Project Officer - School Hubs

Fixed term to 31 March 2025 | Salary: £26,726 | 35 hours per week | Based primarily in Falkirk schools, but with some working from home, and visits to FEL Scotland’s other premises and community hubs across the Forth Valley

Interested in joining us? Fantastic!

We’re experts in helping communities live more sustainably – making social and environmental change happen, project by project, so people and our planet can thrive.

We believe powerful change can be simple to make; small steps everyone can take to make their own lives better can help our world towards a healthier, more sustainable future too.

We support that change to happen, project by project. Each one we run focuses on the things that matter to those they support across our core themes of Climate, Travel, and Food.

But we never tell anyone what to do. We meet people where they’re at. We show communities what’s possible. We help them figure out what works best for them. And we give them the skills and confidence they need to make good things happen.

That’s how we’re changing our world for the better, project by project. It’s how we help people, communities and our planet thrive.

If this sounds like you – and you like the sound of us – then please apply: email us your CV and in a word document explain why you’d like to work for us and what you can bring to the role (500 words max).

We’ll need your application by Sunday the 7th of July. We will be aiming to have interviews on the week beginning the 15th of July.

Before then, if you’d like to chat about the role or how your skills and experience might fit, then do get in touch: email jodie@felscotland.org to arrange a time to talk.

FEL is an Equal Opportunities Employer and a Registered Charity. We promote equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace and actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply for vacancies.

Job Purpose:

Working as part of the FEL Scotland team, you will work within our School Hubs based in Falkirk. This exciting new role will expand FEL’s successful secondary school Active Travel Hub programme.

You will work closely with school staff and pupils to develop and deliver a programme of activities with the aim of increasing everyday cycling, walking and wheeling journeys across the school and to support social and environmental change at a community level.

You will be an ambassador for active travel. You will develop and deliver ‘in school’ educational programmes and community outreach activities which will engage, encourage and support pupils to consider more environmentally friendly and physically active modes of transport, contributing to health, education and attainment outcomes. This will include delivering led rides and walks, events, competitions and bike repair workshops.

You will become part of a committed and enthusiastic team and will enjoy the benefits of joining a flexible, adaptable and ambitious workplace that puts people at the heart of everything we do.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Specialist Activity

• Establish Active Travel baseline levels at beginning of project and monitor changes over the course of the programme.
• Develop an Active Travel Hub within the school to support, inform and signpost active travel activities and facilities to pupils and staff.
• Develop and deliver new active travel and health & wellbeing outreach activities and programmes e.g. Step Count Challenge, bicycle mechanics programme and promotional campaigns.
• Encourage pupils within a 2-mile radius of the school to consider ‘active travel’ options if not already doing so.
• Help promote healthier and more active lifestyles to both staff and pupils.
• Promote FEL’s cycling, walking and wheeling work and activities to staff and students and help identify active travel opportunities in and around the school.
• Deliver cycling skills training and other led rides and walks
• Identify and promote local safe routes to encourage cycling, walking and wheeling to school.
• Work closely with FEL’s Active Travel team to provide consistent sustainable travel related information and advice to pupils, including information on cycle and walking routes, bus services and free bus pass registration.
• Work with community-based officers from the FEL team to deliver a cohesive outreach programme for the school(s) and its catchment area.
• Be responsible for data collection and monitoring and evaluation whilst sharing learning and best practice
• Provide support and advice to pupils about cycling and walking resources including phone apps and route mapping software.
• Participate in local events and partnership events to promote FEL’s wider active travel and climate action agenda.
• Be innovative and able to develop wider initiatives that complement FEL’s climate action agenda
• Support funding applications in support of programme delivery
• Develop new partnerships with local, regional and national stakeholders which ensure the Hub is constantly able to respond to new opportunities, with a focus on active travel, climate action and upskilling

Core Activity

• Work in partnership with other initiatives within the local community groups to promote and increase climate action, key themes include active travel, food and growing, sharing economy
• Participate in local events and partnership events to promote FEL’s wider active travel agenda
• Contribute to the development and upkeep of FEL physical spaces, websites, events diaries, blogs and monthly mail outs
• To work closely with FEL’s other programmes and initiatives
• Carry out other duties which may reasonably be required in light of the main purpose of the job
• Be the public face of FEL across a variety of platforms (including face to face and digital)

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• Two years minimum experience working in active travel and/or with young people

Desirable

• Cycling Scotland Cycle Trainer qualified
• Cycle Ride Leader qualified
• Velotech Bronze or Silver Certified
• Walk Leader
• MBL Award Level 2
• Outdoor First Aid

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Passion for and knowledge of cycling, walking and all forms of active travel
• Passion for environmental and community-based action
• Experience of working with young people
• Proven ability to deliver outreach to individuals and groups and build relationships and partnerships
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organisational skills
• Ability to work independently, as part of a small team and remotely
• Ability to deliver outcomes within timeframes
• Ability to work with children and/or protected adults
• Experience of reporting and monitoring impact of delivery

Desirable

• Experience of working in a school-based role
• Ability to lead cycle rides and guided walks and ideally possess Cycling Scotland Ride Leader and Cycle Trainer qualifications