Project and Impact Manager (Land, Water, Nature and Climate Adaptation)
| Posting date: | 26 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £41,064 to £48,822 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 08 February 2026 |
| Location: | Leeds, West Yorkshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | University of Leeds |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | ENVEE1855 |
Summary
We're searching for a Project and Impact Manager to join our dynamic Climate Commissions Team at the University of Leeds. This isn't just any role; it's a chance to mobilise positive societal change across the Yorkshire & Humber Region and beyond, inspiring system-level action locally, nationally, and internationally.
The University of Leeds is one of the top 80 universities in the world. We have a truly global community, with more than 39,000 students from 170 different countries and over 9,000 staff of 100 different nationalities. Established in 1904, we have a strong tradition of academic excellence, reflected in first-class student education, along with world-leading research that has a real impact around the globe.
The climate crisis is the biggest challenge of our time, and at the University of Leeds, we're relentlessly focused on impact. As a leading research-intensive university, we're uniquely positioned to foster unparalleled collaboration, combining our global outlook with a keen focus on local and regional impact. Our Climate Plan is central to everything we do, aiming to create a healthier, greener, and fairer world.
The Leeds Climate Commission, launched in 2017, was the first of its kind, and the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission is the largest. These "living lab" initiatives were designed to accelerate evidence-based climate action by bridging global science with tangible local impacts. After years of dedicated work, these collaborations are making a real, positive difference, changing our future for the better. Come and be a part of a team that's making a real impact where it matters most.
As a Climate Commissions Project and Impact Manager, you'll be at the heart of the Commissions' team, driving impactful projects that shape a sustainable future for Leeds, Yorkshire and the Humber and beyond. Working hand-in-hand with our network of Commissioners, you'll be instrumental in shaping the future by:
• Driving strategic engagement. Helping to influence how we manage the critical interplay between climate change and vital resources like land use, water, nature recovery, and food.
• Boosting climate resilience. Increasing awareness and encouraging investment in making our communities more resilient to climate impacts.
• Empowering people and organisations. Inspiring passion and capacity for climate action, focusing on rapid decarbonisation, adaptation, nature's recovery, and a just transition.
You'll do this by building and maintaining powerful collaborations across the public, private, and third sectors. This role is all about enabling partners and stakeholders to design and deliver effective climate strategies, exchanging vital knowledge, and supporting extensive stakeholder engagement to make big things happen. Your primary focus will be to facilitate and enable two flagship projects, a key working group and an ongoing research project, collaborating closely with Commissioners, Associates, and various partners:
• Land and Water Stewardship Project: Support nature's recovery and strategically manage human demands on the region's land and water.
• Weather Narratives Project: Utilise creative storytelling to promote climate adaptation and planning.
• YHCC's Regional Picture and Evidence Group: Support this group, backed by Yorkshire Universities, to provide crucial regional data and evidence, building a strong and multifaceted picture of climate action, need and opportunity across the region.
• Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP) Support the UKRI-funded research project (0.2 FTE of role until Dec 2026).
With a strong focus on outcomes, you will work with Commissioners to develop well informed and achievable ‘minimum’ work programmes for these projects, seeking and successfully securing funding and building partnerships to deliver more work effectively, actively building the profile, momentum and impact of our work.
Beyond your core projects, you'll play a vital role in the broader work of the Climate Commissions. This means actively supporting and participating in our routine operations, including engaging in our essential quarterly meetings and contributing to our impactful annual events. Your involvement will help shape the strategic direction and collective efforts of the Commissions, ensuring our ongoing success in driving climate action.
The University of Leeds is one of the top 80 universities in the world. We have a truly global community, with more than 39,000 students from 170 different countries and over 9,000 staff of 100 different nationalities. Established in 1904, we have a strong tradition of academic excellence, reflected in first-class student education, along with world-leading research that has a real impact around the globe.
The climate crisis is the biggest challenge of our time, and at the University of Leeds, we're relentlessly focused on impact. As a leading research-intensive university, we're uniquely positioned to foster unparalleled collaboration, combining our global outlook with a keen focus on local and regional impact. Our Climate Plan is central to everything we do, aiming to create a healthier, greener, and fairer world.
The Leeds Climate Commission, launched in 2017, was the first of its kind, and the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission is the largest. These "living lab" initiatives were designed to accelerate evidence-based climate action by bridging global science with tangible local impacts. After years of dedicated work, these collaborations are making a real, positive difference, changing our future for the better. Come and be a part of a team that's making a real impact where it matters most.
As a Climate Commissions Project and Impact Manager, you'll be at the heart of the Commissions' team, driving impactful projects that shape a sustainable future for Leeds, Yorkshire and the Humber and beyond. Working hand-in-hand with our network of Commissioners, you'll be instrumental in shaping the future by:
• Driving strategic engagement. Helping to influence how we manage the critical interplay between climate change and vital resources like land use, water, nature recovery, and food.
• Boosting climate resilience. Increasing awareness and encouraging investment in making our communities more resilient to climate impacts.
• Empowering people and organisations. Inspiring passion and capacity for climate action, focusing on rapid decarbonisation, adaptation, nature's recovery, and a just transition.
You'll do this by building and maintaining powerful collaborations across the public, private, and third sectors. This role is all about enabling partners and stakeholders to design and deliver effective climate strategies, exchanging vital knowledge, and supporting extensive stakeholder engagement to make big things happen. Your primary focus will be to facilitate and enable two flagship projects, a key working group and an ongoing research project, collaborating closely with Commissioners, Associates, and various partners:
• Land and Water Stewardship Project: Support nature's recovery and strategically manage human demands on the region's land and water.
• Weather Narratives Project: Utilise creative storytelling to promote climate adaptation and planning.
• YHCC's Regional Picture and Evidence Group: Support this group, backed by Yorkshire Universities, to provide crucial regional data and evidence, building a strong and multifaceted picture of climate action, need and opportunity across the region.
• Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP) Support the UKRI-funded research project (0.2 FTE of role until Dec 2026).
With a strong focus on outcomes, you will work with Commissioners to develop well informed and achievable ‘minimum’ work programmes for these projects, seeking and successfully securing funding and building partnerships to deliver more work effectively, actively building the profile, momentum and impact of our work.
Beyond your core projects, you'll play a vital role in the broader work of the Climate Commissions. This means actively supporting and participating in our routine operations, including engaging in our essential quarterly meetings and contributing to our impactful annual events. Your involvement will help shape the strategic direction and collective efforts of the Commissions, ensuring our ongoing success in driving climate action.