Job opportunities

Project Manager

Are you a hands on Project Manager, with a passion for animals, and a heart for conservation? Want your work to be enjoyed not just by humans, but by lemurs, chimpanzees, and tigers too?

We have an exciting opportunity for a Project Manager to join us at the Welsh Mountain Zoo - where sweeping landscapes, rare species, and conservation-led values all come together as part of Our Mission - To Bring Conservation to Life.

About the Role

As a well-established charity with a strong legacy in conservation and education, we are entering into an exciting period of growth, guided by a bold new strategic plan which will see us upgrade and significantly expand our zoo estate.

Our Project Manager will need to be an experienced, commercially minded and results driven professional who will deliver the first phase our zoo upgrade and expansion plans on time, within budget, and aligned with Our Mission

What You'll Do

• Coordinate the planning and preparation of our forthcoming estate development projects (ensuring they align with our animal welfare, conservation, and environment principles)
• Prepare and manage pre-construction project briefs, scope, schedule/programme, resource requirements, risks, and opportunities ready to move into remodelling and construction phases
• Collaborate with our external architects, surveyors, and public relations contacts to act as the zoo’s principal contact for all building design activities, site surveys, submission of local authority planning applications, and stakeholder consultation activities
• Work with our internal Partnership and Fundraising Manager and external Financiers to develop fully costed business cases which secure project grants, loans, and capital funding
• Collaborate with our Senior Team, Trustees and Accountants to prepare, manage and monitor project budgets
• Deliver timely, accurate, and appropriate internal and external communications
• Prepare and complete tendering exercises to source contractors and suppliers for major building works, ready for a smooth transition into the site remodelling and construction phases
• Provide regular project updates to our CEO and Board of Trustees

What You'll Bring

• Proven experience as a Project Manager ideally in a non-profit or conservation setting
• Proven experience in preparing for the delivery of large-scale, multi-million pound capital investment construction projects
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and communication exercises
• A strong background in preparing business cases for grants, loans, and capital funding applications
• Experience of organising and managing procurement exercises to appoint major work construction firms and material suppliers
• Experience in preparing pre-construction project briefs, scope, schedules/programme, resource requirements, risk management
• A professional project management qualification
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Excellent budgeting, financial forecasting, and cost management skills
• Skilled in preparing project management briefs, scopes, schedules, and resource requirements
• Able to work independently while coordinating multiple teams and partners
• Proficient in Microsoft Office packages (Excel, Word, Power Point, Outlook)
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills
• Able to work well under pressure and meet deadlines
• Knowledgeable in Local Authority planning legislation and policies
• An understanding of construction building development process

Perks and Benefits

As well as working with our wonderful animals and amazing team in one of the most beautiful visitor attractions in North Wales, we also provide access to:

• hybrid working
• free family admission to our zoo
• free staff parking
• our Employee Assistance Wellbeing Programme
• discounts in our restaurant, gift shop, and sweet shop
• holiday scheme which increases with service up to 33 days*
• company sick pay*
• our pension scheme*                                                         *After qualifying service

If you are passionate about wildlife and conservation and have the skills to lead impactful projects, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity at the Welsh Mountain Zoo!