Community Partnerships Manager

Community Partnerships Manager

40 hours per week, temporary contract until 30th December 2028

We’re not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that’s home to over 30,000 incredible animals inside 128 acres of stunning gardens. We’re not just the UK’s most popular zoo. We’re a major wildlife charity that’s committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally.

And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we’re making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it’s needed most. We are Chester Zoo and we prevent extinction.

We now have an exciting new role for a Community Partnerships Manager. This role will oversee the delivery of the Networks for Nature project.

Networks for Nature spans c60 square miles from the River Dee to the River Mersey, including Chester and Ellesmere Port. This is a collaborative partnership project working with Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Land Trust, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Canal and River Trust, and Sustrans with the aim to drive nature recovery in a mixed-use landscape, creating diverse habitats for species to thrive now and for years to come.

We will empower communities to have an active role in conservation action and stewardship and will focus on making nature more accessible to and inclusive for everyone to enable connection and improve wellbeing. To find out more about Networks for Nature visit Networks For Nature | Conservation at Chester Zoo.

The Community Partnerships Manager will be responsible for leading the project delivery team, maintaining strong working relationships with and consulting with the project partners, making links between the different strands of project delivery and developing collaborative working across the region via the wider Networks for Nature Partnership.

Using established project management structures, the Community Partnerships Manager will ensure adherence to and delivery against the project activity and action plan, record keeping and reporting to project governance bodies and multiple project funders.

The Community Partnerships Manager will be accountable to the internal Chester Zoo Project Board and a Steering Group comprised of project partners, who have oversight of the project. The Community Partnerships Manager will track and monitor project budget (c.£5million) and ensure that all spending is in line with the agreed budget and follows NLHF and CZ procedures. The Community Partnerships Manager will be supported in these tasks by the Senior Community Participation and Engagement Manager and will line manage a Project Administrator who will help with the day‑to‑day administration of the project.

• Matrix manage the project delivery team to ensure adherence to and delivery of the project activity plan throughout the delivery phase.
• Work collaboratively with project partners to ensure that planned conservation action and engagement activities are taking place according to timescale and budget detailed in NFN project activity plan.
• Support the NFN team and wider Partnership to create links, pathways and signposting between the work that is taking place and to improve collaborative working to increase impact and efficiency.
• Provide regular reports to Project Board, and the Steering Group, ensuring that internal and external stakeholders are kept appraised of project progress and any areas of risk.
• Work with the Trusts and Foundations Manager to manage relationships with National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and other funders for the project. Lead on reporting to the NLHF, ensuring compliance with all reporting requirements to ensure successful drawdown of the c.£4million grant.
• Manage the allocated budget for the delivery phase c.£5million working within the agreed budget and proactively seeking approvals and reporting variances to the Senior Community Participation and Engagement Manager, Director of Conservation Education and Project Board as needed.
• Work with Chester Zoo Science Department and external contractors to evaluate the impact of the project, including gathering evidence and case studies.
• Advocate for the project at…