Leading Lights Project Manager
£36,900 Per Annum • Fixed Term • Full Time
National Historic Ships UK is seeking a Project Manager for the Development Phase of its Leading Lights project to join their small and friendly team in Greenwich, on a 12-month full time contract.
About us
National Historic Ships UK is an independent advisory body based at Royal Museums Greenwich under the terms of a service level agreement, operating to a specific remit set down at the time of its establishment in 2006 by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport. Its five-year Forward Plan focusses on the long-term sustainability of the historic vessel sector.
The Role
National Historic Ships UK is the official voice for historic vessels in the UK. It acts as an advisory body and maintains a set of databases recording the UK's historic and replica craft, including the National Register of Historic Vessels. It also manages the Shipshape Network which connects over 90 external projects and promotes the regeneration of traditional maritime skills and infrastructure. The Leading Lights project is grant aided by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and aims to invest in historic vessels UK-wide, making the sector more resilient, connected and informed.
The Leading Lights Project Manager will be responsible for the effective delivery of the Development Phase, ensuring that targets are met on budget and the stage two application is successfully submitted. Key responsibilities include working with the relevant consultants to deliver a strategic vision and business plan for National Historic Ships UK, managing the Development Phase budget, and organising the launch and promotion of the Leading Lights project at a National Historic Ships UK event. The Leading Lights Project Manager will also be responsible for recruiting an evaluation consultant and an activity plan consultant to work alongside.
The successful candidate will need to demonstrate experience in working on a funded project and writing applications. They will need to be used to tight deadlines and preparing formal reports. We are looking for excellent communication skills, including the ability to confidently engage with multiple stakeholders, and ideally someone who has previously worked in the heritage sector.
This is a fixed-term, full time role for 12 months, in Band 5 Management and Proficient Specialists. Core hours of work will be 36 per week, over 5 days between the hours of 9am and 5pm, with at least 2 of these days to be office based. On occasion some flexibility and overnight travel may be required.
Salary: £36,900 per annum
We encourage you to read the full job description/person specification before applying for this role.
Please note that due to our commitment to internal opportunities for current staff, internal candidates will be considered first for this role.
Please also be aware that we are currently unable to sponsor visas.
Interviews are provisionally scheduled for w/c 17 August.
Benefits
We offer:
• A generous pension scheme
• 22 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• 40% discount in our cafés, 30% in our shops
• Interest-free loans (travel, bike, gym, learning)
• Free Life Assurance Scheme covering you for 2 times your annual salary
• Free entry to exhibitions at partner museums and galleries
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• A culture that celebrates individuality, collaboration, and innovation
To find out more, read a full list of our benefits.
EDI
Diversity and inclusion are integral to our work at Royal Museums Greenwich, as we are a museum for everyone. We want to foster a spirit of inclusion, collaborative working, innovation, and valuing people as individuals whose lives have been shaped by different experiences. Therefore, we welcome applications from everyone.
We actively work with Disability Confident scheme and ask that you let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments you need or things you would like us to know during the interview process, which may include being provided with the interview questions in advance, requiring a step free interview space, that you are eye-contact avoidant, or having the interview questions in a written format or additional time in timed tests, interviews or other assessment activities.
Closing Date: Sun, Aug 2, 2026
Closing date Job type Contract Remuneration Contract Job zone South East