Community Engagement Project Assistant

Job Title:                               Project Assistant

Position Type:                      Paid

Reports to:                           Senior Partnerships & Programmes Officer

Based at:                             School Food Matters, The Bridge, 7b Parkshot, London TW9 2RD

Working Hours:                   5 days a week, 9am-5pm (flexible)

Salary:                                 £28,770

Pension:                              School Food Matters matches pension contributions at 5% of pensionable earnings

Holiday:                               31 days including bank holidays that fall on working days.  Holidays must be taken during the school holidays

Contract:                              Permanent

Background to School Food Matters

School Food Matters (SFM) exists to teach children about food and to improve children’s access to healthy, sustainable food during their time at school. We provide fully funded food education programmes to schools. Our experience delivering these programmes informs and strengthens our campaigns, bringing the voices of children, parents and teachers to government policy. 

Job purpose

·         To support the team with the organisation and delivery of all food education programmes

Key tasks include:

·         Providing project support to the Senior Partnerships and Programmes Officer and Development Manager in both the office and on-site to deliver SFM’s food education programmes, including gathering quotes and photos on projects

·         Creating new and maintaining existing relationships with schools

·         Delivering some assemblies and workshops to schools

·         Supporting existing relationships with programme partners and funders

·         Assisting with grant-giving processes

·         Supporting the food education team with the preparation of grant monitoring reports

·         Keeping up to date with safeguarding requirements and reporting procedures

• Maintaining the ethos of the charity and positively promoting our work at all times

·         The Project Assistant will also undertake any other tasks relevant to the affairs of SFM that may arise from time to time.  Therefore, being flexible and approaching the job with an open and positive mindset is essential!

Person specification

Essential

·         Strong administrative, organisational, and motivational skills with great attention to detail

·         Ability to work to tight deadlines and prioritise workload

·         Experience of building relationships with partner organisations and individuals

·         Comfortable engaging with a variety of audiences (students, school staff and programme partners) including writing and responding to emails, conducting telephone, virtual and face-to-face meetings, running workshops and delivering assemblies

·         The ability to be flexible and support with session delivery outside the office as required, sometimes with short notice

·         Clear and engaging communication skills, particularly oral

·         Excellent IT skills including excel, word and email

·         Ability to work in a team, and seek help when needed

·         Self-motivated and optimistic with a can-do attitude

Desirable

·         Experience of working for a charity or not-for-profit organisation

·         Experience of working in education

·         An interest in food education and children’s health

·         Experience of working with Airtable or another database

·         Experience of writing reports