National Trail Volunteer And Project Coordinator

National Trail Volunteer and Project Coordinator

Job reference: OCC615185

Salary range: £32,076 - £34,834 per annum

Location: Unit 1 Sutton Farm, Sutton Lane, Sutton, OX29 5RD near Oxford. Covering Thames and Ridgeway National Trails passing through Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties.

Hours: 37 per week - we are open to discussions about flexible working 

Contract type: Permanent

Help us deliver our vision to make the Thames Path and Ridgeway wonderful trails for all to visit.

About us

The Thames Path and Ridgeway National Trails are part of a family of sixteen National Trails. National Trails are managed to provide the public with high quality long-distance walking, cycling and horse-riding experiences. We are a small but friendly team looking after the trails with the aid of our fantastic volunteers.

We maintain and install signage, gates, and small bridges up and down the trails, as well as carrying out extensive summer mows. We also engage with local communities and look at new and exciting ways to promote and enhance the trails and the environments they go through.

About the role

A rare opportunity has arisen, and we are looking to appoint an energetic, personable, and resourceful individual with experience of working with and supervising volunteers carrying out practical countryside work. The postholder is responsible for managing our Volunteer Scheme so that the two National Trails meet Trail Quality Standards and volunteers feel safe, motivated, and adequately trained and equipped.

The post involves working in scenic farmed countryside along the rural Thames Path from the source in the Cotswolds to the edge of London, and along The Ridgeway in the chalk hills of the Chilterns and North Wessex Downs National Landscapes. The postholder has use of their own work truck and manages a workshop space and equipment dedicated to the Volunteer Scheme. This base is currently in Sutton where the postholder will be working closely alongside Oxfordshire County Council staff who share the workshop.

The work addresses the needs of walkers, cyclists, horse riders and less able users. The role leads in attracting and retaining volunteers to promote, maintain and enhance the Trails. Tasks include surveys, making signs, clearing vegetation, installing gates, mowing and carrying out surface patch repairs. There will also be opportunities to develop new opportunities and contacts, such as attracting different types of people to volunteer with us and delivering broader objectives through practical tasks.

This post is principally funded by Natural England with the support of local authorities outside London. For more information on the National Trails Click Here

About you

Have you come through a countryside apprenticeship scheme or gained plenty of practical experience of working with volunteers in the Countryside, then this is the role for you. With your strong people skills and high level of organisation you will find a satisfying and rewarding job working alongside hardworking volunteers.

Rewards and benefits

• Culture of flexible working
• Technology to support agile working where role permits
• Up to 33 day’s holiday p.a. plus bank holidays
• Option to ‘buy’ additional holiday
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development

Would you like to know more?

Please click here to view the Job Description and Selection Criteria 

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Hannah Gutteridge, Thames Path Manager on 07704664299.

Application Procedure

To apply, please complete an online application form by clicking either of the Apply Now buttons at the top and bottom of this advert. This includes a section asking you to explain how you meet the selection criteria, as specified in the job posting. You may attach a cover letter and/or CV to your application form, however it is not mandatory.

If you encounter any issues with the maximum character count on your application form, please use this tool to check your text for any hidden HTML characters, which may be taking it over the limit.

If you experience any technical difficulties whilst completing the application form, please contact the Recruitment Team Recruitment Application Enquiry Form.

If you require the application form in an alternative format as part of a reasonable adjustment at this stage of the recruitment process, please contact the Recruitment Team using Recruitment Application Enquiry Form.

Closing date: Sunday 26 May 2024.

Interview date: Thursday 30 May 2024.