Community Access And Engagement Officer - Req24161

Job title: Community Access and Engagement Officer

Salary: £32,076.00 - £33,945.00

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent 

Location: Farnley Hall, Leeds, LS12 5HA (hybrid working offered)

As a Community Access and Engagement Officer you’ll thrive on working within a motivated team in managing  and protecting the 862 km public rights of way network, ensuring that it is provided to a great standard for the public to use and enjoy.

Possessing self-reliance, you will play a key role in working with communities and developing the rights of way network in accordance with the Council’s responsibilities and delivering projects in line with the Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

The role enables involvement in the planning process to protect and enhance public rights of way and realise investment opportunities to create sustainable and convenient links in turn supporting personal health and wellbeing and helping the city achieve net zero by 2050.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Community Access and Engagement Officer, you will bring to the role:

• An ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative with communities 
• An ability to manage and deliver projects to agreed timescales quality and budget
• An ability to develop and write clear and concise Public Path Order reports
• The ability to undertake Path inspections to recognised standards
• Familiarity of public rights of way law and practice and appreciation of the issues concerning their management, protection and improvement

About the role 

Reporting to the Public Rights of Way Manager the role provides an opportunity to work across a range of disciplines to contribute towards sustainable Active Travel.  Public Rights of Way provide an invaluable resource for health and wellbeing activities, principally being routes for walking, horse riding and pedal cycling and are a key element in an interconnected green infrastructure for local communities, who seek good quality and well way marked routes.

As a Community Access and Engagement Officer you’ll engage in collaborative work with communities, partnership groups and volunteers to achieve positive outcomes in improving and developing the rights of way network and collecting path survey data to feed into maintenance programmes.

Having reasonable cartographic skills, together with experience of using GIS applications and good organisational skills, the post holder will also work closely with colleagues to ensure that our Definitive Map is accurate and that changes to the public path network are in line with relevant procedures.  In this regard knowledge of both Modification Order and Public Path Order procedures is advantageous.

The role is integral to our Natural Environment team (composed of 3 integrated sections:  Forestry, Natural Habitats and Public Rights of Way), which form a central part of a larger Climate Energy & Green Spaces service, who lead on the City’s Climate Change adaptation.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application. 

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Bob Buckenham, Public Rights of Way Manager. Call 0113 3782902 or email bob.buckenham@leeds.gov.uk.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2023. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
 
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Description 

Job Purpose: 

To carry out the City Council’s statutory functions relating to the management and protection of public rights of way in support of the objectives of the Parks and Countryside service.

Qualifications

• Relevant degree or equivalent qualification

Responsibilities

• To assist in the management and co-ordination of service provision of the Public Rights of Way functional area, including the following disciplines:
• To assert and protect the public’s rights in relation to the use of public rights of way
• Keeping up to date with the legislation functions and good practice
• Work with and coordinate community volunteers and the Leeds Local Access Forum to develop community engagement 
• To undertake condition surveys of the public rights of way network to inform and prioritise the annual maintenance programme
• To assist and support the maintenance function and undertake practical improvement works to the network where necessary
• To assist with the development of strategies, working practices and policies including the Rights of Way Improvement Plan
• To produce Delegated Decision Reports in accordance with approved procedures
• To ensure the procurement of goods and services is in accordance with financial regulations, corporate policy and legal requirements.
• Responding to enquiries regarding Public Rights of Way
• Processing Public Path Orders 
• To work closely with Parish and Town Councils to facilitate the Public Paths Partnership scheme and a positive commitment to providing excellence in service provision.
• When necessary to act as a witness for the City Council at Public Inquiry and Court in relation to enforcement, accident investigation and path orders 
• To work with others across Parks & Countryside Service and Departmental boundaries to achieve positive outcomes
• To represent the Parks & Countryside Service at all appropriate internal and external meetings.
• To undertake other duties as may be required from time to time
• To abide by the Council’s policies on equality and diversity in the duties of the post and as an employee of the Council.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities:  Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview or Certificate.

Skills Required

• Ability to communicate with a wide range of people individually and in groups
• Cartographic skills and the ability to interpret maps and plans of differing scales
• Ability to organise time effectively
• Accurate record keeping including the ability to write clear and concise reports
• Ability to resolve differences using diplomacy and negotiation skills
• Ability to work on your own and as part of a team
• Able to demonstrate good IT skills (word processing, spreadsheets, databases and GIS)
• Able to coordinate community and volunteer engagement to deliver public rights of way objectives
• To ensure the procurement of goods and services is in accordance with financial regulations, corporate policy and legal requirements.

Knowledge Required

• Relevant degree or equivalent qualification

Experience Required

• Proven experience of managing competing priorities and meeting deadlines
• Experience of using GIS

Behavioural & other Characteristics required

• Achievement of equal opportunities in both employment and service delivery and an understanding of the Leeds City Council policy
• Willingness to take personal responsibility for and abide by the Council’s Health and Safety Policy
• A positive commitment to providing excellence in service provision
• Commitment to developing effective working relationships internally and with services across the Council.
• Proactive in contributing to the ethos of team working within the service.
• Ability to Access and survey in remote locations with uneven and difficult terrain
• A flexible approach to working across the Leeds Metroplolitan area
• A positive commitment to providing excellence in service provision.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: It is desirable that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities:  Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

Skills Required

• Ability to interpret historical documentation and user evidence

Knowledge Required

• Proven experience in Definitive Map work or willingness to work towards full membership of IPROW
• Knowledge of Countryside and Access Legislation
• Knowledge of Planning system in relation to changes to Public Rights of Way
• Knowledge of various types of path construction
• Understanding of the working practices of Parish and Town Councils
• Full, clean driving licence

Experience Required

• Implementation of Public Rights of Way legislation as a local government officer
• Representing a Local Authority at a Local Public Inquiry or Court
• Processing Public Path Orders and Definitive Map Modification Order Applications
• Experience of dealing with landowners, tenants and developers
• Understanding of wider countryside issues and legislation
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Assessment and administration of grant application
• Experience of processing expense and claim forms

Behavioural & other Characteristics required

• To represent the Parks and Countryside service at all appropriate internal and external meetings.
• To ensure effective consultation mechanisms in order to develop the work of the Parks and Countryside service.