Salary - £46,507 - £49,353
Hybrid working (50/50)
Permanent and Full-Time (37 hours per week)
We will be reviewing application as we go and reserve the right to close this advert, should we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early.
Are you a people-oriented leader with a passion for managing field surveys?
We’re looking for a proactive and resilient Field Operations Project Manager to join our Land, Soil, and Coast group in Bangor, North Wales.
Reporting to the Head of Group, you’ll play a vital part in delivering large, complex, multi-organisation projects focused on monitoring the condition and changes in land and freshwater ecosystems. You’ll coordinate field operations and manage a large and widely distributed team of up to 40 Field Surveyors ensuring the successful collection of vital data and samples across Wales and other regions.
Current projects the team are working on include

ERAMMP

and
Countryside Survey
which both monitor the state and change of the countryside to support governments to development environmental policy.
You’ll collaborate with a range of sub-contractors, liaise with key stakeholders, and work alongside both scientific and central functions, to ensure field surveys are planned and delivered effectively. As the lynchpin of our field survey management team, you’ll play a crucial role in ensuring smooth operations and effective communication across multiple areas.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Planning, developing and co-ordinating field survey activities, including seasonal staff recruitment, training, work scheduling, task dependencies, procurement and project delivery.
• Line-management – day to day support of various remote field survey teams (employees and contractors) including Health & Safety, individual wellbeing, approving expenses, liaising with payrolling agency. Overseeing activities of outsourced field teams.
• Managing project Health & Safety processes - documenting, reviewing, training, communicating and maintaining procedures.
• Managing and coordinating various communication activities – using a variety of media options - to surveyors, project team, project partners/stakeholders, the wider organisation, and subcontractors.
• Project finance activities – developing and managing budgets and resources, including budget revisions, monitoring project spend, extracting and analysing financial data.
• Overseeing quality control and quality assurance of field data. Together with improving the integration of field data with remotely sensed data approaches.
• Monitoring and ensuring progression of field surveying activities, providing information and regular reports.
• Identifying and managing project issues and risks, ensuring appropriate mitigations are planned and implemented, keeping the programme manager informed and knowing when to escalate.

This is a fast-paced and dynamic role, perfect for someone who thrives under pressure and enjoys tackling challenges with a pragmatic approach. With strong communication and negotiation skills, you’ll build valuable relationships with stakeholders and ensure clear, impactful outcomes.
As these national field surveys run on an annual cycle, you’ll also take the lead in managing seasonal recruitment, ensuring a skilled and ready team each year. If you’re looking for a role where no two days are the same and your problem-solving skills will make a real impact, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.
You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH.

For the role of Field Operations Project Manager, we’re looking for somebody who has:

• A Degree, preferably in Science, Ecology, Business related, or relevant work experience
• Experience of managing complex field survey operations, including line management experience of remote teams. To deliver quality assured field data and improve integration with remotely sensed data.
• Resilience under pressure, with a flexible approach to work in a changing environment, and the ability to find pragmatic solutions as issues arise.
• Demonstrable experience of line management, supporting performance and wellbeing, together with seasonal recruitment of surveyors.
• Excellent communication skills, together with great influencing/negotiation skills, able to build rapport and good working relationships across a variety of internal and external stakeholders, providing clear communication outputs with specialists and non-specialists.
• The ability to work independently, managing time and priorities effectively and delivering within agreed deadlines.
• Good team working skills - the ability to collaborate inclusively and effectively, and a willingness to learn from others.
• A working knowledge of project Health & Safety in the field, including lone working.
• A willingness to travel with occasional overnight stays.

Desirable

• A recognised project management qualification.
• Proficiency in Welsh (spoken).
• A full UK driving licence (manual).

You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH.
Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.
Working for UKCEH is rewarding

We appreciate the continuous dedication and contributions of our staff, which is why we provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes financial incentives and wellbeing-oriented perks, such as:

• 27 days annual leave (rising to 29 days after 5 years’ service) plus 3 days for Christmas closure
• 10% employer pension contribution
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (role dependant)
• Peer reward and recognition scheme
• Dental insurance, gym/fitness discounts, retail discount portal
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

24-hour, 365-day support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues

• ..

Apply today!
If this opportunity resonates with you and aligns with your personal career goals, the team would love to receive your application. Please apply by submitting your CV along with a covering letter that highlights any qualifications, skills or experience you believe are relevant to this role.
At UKCEH, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone—regardless of background, identity, ability, or circumstance—has the opportunity to thrive. As a Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from neurodivergent candidates and those with disabilities. We are happy to provide any adjustments or support you may need throughout the application process—please don’t hesitate to reach out. So, if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we’d love to hear from you anyway. You may be just the right fit for this role or another within our wider team.
Please note:
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role and this does not qualify for endorsement to support a Global Talent Visa application. If you are considering pursuing self-sponsorship, please indicate this in your application so we can take it into account during the recruitment process.
About Us
Here you can explore the kind of roles we recruit for, search our latest vacancies, learn more about what it’s like to work at UKCEH, and find out about the many benefits of joining our team.
Every one of our 600+ staff and 50+ postgraduate students plays a vital role in delivering our ambition to understand the environment and the human impact on it, so that together people and nature can prosper.
How we work is just as important as what we achieve. We want UKCEH to be a welcoming, inclusive, engaging and collaborative place to work. We embed our values - excellence, integrity and teamwork - into everything we do.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Planning, developing and co-ordinating field survey activities, including seasonal staff recruitment, training, work scheduling, task dependencies, procurement and project delivery.
• Line-management – day to day support of various remote field survey teams (employees and contractors) including Health & Safety, individual wellbeing, approving expenses, liaising with payrolling agency. Overseeing activities of outsourced field teams.
• Managing project Health & Safety processes - documenting, reviewing, training, communicating and maintaining procedures.
• Managing and coordinating various communication activities – using a variety of media options - to surveyors, project team, project partners/stakeholders, the wider organisation, and subcontractors.
• Project finance activities – developing and managing budgets and resources, including budget revisions, monitoring project spend, extracting and analysing financial data.
• Overseeing quality control and quality assurance of field data. Together with improving the integration of field data with remotely sensed data approaches.
• Monitoring and ensuring progression of field surveying activities, providing information and regular reports.
• Identifying and managing project issues and risks, ensuring appropriate mitigations are planned and implemented, keeping the programme manager informed and knowing when to escalate

For the role of Field Operations Project Manager, we’re looking for somebody who has:

• A Degree, preferably in Science, Ecology, Business related, or relevant work experience
• Experience of managing complex field survey operations, including line management experience of remote teams. To deliver quality assured field data and improve integration with remotely sensed data.
• Resilience under pressure, with a flexible approach to work in a changing environment, and the ability to find pragmatic solutions as issues arise.
• Demonstrable experience of line management, supporting performance and wellbeing, together with seasonal recruitment of surveyors.
• Excellent communication skills, together with great influencing/negotiation skills, able to build rapport and good working relationships across a variety of internal and external stakeholders, providing clear communication outputs with specialists and non-specialists.
• The ability to work independently, managing time and priorities effectively and delivering within agreed deadlines.
• Good team working skills - the ability to collaborate inclusively and effectively, and a willingness to learn from others.
• A working knowledge of project Health & Safety in the field, including lone working.
• A willingness to travel with occasional overnight stays