I joined the Company on the point of its embarking on Phase 1 of the Biomass Feedstocks Innovation Programme, a publicly funded project awarded by the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. I led this project to its successful completion. The outcomes from this project underpinned a subsequent application and bid for a £2.7m contract and were awarded a 3-year funding commitment. In addition, I have both led and supported additional projects across the business including establishing overseas ventures and internal processes and procedures.Key achievements include:• Prepared and drafted the application for the successful Phase 2 bid, with an extensive project plan across 10 work packages and to be undertaken by 6 sub-contractors and containing a full budget proposal. • Full responsibility for day-to-day execution of the Phase 2 contract.• Established and managed the Company's first Project Management team - mentoring all appointees and supporting their professional development.• Overall management of all sub-contractors within the contract consortium.• Co-led successful application for UKRI funding for an overseas market venture and coordinated the virtual launch of the project hosted by the British High Commission in Delhi.

Additional duties to those carried out as a Placement Manager;• Financial team coordinator – maintaining internal financial records, reviewing placement pricing, leading changes to payment systems and distilling financial data• Working with senior management to conduct a ‘threat analysis’ of all the countries we work in, informing our project risk assessments• Overseeing internal operations and reviewing volunteer management procedures during the ‘Covid-era’• Undertaking additional aspects of “crisis management” - including the off duty emergency phone. Dealing with extraordinary events which may affect the project and / or country as they arise

Pod Volunteer is a not for profit volunteer organisation with an office in Cheltenham – and volunteer projects based and operating overseas;• The role is a balance of volunteer, operations and placement management• Overseeing volunteer applications from initial enquiry through to completion of the volunteer’s overseas trip, requiring a high-level of organisational skills and the need to plan ahead• “Country manager” overseeing volunteers, staff and projects abroad whilst undertaking additional responsibilities• Undertaking overseas trips to allocated projects and compiling written reports and verbal presentations, making recommendations to senior management on return • Horizon scanning to identify potential issues affecting the project and / or country concerned

Demonstrated my customer service skills in providing service and hospitality to members, ensuring they had a pleasurable visit and any of their concerns were immediately addressed. I was highly commended in the role and given additional duties off season.