Senior Development Manager (Trees for Streets) in City of London

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Senior Development Manager (Trees for Streets) is the strategic development lead for our Trees for Streets programme. It is a unique and exciting programme that operates across the UK. They are responsible for managing and optimising the programme, also known as ‘The National Street Tree Sponsorship Scheme’. They will ensure that this special and innovative initiative can flourish as a nationally significant programme, which gets noticed by decision makers and the public alike. Through maximising the opportunities offered by Trees for Streets, they will play a pivotal role in securing major and fresh investment into streets. This will help transform streets into leafy, liveable places, ultimately mobilising partners and communities towards the planting and long‑term stewardship of urban trees.

ABOUT TREES FOR CITIES

Trees for Cities is an ambitious, far‑reaching organisation. Trees for Cities is the only charity that focuses on planting, protecting and promoting urban trees across the UK. We are a rapidly growing and developing organisation that suits ambitious, dedicated and passionate staff. It’s an exciting time to join as we embark on a new 5‑year strategy, which will see us launch a movement for urban trees and tree equity.

ABOUT YOU

• A strategic mindset: This is a senior, highly collaborative and outward‑facing role, which can shape and execute strategic decisions to increase the effectiveness of this special programme for us and our partners. You will have a strategic mindset, complemented by deep programme management experience. You will be confident in scoping and identifying development opportunities, whilst also providing effective management of a multi‑scheme programme. You are confident with partners, and they feel involved and central to decision‑making.
• On partnerships: You will already be adept at high‑level partnership management and correspondingly have advanced influencing and negotiating skills. You have a good sense for where synergy exists and are confident engaging people about opportunities. A business mindset and ways of working will be innate to you. Importantly, you can blend the financial and technical opportunities offered by sponsorship platforms with the strategic objectives of a charity to help change lives with trees and build movements for change.
• Managing programme complexity: This is a complex programme, with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. You won't be phased by that, because you enjoy collaborative working and know how to manage a diverse range of relationships towards a common purpose, especially when you are not directly responsible for their work. Being a complex programme, there is a lot to keep on top of, but you are a natural problem solver, and attention to detail matters to you.
• On learning: You might not know a huge amount about trees, and that’s fine (for now), but you are passionate about how sponsorship programmes and ‘tech for good’ can play a pivotal role in making life better, drive powerful partnerships, and bring in fresh resources to help address environmental and social problems. Whilst your knowledge about schemes like this, or how to plant trees in streets is limited, you are not fazed by the need for this learning.
• Understanding context: You will have great insight into how Local Authorities operate, know what’s important to them and instinctively know how a sponsorship scheme can help them deliver on multiple objectives that matter to them. At the same time, you’ll have at least some sense for the national stakeholders and funders who have an interest in creating leafy streets and can work up purposeful relationships with them.

Trees for Cities is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. We value diversity and are committed to promoting diversity within the workplace. We aim to ensure that our employees achieve their full potential and that all employment decisions, including recruitment, are taken without reference to irrelevant or discriminatory criteria. A full copy of our Equal Opportunities Policy can be provided on request.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, use the application link below to submit your CV and supporting statement (no more than 2 sides of A4) outlining why you are interested in the role and your fit with the Person Specification. If you experience any issues during the application process, please email hr@treesforcities.org. We actively encourage you to talk to us about the role and the programme, especially if you are not sure about your fit. If you would like to have an informal chat before applying, please contact Carrie Hume, Development and Partnerships Director at carrie.hume@treesforcities.org. Please note we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role; you must therefore have a valid right to work in the UK to apply.

The deadline to apply is: Sunday 22nd February at 23:30. Interviews are scheduled for: The 2nd and 3rd of March, with a second interview likely to follow on the 11th of March. If you are shortlisted for an interview, you will normally be contacted within two weeks after applying. If you do not hear from us within this period, then you should assume that on this occasion you have not been selected for an interview.

Trees for Cities is the first UK environmental organisation to have been awarded social value certification. Trees for Cities is an equal opportunities employer. Registered Charity No: 1032154. No Agencies Please.