Project and Impact Manager (Land, Water, Nature and Climate Adaptation)

University of Leeds - School of Earth and Environment

Location:	Leeds
Salary:	£41,064 to £48,822 per annum
Hours:	Full Time
Contract Type:	Permanent

Placed On: 28th January 2026
Closes: 8th February 2026
Job Ref: ENVEE1855

Overview of the Role

Are you passionate about making a real difference in protecting people and nature from climate change?

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.

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.

To explore this post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:
Ms Samantha Herbert, Operations Director
Email: s.herbert@leeds.ac.uk