Senior Project Officer (Berks, Bucks & Oxfordshire)

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Every day TCV works across the UK to create healthier and happier communities for everyone - communities where our activities have a lasting impact on people’s health, prospects and outdoor places.

We recognise that each community and the people living there have different needs. Whether improving well-being, conserving a well-loved outdoor space or bringing people together to promote social cohesion and combat loneliness, TCV works together with communities to deliver practical solutions to the real life challenges they face.

For over 50 years we have adapted our work with volunteers to reflect the changing needs of communities in the UK and, by giving people a sense of purpose and belonging, we have empowered them to take control of their lives and outdoor spaces for the benefit of all.

Whilst our activities vary, our inclusive approach has remained consistent; bringing people and places together to create happy, healthy and connected communities for everyone.

This role involves managing individuals and projects, to support local people to deal with local environmental concerns within their own communities. This includes promoting a healthy lifestyle and recruiting and supporting volunteers, along with providing advice and training to help individuals and groups implement their own projects.

The post holder will support the Area Manager (South East England) in delivering all aspects of The Conservation Volunteers work in Berkshire and Oxfordshire, as well as parts of the adjacent counties too.

The Conservation Volunteers has been active in Berkshire for many years, working in partnership with many landowners and others to manage the area’s green-spaces, as well as supporting a network of local community groups to do so too. The post-holder will be expected to continue to deliver and develop this work.

More specifically, the post holder’s role will include:

• Setting up and running two to three days of practical conservation volunteering projects each week (every Tuesday and Thursday and once a month on a Saturday). N.B. The Tuesday group is a new project focusing on the Kennet & Avon Canal, which started in May 2015. (In 2014 when projects were only run on Thursdays, this involved around 157 different people, working on 32 sites and delivering 913 work days).

• Supporting The Conservation Volunteers’ network of independent community groups to deliver their own projects, through giving them advice and support. (Presently 28 groups in Berkshire and a further 57 in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire).

• Developing our relationship with local trusts.

• Managing two Key Volunteers and supervising a Community Project Officer (TBC).

• Managing local resources, including the office, tool store and two vehicles.

• Managing the local budget; (expected to be around £70,000 in 2015-2016).

• Building The Conservation Volunteer’s local business, by actively engaging with new groups, land mangers and local authorities in the area.

This post is being offered at 35 hours a week. We currently expect it to last until May 2016. However, if the person on Maternity Leave wishes to return to work earlier, the post could be terminated with eight weeks’ notice. The Conservation Volunteers supports a flexible approach to determining the actual days and hours worked by the post holder, although he/she will be expected to remain flexible with his/her work days, as delivery times may vary from week to week and will include significant weekend and evening work.

The successful candidate is likely to have previous experience of leading groups of volunteers, carrying out practical conservation volunteering, working with community groups and managing people, budgets and resources. An understanding of fundraising and marketing would also be useful. Our projects work with volunteers from a wide variety of ages, abilities and backgrounds. The successful candidate is likely to have experience of working with many sectors of the community.

The post holder will work as part of The Conservation Volunteers South East England Team. There are 17 members of staff within the Team, who are based in five offices, in Bursledon (near Southampton), Croydon, Hastings, Reading and Worthing. (NB This structure is presently being reviewed).

A full driving licence (for a manual transmission vehicle) is essential, (which has been held for a minimum of one year), as the post holder has use of company vehicles. The post holder must be able and licensed to drive a minibus (normally the D1 licence category), or be willing to learn to do so within a reasonable time-scale.

For an informal chat about the project and the job, please ring Paul Forrest-Jameson on 07740 899 537.

This post is subject to an enhanced CRC check.

A full clean or near clean driving licence is essential.

Closing date for completed applications is 5.00pm 09/08/15

You can apply for this post online or you can download an application form in Adobe Acrobat format or Word format and you can download a full job description along with terms and conditions for this post here.

Alternatively you can request an application pack from recruitment@tcv.org.uk quoting the reference SPOML.

Completed applications forms must be returned to Paul Forrest-Jameson - The Conservation Volunteers, Reading International Solidarity Centre, 35-39 London Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 4PS or by email to p.forrest-jameson@tcv.org.uk by 09/08/15.

 

BTCV is striving to be an equal opportunities employer.