Fixed term contract for 12 months.

We are looking for an experienced Project Manager to be accountable for the project management, governance and coordinating the delivery of our Coast to Coast Scoping the Nature Trail Project.

This project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be exploring the creation of an extensive wildlife rich corridor of at least 60,000 hectare, along and around the newly designated Coast to Coast National Trail. The route spans three National Parks, a National Landscape and two Heritage Coasts, and has recently benefitted from upgraded signage and surfacing.

Around 77 per cent of the route lies within protected, nature-rich landscapes and Local Nature Recovery Strategies highlight key stretches as vital ecological links across a range of important habitats.

This project will assess the feasibility of creating a wildlife rich corridor to protect habitats and wildlife and create a coordinated, resilient and financially sustainable foundation for future nature recovery. New, engaging materials will help trail users understand the landscapes they pass through and the role the route has in restoring nature at scale.

It will deliver three key outputs to support a further application to National Lottery Heritage Fund for delivering the next phase of the nature trail project. These are:
• People centred nature recovery
o Kickstarting a vision for a model of people-centred conservation, stakeholder engagement will be at the heart of the project.
• Structures for landscape scale delivery
o Embedding strong and inclusive structures and ways of working that will ensure that is in the best place to deliver at scale, with a framework that operates across the full length and area of the trail.
• Data foundations
o Habitat survey methods trial and a baselining of habitats and species completed, data gaps identified as well as ecological connectivity opportunities highlighted

What’s it like to work with us?
Our people are passionate about the landscape and proud of the role they play to look after it and help a wide range of people enjoy it. We are innovative and agile in our approach to work, ensuring we get the best from our resources.

We’re a medium size organisation, which puts us in a good position to be adaptive and able to act on our decisions. Whatsmore, our staff know each other and can quickly form workplace relationships to make great team players and problem solvers.

We operate a hybrid way of working combining working from home and days at our office base at Wayfaring House, Kendal or at our office base, within the national park. You’ll be provided with a laptop to enable you to access our secure IT network when working remotely. We require at least two office-based days, including each Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Thursday.

The role
The post holder will work closely with and support a talented team of specialists, rangers and partners, across the protected landscapes of the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, North Pennines and North York Moors; as well as National Trails UK and colleagues from Westmorland Furness Council, Cumberland Council and North Yorkshire Council.

The post holder will also be working closely with an Engagement Officer based in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the National Trails Data and Evidence Officer. Vacancies for these roles are available on each of these partners’ websites.

The Lake District National Park Authority is leading a project to deliver the scoping of a nature trail along the Wainwright Coast to Coast National Trail route.

About you
We need a project manager, with strategic awareness, who is confident working with multi-faceted complex projects and information sources; who is an excellent communicator with a great track record in stakeholder engagement and managing effective relationships.

You’ll provide a consistent focused effort on effective project management including forward planning, risk management, benefits tracking, budget management, project monitoring and reporting.

You’ll also be able to work in a structured, logical and often time pressured way, focused on the project plan delivery.

Please read the attached role profile for the full person specification on this post.

About us
The Lake District National Park Authority looks after this unique corner of England and UNESCO World Heritage Site. We encourage people to protect, connect and grow as well as supporting those who live and work here. Our staff include rangers and field workers, advisers at our visitor centres, planners and ecologists.

Working with us, you’ll enjoy
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Free parking in our carparks
• Paid time off so you can volunteer
• Subsidised healthcare scheme
• Commitment to wellbeing

We’re happy to talk about flexible working – let us know if you want to find out more.

See our website for a complete list of our employee benefits.

Contact
For an informal chat and to find out more, please contact Tim Duckmanton, Team Leader Strategy and Environment, tim.duckmanton@lakedistrict.gov.uk or 0777 627 4450

We reserve the right to close this advert early should we receive sufficient applications, so please apply early to avoid missing this opportunity.

Interviews will be held in Kendal on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 May 2026.

Diversity and Inclusion
As an equal opportunities' employer, the Lake District National Park Authority is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination based on age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

Disability Confident Employer
We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role. By ‘minimum criteria’ we mean that you must provide evidence in your application which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as well as meeting any of the qualification, skills or experience defined as essential.