Groundwork South is looking for a Senior Project Officer to work in the Communities Prepared team. Communities Prepared is a ground-breaking step forward for community resilience for emergencies by empowering and mobilising community emergency volunteers.

ROLE: Senior Project Officer – Community Development and Training (Communities Prepared)
REF: SPOCDT21
SALARY: Circa £22,100 - £26,000 FTE per annum (pro rata £15,600 - £17,680)
HOURS: 22.5 hours per week
CONTRACT TYPE: Fixed Term to October 7th 2021, with possible extension for further 2 years
OPERATIONAL AREA: West of England (with national travel)
LOCATION: Bristol or home working considered

ROLE DESCRIPTION:

We are looking for an enthusiastic part-time (3 days) Senior Project Officer to focus on leading the training and development element of the programme. The Senior Project Officer will work closely with the programme team, communities and partners nationwide to design and deliver tailored training and support packages that aim to assist communities to prepare for, respond to and recover from a range of emergencies.

The Communities Prepared programme is also coming to the end of its current funding, so this role will also be working with the team to develop and support the transition to the next phase of the programme, as well as helping to shape what it might look like.

About you

As Senior Project Officer for Community Development and Training, you will have the confidence and skills to engage with people from a range of backgrounds and have proven experience in delivering training within a community setting. As the lead for training delivery, you will be comfortable in managing your own projects, whilst also working collaboratively, deputising for the Communities Prepared Programme Manager and supporting other Senior Project Officers.

Essential:

• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Confident in using a range of training styles, with the ability to adapt to fit the needs of the audience
• A broad understanding of the factors that contribute to strong community resilience and the potential barriers
• Strong leadership, motivational and organisational skills
• Excellent listening skills and confidence in talking to people in groups and on a one-to-one basis
• Experience of collaborative working with statutory and voluntary agencies
• A basic working knowledge of Adobe InDesign (used to create the Communities Prepared training resources)

Desirable

• Experience of leading a community volunteer group or community activities
• Knowledge of the emergency response sector

Key tasks include:

• Develop and execute community development strategies to remove potential barriers to community resilience, including establishing and/or supporting existing proactive community emergency volunteer groups
• Project manage the set-up, organisation and delivery of Communities Prepared training nationally (currently all delivered online)
• Directly deliver training sessions to communities (including some evening and weekend sessions), utilising a broad range of disciplines and teaching styles
• Deliver Train the Trainer training sessions to partners and clients
• Identify and engage volunteer groups and their coordinators within target communities, in partnership with other organisations
• Develop partnerships, both at the local level (delivery focused) and more strategically at the national level
• Provide information, advice and support to people who are facing emergencies and natural disasters within their community, such as flooding, pandemics, snow and heat utilities and community leadership
• As part of the Communities Prepared team, significantly contribute to the collective learning around community resilience, community emergency planning and response
• Develop training materials and other resilience resources which can be used on the Communities Prepared online hub and various other platforms
• Monitor progress against agreed targets and outcomes in relation to community development and training, contributing to reports to the funder and partners
• Represent the programme at conferences and events, both online and in person depending on COVID-19 restrictions. This can include presenting to varied audiences on Communities Prepared topics
• Travel nationally to meet the above duties (when COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted)

In return we offer:

• 25 days FTE per annum plus English Bank Holidays
• A contributory pension scheme
• Scope to continuing development of your professional skills

Groundwork South is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable groups. Inline with our Safer Recruitment & Selection Policy and Procedure, successful applicants are subject to references and an enhanced with barred lists disclosure check.

Closing Date: midnight on Monday 3rd May 2021 (bank holiday)
Interview Date: w/c 10th May 2021

To Apply and For More Information:

If you would like to apply or find out more about this position, please click the 'More information about this vacancy' button to be directed to our website.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Please note that we reserve the right to close applications early in the event of a large response.

Groundwork South is committed to transforming people’s lives and places through social, economic and environmental action. In terms of development and delivery of these projects we work across three business themes, Parks & Open Spaces, Youth & Employment and Greener Living & Working.

We are committed to the employment and career development of disabled people. To demonstrate our commitment, we have been awarded the Disability Confident Scheme Symbol, which is awarded by the Employment Service. We guarantee an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the post. If you consider yourself to have a disability and would like to apply under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme please complete the Guaranteed Interview Scheme form (at the top of our current vacancies page) and submit this with your application. We shall ensure fairness and equal opportunities throughout our workforce and in service delivery.

Groundwork South is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We welcome applications from suitably skilled candidates regardless of ethnicity, gender, disability, sexuality, religion or age. A copy of our Equality and Diversity policy may also be made available to candidates on request.

CVs will not be accepted. 

No agencies please.