Recreation Projects Implementation Manager
Salary: £55,000–£58,000
Location: North West (with travel across regional sites)
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Recreation Projects Implementation Manager to turn strategic plans into fully deliverable, compliant, and high-quality projects across a large and diverse land portfolio. This role plays a pivotal part in shaping outstanding visitor experiences, ensuring every site is legally ready, sustainably designed, and prepared for seamless implementation.
You’ll lead on land permissions, planning, and estate design while coordinating with internal and external partners to bring access and recreation improvements to life.
Key Responsibilities
Project Delivery
*Translate strategic access & recreation plans into deliverable on-the-ground projects.
*Manage enabling works, infrastructure upgrades, signage programmes, and visitor access improvements.
*Oversee project planning, procurement, risk management, and budget control.
Land Permissions & Compliance
*Lead the acquisition of planning permissions, environmental consents, heritage approvals, and landowner permissions.
*Ensure all projects comply with relevant legislation including rights of way, byelaws, environmental protection, and site designations.
*Work collaboratively with Legal, Property, Environmental and other specialist teams.
Estate Planning & Visitor Infrastructure Design
*Provide professional input into the design of trails, car parks, visitor gateways, water access points and wider estate layouts.
*Commission feasibility studies, constraints mapping, and technical drawings.
*Ensure designs protect water quality, habitats, heritage assets and local amenity.
Stakeholder & Contractor Management
*Procure and manage consultants such as planners, ecologists, and land specialists.
*Coordinate with councils, statutory bodies, community groups and operational teams.
*Ensure high standards of safety, accessibility and sustainability in all deliverables.
Environmental & Heritage Protection
*Lead ecological mitigation planning in collaboration with specialist teams.
*Champion nature-positive approaches and protect designated sites.
Operational Handover & Continuous Improvement
*Prepare comprehensive handover documentation including drawings, O&M files and maintenance plans.
*Capture lessons learned to inform future schemes across the portfolio.
Skills & Experience Required
*Proven experience securing planning permissions, environmental permits, and heritage consents.
*Strong understanding of access, rights of way, environmental and land-use legislation.
*Ability to review and influence designs for visitor infrastructure and estate layouts.
*Experience commissioning and managing external consultants.
*Confident communicator capable of engaging with senior leaders, statutory partners and local communities.
*Knowledge of CDM, health & safety requirements, and contractor management principles.
Essential Qualifications
*Degree or postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g., Environmental Management, Planning, Land/Estates Management, Geography) or equivalent professional experience.