Bartonsham Community Officer

Job Purpose

To ensure that as diverse an audience as possible is welcomed to Bartonsham Meadows and is engaged with the project to restore the site. The Community Officer will lead on delivering the engagement activities, work parties, communications and community liaison.

About us

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust (HWT) is a wildlife conservation charity for everyone who cares about nature in Herefordshire. We are dedicated to protecting the unique habitats and special wildlife in Herefordshire and encouraging people to enjoy, care for and act for nature. We own and manage 60 Nature Reserves across the county and have over 7,000 members. Our 2023-26 Business Strategy aims to place nature’s recovery at the forefront of tackling the climate emergency – for wildlife itself, for the natural services it provides and for everyone’s wellbeing. Together we can make sure that future generations living in Herefordshire will be able to enjoy the sense of wonder and well-being that nature offers. HWT is committed to creating an organisation that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone is able to be themselves and to reach their full potential.

We have a bold vision of a wilder Herefordshire with more nature everywhere – on farms, in rural areas, within our iconic rivers and in our towns too.

We all need nature – for sustainable food production, good health, mental wellbeing and a thriving economy – but facing an ecological and climate crisis, nature needs us more than ever too. Our mission, therefore, is to lead local action in our county, enabling our communities, businesses and wider partners to bring nature back. The Bartonsham Meadows Community Officer is key in achieving this change.

Key Responsibilities

1. The Community Officer will be part of the Bartonsham Meadows project team. They will be
   line managed by the Project Manager as well as Herefordshire Wildlife Trust’s Nature Recovery,
   Nature Action and Communications teams.
2. To work with the Project Team in the successful delivery, and evaluation, of the Restoring
   Bartonsham Meadows project plan. Attend project team meetings to evaluate progress against
   project plan and planned outcomes.
3. To lead on liaising with local schools, colleges and university students to facilitate
   their use of Bartonsham Meadows as a venue for both curriculum and extra curriculum activities,
   co-developing interactive educational activities and resources and delivering assemblies.
4. To lead on liaising and communicating with local community groups and stakeholders
   including actively inviting and welcoming people and groups currently less/ not involved in the
   site or project, including people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, children and young
   people and people from ethnic communities. The Community Officer will co-develop ideas for
   eliminating barriers and creating positive engagement with these communities. 
5. To facilitate and promote all events and activities detailed in the project plan including
   school visits, annual open days, outreach talks and guided walks.
6. To manage volunteers including Voluntary Wardens and engagement volunteers and support the
   Nature Reserves Officer in managing citizen science, surveying and monitoring volunteers.
7. To lead a monthly youth group (ages 14 to 18) carrying out practical management tasks,
   surveying and monitoring and other activities and workshops.
8. Be the public face of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust at Bartonsham Meadows and in the local
   community helping to address anti-social behaviour and build understanding of the site’s value
9. To support all project communications and lead on production of social media posts, video,
   blogs and digital newsletters to inform and engage and encourage more and diverse audiences to
   get involved.
10. To manage relevant costs in line with project budget.

 Other Duties

1. Undertake Health and Safety duties commensurate with the post and as detailed in the
   Trust’s Health and Safety policy; and ensure any volunteers, trainees or 3rd parties do
   like-wise
2. Champion inclusion and diversity.
3. Comply with all other organisational policies and relevant legislation e.g. Equal
   Opportunities
4. Take advantage of formal and informal opportunities for personal and professional
   development, participate in appropriate training activities in consultation with your line
   manager
5. Cascade relevant skills and knowledge to relevant staff and volunteers
6. Encourage, develop and support Trust volunteer involvement in your work (Volunteers being
   recognised as a major resource that makes a vital contribution to the Trust)
7. Act as an ambassador for Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, constructing and maintaining
   positive relationships with volunteers, visitors and other organisations
8. Actively encourage those you with whom you come into professional contact to become members
   of HWT (all staff are regarded as membership recruiters)
9. Undertake any other work that might be deemed necessary by HWT commensurate with the level
   of responsibility of this post. Work with the broader HWT team on any other activities that
   match your skills and abilities as agreed with your line-manager

 Skills and abilities

 It is essential that the post holder has: 

• Full valid driving licence and own car, insured for business use
• Excellent personal communication skills
• Reliability, with good attendance and work performance.
• Confidence to carry out lone working 
• Standard IT skills e,g Outlook, Word, Excel etc
• The ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team
• Knowledge of environmental and social issues associated with the natural environment
• Good Presentation skills
• Good knowledge of H&S associated with practical work party management

Desirable skills:

• Practical Reserve management skills e.g. chainsaw, tractor driving
• Experience of monitoring and recording techniques
• Experience of citizen science activities

 Other

Essential

A willingness to work at weekends and outside standard office hours

Benefits

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

The opportunity to make a real and positive difference to nature, communities and the climate

• 25 days holiday plus bank hols p.a. pro rata with incremental increase with length of
  service
• 5 % Employer pension contributions
• Flexible working
• Health cash plan
• Sick Pay
• Free parking
• HWT work wear as relevant
• Training & development
• Work and live in a beautiful rural county with a relatively low cost of living