Senior Project Officer

The Conservation Volunteers connects people and green spaces to deliver lasting outcomes for
both.

About the role

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 via
[email protected] or by telephone on 01302 388883. We also offer reasonable adjustments on
the job.A full, clean or near clean UK driving licence is required for this post, which has
been held for a minimum of one year.

Closing date for completed applications is 5:00pm 17/05/2024

A bit more about us

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.