Senior Officer, Finance & Operations

The Meridian One Community Garden serves as a space where we focus on cultivating fruit, salad, and vegetable produce. We involve the local community by hosting weekly volunteer gardening sessions, welcoming school visits, and organising various community events.

TCV is seeking a Senior Project Officer with expertise in community engagement, event coordination, and managing community facilities. The garden, which was established one year ago, encompasses facilities such as an office, a community meeting/education room, toilets, and a spacious polytunnel.

The Senior Project Officer will oversee a range of tasks including planning and executing community events, maintaining site Health & Safety, leading volunteers in practical projects like building wooden planters, tending to garden plants, and ensuring timely completion of administrative duties such as procurement, risk assessments, social media updates, and task reporting. They will also lead activities for the under 5’s Nature Explorers group, school visits, themed evening events, and family weekends. Additionally, they'll organise corporate volunteering sessions and cover holiday shifts for the Green Gym gardening program. Previous events have included 'Pampering and Enrichment,' 'Repurpose, Recycle, Reinvent' workshops, and a Black Women in Conservation and Horticulture photo exhibition, as well as our weekend family events featuring free food, music, and arts and crafts activities.

This role involves being friendly and open to various people who visit, from the toddlers attending the Nature Explorers club, to our volunteer gardeners, to senior staff from the local authority. There are two other people working part-time at the garden, and TCV provides thorough training and support from a helpful local team.

Ideally, we’re looking for someone with experience of gardening and/or nature conservation. However, what’s equally important is that the Senior Project Officer has initiative, is welcoming, and comfortable working with a wide range people. We’d therefore welcome applications from candidates who can display those personable qualities, with perhaps experience of working in a community centre setting.

In Spring 2024, TCV will be taking on the management of an additional nearby meanwhile space. The new Senior Project Officer will join us at an exciting time when we begin to turn that space into a new community tree nursery. Working with local people to gather seeds from significant trees in the surrounding area, we aim to grow saplings which will go on to be distributed for planting around London.

Working hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Given the nature of the role the Senior Project Officer will need to work from the garden during these times. Occasionally, to avoid lone working in the absence of another colleague, there will be the opportunity to work from home. Weekend family events take place on Saturdays, four times a year and there are approximately six evening events which take place between April to September. This post holder would be expected to attend those evening and weekend events.

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any during your application. If you would like to discuss your requirements further please contact the People Team. We also offer reasonable adjustments on the job.

* A full driving licence would be ideal, though not essential, as the post holder has use of a company vehicle.

* This post is subject to an enhanced CRC check due to the activities working with children and vulnerable adults.

We are The Conservation Volunteers.

Our vision is Healthier, Happier Communities for Everyone. We believe that green spaces are an essential part of healthy, happy communities.

Our mission is To Connect People and Green Spaces to Deliver Lasting Outcomes for Both.

The opportunity to connect to nature on your doorstep and contribute to its protection should be available to everyone.

The outcomes of our work:

·       Environment: Green spaces are created, protected and improved, for nature and for people.

·       Communities: Communities are stronger, working together to improve the places where people live and tackle the issues that matter to them.

·       Health & Wellbeing: People improve their physical and mental health & wellbeing, by being outdoors, active and connected with others.

·       Learning & Skills: People improve their confidence, skills and prospects, through learning inspired by the outdoors.

Join in, feel good.