Part-time Development and Communications Officer

Green Schools Project is looking for a part time Development and Communications Officer to work 3 days per week to drive forward our fundraising strategy and professionalise our communications.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing team in a small but ambitious social enterprise that is helping schools and young people to tackle the climate and nature crisis. In the past three years we have grown from a one-person organisation to a team of five through successful fundraising and the growth of our unique and innovative Zero Carbon Schools programme.

You’ll be working with our Development Lead to implement our fundraising strategy, researching and developing new opportunities with local authorities, academy trusts, and corporates, as well as researching and writing grant applications. Alongside, you’ll be responsible for creating a more strategic approach for our communications, including our social media and use of our website. We enable significant impact through our work and we’re keen to improve the way we communicate this and tell our story.

The role would suit someone with fundraising, business development, and Communications experience (though not necessarily all three) who is looking for more responsibility and experience across these areas. Initially 3 days per week, there is scope to increase the number of days dependent on successful fundraising.

We believe that tackling the climate and nature crisis is the most urgent issue facing society and that schools need to educate young people about the situation they face and involve them in addressing it. Young people bear no responsibility for causing the climate crisis, yet they will have to live through this issue which will define their future. We believe that, given the opportunity, they have the energy, enthusiasm, and determination to change attitudes and behaviour on a local and global scale.

Our values that we do our best to embody at all times are to be enthusiastic, innovative, environmentally responsible, ethical, and fun.

We exist to help young people learn about and get actively involved with tackling the climate and nature crisis. We support schools to provide opportunities for their pupils to learn about the individual actions and systemic responses required.

We are keen to attract applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences but particularly interested to hear from applicants where the environmental education sector is currently underrepresented (ethnicity, disability, LGBT+, living in areas of low social mobility). 

What you’ll do:

• Work with the Development Lead to implement our fundraising strategy.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to sell Zero Carbon Schools to local authorities and academy trusts.
• Research grant funding opportunities and write applications alongside the Development Lead.
• Research and pursue corporate sponsorship opportunities.
• Create a strategic communications framework with the support of the Development Lead.
• Manage our social media accounts and devise and implement new ideas for content.
• Support with the redevelopment of our website.
• Support with the creation of possible new revenue streams.
• Support with reporting to funders and key stakeholders.

We need you to have:

• Experience of at least one, preferably two, and if possible all three of fundraising, business development, and Communications.
• A desire to develop your skills in the above areas.
• Strong written communication skills that can be adapted to fundraising, business development, or wider communications.
• An understanding of social media platforms and how we can professionalise our use of them.
• Confidence in speaking and ‘selling’ to potential partners.
• An attention to detail and an ability to keep accurate and up to date records.
• Strong organisational skills with an ability to prioritise while working on a variety of tasks.
• Strong relationship building skills with the ability to enthuse.
• A resilient attitude that sees setbacks as a chance to learn and thrives in challenging situations.
• An enthusiasm for working in a small organisation with an ability to be agile around the tasks required and an ability to thrive when offered flexibility and autonomy in your work.

It would be useful if you have:

• Experience working in or with schools, or to have worked with young people and a strong belief in their potential.
• A passion for environmental issues and a commitment to help tackle the climate and nature crises.
• Experience working with Local Authorities, Academy Trusts, or corporate sponsors.

What you’ll get from us:

• An opportunity to work within an award-winning social enterprise that is working to change the way schools respond to the climate and nature crisis.
• A supportive and encouraging environment in which to grow your skills and knowledge.
• £34,000 per year pro rata, 3 days per week.
• 33 days annual leave per year including bank holidays pro rata.
• Flexible working hours.

Location: Working from home with occasional team days in London.

Timeline:

Deadline for applications: Sunday 21st April

First interviews (informal phone call): Week commencing 22nd April

Second interview (via zoom): Week commencing 29th April

Notification of decision: Monday 6th May

Provisional job start date: Monday 3rd June (or sooner if the successful candidate is available before then)

If you have any questions before you make an application, please get in touch with Tom Hague, Development Lead: tom@greenschoolsproject.org.uk