Overview

We are looking for a highly motivated, creative and energetic Wilder Communities Project Officer (Southampton) with a track record of engaging and empowering communities to make positive change.

Key Responsibilities

Development and delivery of wilder Southampton

The role will be responsible for the delivery of a funded project (Wilder Southampton, working in partnership with Southampton City Council 21 hours a week) to:

• Empower and support residents to identify and agree actions and create plans to improve their communities for people and nature.
• Provide practical support through training, toolkits and helping to coordinate on the ground activities.
• Encourage groups and organisations e.g., scout groups, conservation groups, schools, and churches to connect with and participate in wilder communities.

Development and delivery of wilder Southampton

• This role will also be responsible for the development and delivery of a funded project (Nextdoor Nature, a partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund in celebration of her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee), 14 hours a week funded project based within the south of the city including the areas of Bargate, Freemantle & Bevois)
• Scope, develop and facilitate work within identified communities. This will involve overseeing community liaisons, maintaining strong links with community leaders and champions and enabling community leaders to share learning and experiences which promote self-supporting, peer-led networks.
• Support the empowerment of under-represented and disconnected groups within their local communities, working
  with them to enhance community cohesion and collaborative working.
• Support communities to develop, enabling project growth and training opportunities through both local and national resources.
• Support monitoring, reporting and evaluation activity as required.

Person Specification

Experience

• Significant experience of working with the general public, with a proven ability of engaging and empowering
  communities to make positive change (essential)
• Demonstrable experience of engaging with a wide range of audiences, including with children and young people
  (essential)
• Varied experience of working in a partnership with a local council or external stakeholder (desirable)
• Some experience of writing project impact reports (desirable)

Knowledge

• Good understanding of community organising and behaviour change methods (essential)
• Good understanding of health and safety in the workplace, GDPR and Safeguarding and child protection procedures (essential)
• Good understanding of diversity and inclusion principles and approach (essential)
• An interest in and knowledge of wildlife and nature conservation (essential)
• Commitment to the objectives of the organisation (essential)
• A basic understanding of ecology and habitat management (desirable)
• Knowledge of the local urban environment and communities of Southampton (desirable)

Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (essential)
• Proficient with digital communication tools (e.g., Facebook, Twitter) (essential)
• IT literate – particularly MS Teams, Word, Excel, Outlook, etc. (essential)
• A current enhanced DBS check (if you don’t hold one a check will be completed on confirmation of the role)
  (desirable)
• A current first aid certificate(desirable)

Application Form Part B

• Application Form Part B_0.doc