Job Details

Job introduction

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated environmental professional to lead the Brighton & Lewes Downs UNESCO Biosphere (‘The Living Coast’) partnership programme through the next stage of its development and operation, including the preparation for the formal review of the designation by UNESCO in 2024 and development of a new 10-year strategic plan.  The Biosphere Partnership develop and deliver a strategic regional programme based on the three global Biosphere functions:

• The conservation of nature & culture;
• Supporting sustainable socio-economic development; and
• Logistic support, underpinning development through research, monitoring, education and training

Fixed term for 12 months to cover maternity leave

Interview date: week of 23 or 30 January 2023

This role is available as a secondment to internal applicants in line with our secondment policy.

For an informal discussion, please contact Rachel Williams, International & Sustainability Programme Manager on rachel.williams@brighton-hove.gov.uk to arrange a call back

About the role

As the Biosphere Programme Manager you will be working in partnership with many local and national organisations across the Brighton & Lewes Downs Region as well as the national and international UNESCO networks to develop and deliver the existing Biosphere programme, collate, interpret and co-ordinate necessary data and stakeholder input to deliver the forthcoming UNESCO periodic review of the designation and develop the 10-year strategic plan for the Biosphere for 2024 – 2034.

You will also be responsible for leading or facilitating and co-ordinating key projects with external and internal partners and funding sources, as well as budget management and meeting income generation targets.  You will be supporting the existing as well as developing new task and finish groups to progress the development of the UNESCO periodic review and new strategic plan particularly around research & monitoring, sustainable finance & governance, as well as communications and engagement.

See The Living Coast website for more information about the Biosphere Region and Partnership.

About you:

• You are passionate & knowledgeable about the natural environment, sustainable resource use and helping to address the biodiversity and climate emergencies at a regional scale, including up to date knowledge of national legislation and policy relating to the environment and sustainability, particularly natural environment and climate change adaptation.
• You have demonstrable experience in strategic programme, project and partnership development and management, preferably related to the natural environment
• You thrive on self-directing your work to ensure complex and competing priorities are met
• You have great communication and negotiation skills and can work collaboratively with people from diverse local, national and international organisations

As part of your application, you will need to complete your education and work history and provide answers to some shortlisting questions. Your answers to the shortlisting questions are the most important part of your application as they will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements for the role that are set out in the person specification and to decide whether you should be offered an interview. Before you start your application, please read our guidance here (Shortlisting questions guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk)) as this gives important advice which will increase your chance of success in the shortlisting process.

Additional information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hours or term-time only.

Work Permits: We may be able to obtain a Work Permit for this post but this is subject to meeting the requirements of the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Points-based Immigration System. Please see Gov.uk for more information on the Skilled Worker Visa.

We offer the opportunity for the suitable candidate to choose to  work in a hybrid way. Your specific working arrangements will be subject to team and service working arrangements already in place alongside Government guidance.  Your contractual location will be the designated council office for your team and travel to and from your contractual location would be at your own expense.

For more information about our values and the benefits of working at the council, visit Why work for us (brighton-hove.gov.uk)

Company information

Encouraging a diverse workforce

Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.

Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti-racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce (brighton-hove.gov.uk).

We welcome applications from all sections of the community but particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, LGB, female or trans as these groups are currently under-represented in our Directorate workforce.

Files

• Applicant Cover Letter
• Job Description and Person Specification