successful candidate will primarily work across two projects. Project SIARC (Sharks Inspiring Action and Research with Communities) is a collaborative project, led by ZSL and Natural Resources Wales (NRW), that works to catalyse links between fishers, researchers, communities and government to collaborate and safeguard elasmobranchs and support a green recovery in Wales. The Angel Shark Project (ASP) is a multidisciplinary collaboration that collects ecological and population data whilst engaging with local communities, researchers, and governments to secure the future of Critically Endangered angel sharks throughout their range. The core ASP project partners are Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and Zoological Society of London (ZSL) with further partners and collaborators across seven regional projects.  

Key responsibilities:  

The Project Manager supports the relevant Senior Project Managers with the delivery of project objectives to time and budget. This includes the following key responsibilities:

• Makes key decisions around project implementation, deliverables, design, finances, funding, communications, MEL plan, inclusive community engagement and events, in line with grant contract, work plan and project budget.
• Works to manage, maintain and expand relationships with project partners and collaborators.
• Embeds equitable and values-based approaches into project design and delivery.
• Supports project design and supports writing project specific funding applications to continue grant-funded work.
•  Represents ZSL at technical meetings contributing specialist knowledge and maintain good working relations with existing partners, funders and stakeholders and as required build new relationships to support project delivery.

• Experience managing complex conservation projects in line with funder requirements.
• Excellent knowledge of marine conservation issues.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail, with proven ability in self-motivation and problem-solving.
• Ability to effectively build and develop relationships with a wide range of cross‐sectoral actors.
• Proven experience in report-writing for a range of audiences (scientific, technical, wider-public).
• Proven experience of budget management.
• Excellent time management skills, including the ability to respond quickly to demands, effectively prioritise and meet deadlines, and work in a fast‐paced environment.

This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate's right to work in the UK.

We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. We are committed to ensuring our teams can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination. ZSL has active equality networks for our staff with lived experience and those who provide active allyship in Race and Culture, Team Pride, Disability Network, and Menopause Network, complemented by our strategic EDI Steering Group.  

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.  

What do we offer?  

At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include: 

• Our vision and purpose - you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct  
• Pension scheme - we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension
• Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you  
• Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays  
• Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme  
• Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from their first day 
• Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops  
• Cycle2Work - our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle  
• Season ticket loan - we offer an interest free loan for eligibly London-based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work 
• Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages