Overview

• Job Purpose: To manage a portfolio of plant conservation projects
• Hours: full time (35 hours per week)
• Duration:  3 years Fixed Term Appointment (with potential for renewal)
• Location:  BGCI Offices, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, U.K.
• Remuneration: £25,000-27,500 per annum, depending on experience

Summary

Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) is seeking to appoint an early career conservationist with strong conservation, project management, communication and networking skills. Candidates for this post will have a proven track record in a conservation organisation, managing or leading conservation projects, ideally in the international NGO sector. The post holder will be proficient in English and will demonstrate sensitivity to complex, multicultural and multinational institutions and structures. Working within a partnership model, candidates must be able to show their capacity to manage and develop projects and partnerships collaboratively, building BGCI’s portfolio of plant conservation projects. They must also be able to inspire BGCI’s members around the world, and have competent IT skills, working with BGCI’s databases and website.

Job Description

There are an estimated 2500 botanic gardens and arboreta in the world attracting 500 million visitors each year. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) is at the centre of this network. Our members include the largest, most renowned botanic gardens on the planet – Kew, New York, Missouri, Singapore, Sydney and Shanghai – and they also include many smaller gardens situated in the world’s plant diversity hotspots. All of these member gardens share a commitment to making sure that no plant species becomes extinct and have a combined workforce of many thousands of horticulturalists and scientists working towards that end. BGCI provides support to its members in many different ways: we are an advocate for the botanic garden community, promoting the role of botanic gardens in plant conservation policy, practice and education; we connect people, co-ordinating efforts and bringing people together to exchange ideas; we are a knowledge hub, providing training, learning resources and professional support; and we provide funding and technical support to efforts aimed at saving plants.

We are looking for a Conservation Project Manager who will:

1. Co-ordinate and manage a portfolio of plant conservation and ecological restoration projects. This will include:

• Drafting and issuing grant agreements to implementing organisations on the ground
• Leading delivery of BGCI components of conservation and restoration projects, including in Uganda, Malawi and Mauritius
• Ensuring successful delivery of partner components of conservation and restoration projects
• Monitoring and evaluating progress against project and institutional targets
• Reporting on project progress and achievements to funders, BGCI senior management and the BGCI Board of Directors

2. Communicate BGCI’s plant conservation work to external audiences. This will include:

• Sourcing and writing blogs, articles and social media posts on BGCI’s plant conservation work, emphasizing plants and people
• Taking and sharing photographs and videos of BGCI’s plant conservation work
• Developing and editing content on the BGCI and the Global Trees Campaign websites, brochures and publicity materials
• Speaking to the press and media about BGCI’s plant conservation work

3. Build capacity for plant conservation. This will include:

• Organising and helping to deliver training courses on conservation techniques, e.g. botanic garden management, seed collecting, propagation
• Supporting the development of online and printed capacity building materials 

4. Undertake other work as may be required in the post g. contributing to funding applications, chairing staff meetings on rotation, etc. 

Person Specification

The Board of BGCI is seeking to appoint a person with outstanding conservation, communication and networking skills. Candidates for this post will require a proven track record in a conservation organisation, managing or leading conservation projects, ideally in the international NGO sector. The post holder will demonstrate sensitivity to complex, multicultural and multinational institutions and structures. Working within a partnership model, candidates must be able to show their capacity to innovate and to manage change. They must also be able to inspire BGCI’s members around the world, and have competent IT skills, working with BGCI’s databases and website. 

Education and Experience 

Essential

• Eligibility to work in the United Kingdom
• A post-graduate level qualification in conservation, environment, science or another relevant discipline
• At least 5 years’ experience in a conservation organisation, managing conservation projects
• Experience in interacting with international organisations and individuals
• Perfect mastery of English, both oral and written combined with excellent communication and presentational abilities
• Experience of managing budgets and setting financial priorities
• Experience working overseas – ideally in Africa and / or the Indian Ocean
• Applied plant conservation skills – this could include, for example, botanical survey work, seed collection, propagation, nursery management, species recovery

Desirable

• Experience of working for a not for profit organisation
• Knowledge of botanic gardens, plants or related disciplines ideally gained through direct personal experience
• A proven track record in raising funds from statutory grant-makers, trusts and foundations and/or philanthropic individuals
• Command of French (able to read, write and speak with fluency) 

Skills and competences 

Essential

• Proven track record of delivering and managing conservation projects, preferably international
• Capacity to innovate and manage change
• Willingness to travel frequently internationally

Desirable

• Familiarity and experience in developing and submitting funding proposals, with a proven track record of success
• Website content management
• Knowledge of plant conservation approaches and methodologies
• Knowledge of database functioning and development.

Application instructions

To apply for this position please submit a C.V. and covering letter, detailing your experience, relevant qualifications, and reasons for applying, to Liz Smith, email liz.smith@bgci.org.

Deadline for applications: 9.00am Monday 20^th May 2019

Interviews will be conducted on Wednesday 29^th and Thursday 30^th May 2019 at BGCI Offices, Kew, Richmond, Surrey.