Wilder Communities Officer

Location: Woods Mill Nature Reserve
Salary: £30,671 (Band 5)
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 35 hours
Closing Date: 5th July 2024
Interview Date: 18th July 2024

Sussex Wildlife Trust

Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) is a conservation charity for everyone who cares about nature in Sussex. We focus on protecting the wonderfully rich natural life that is found across our towns, countryside and coast. By working alongside local people we create opportunities for us all to connect with nature and for nature to thrive in even the most unlikely places.

We are now in a critical decade for change to protect and restore nature with the help of more people taking action for wildlife. Now is the time for an ambitious action plan to match the scale and urgency of the challenges we are facing. Our new Strategic Plan – Our Wild Sussex – was launched in April and sets out our vision and commitment to turning the tide for wildlife so that by 2030, nature in Sussex will be in recovery.

To deliver our new strategic aims, we have recently completed a comprehensive restructure of the charity to align to our goals. This restructure has generated a suite of new roles and opportunities which will enable us to achieve our ambitions of restoring and protecting at least 30% of Sussex land and sea for nature, inspiring one in four people in Sussex to take meaningful action for wildlife, building a stronger more inclusive and diverse organisation and becoming a net zero and climate resilient organisation.

In order to encourage diversity and inclusivity within the environment sector, we particularly welcome applications from people who have an ethnically or geographically diverse background, who are non-graduates and/or are living in economically deprived areas

The Role

Experience and skills

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a passion for working collaboratively with communities to improve green spaces providing practical advice and support on a range of habitats. They will need to provide evidence of a minimum of two years’ experience working in a similar role including experience of leading and working with volunteer groups. Excellent communication and IT skills are also required.

The role is part of a small team of officers and managers within the Communities Team that work together to provide engagement opportunities terrestrially and along the coast.

The Person

Experience and knowledge

Driving licence

We are seeking an experienced candidate with a proven track record of developing and delivering inspiring ways to support a wide range of community groups and projects. The successful candidate will have a demonstrable knowledge of wildlife and conservation issues including practical advice for the creation, improvement and maintenance of community spaces. They will be able to engage a wide variety of audiences and support the Trust in their aim to involve a more diverse and inclusive audience. The ability to communicate appropriately with groups with varying levels of skills and knowledge is key as is tailoring how they might be best supported to take action for wildlife.

Working collaboratively across the team and the wider Trust is encouraged as part of finding effective methods of community support.

Applicants will be expected to travel to different locations across Sussex, although predominantly in West Sussex, and therefore a clean diving licence is essential.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays each year (pro-rated for part time staff)
• Pension – company contribution from 6% and employee contribution of 3%
• Life Assurance - Pension Scheme Members 2 x Salary, Non-Pension Scheme Members 1 x Salary
• 2 days paid leave for volunteering each year
• Flexible working policy
• Enhanced Sick Pay
• EAP
• Employee discounts
• Informal car share arrangements

For more detailed information see what we offer page in the Recruitment Pack on our website.