Head Of Development Programmes Jobs in Birmingham, West Midlands
Role: Communities Coordinator
Hours: 37.5 per week Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £25,000-£33,000
Holiday: 25 days per year plus Bank Holidays
Based: Home Based with travel to London and across the UK
Probationary Period: 3 months
Reports to: Head of Campaigns
Benefits: An additional 3 days holiday between Christmas and New Year / Flexitime policy / 5% pension contribution
We are River Action
We are a small and agile campaigning organisation on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from a toxic cocktail of agricultural, sewage and industrial pollution. We support community action, galvanise and mobilise public opinion, influence government policy, and call out destructive industrial practices to incentivise changes that end pollution.
We are building a talented team of positive disrupters and community mobilisers to deliver our strategy to urgently protect and restore our rivers for the benefit of community and wildlife.
Britain’s rivers are our life support system and they are dying. We need urgent action to bring them back to life.
Who we are looking for:
We are looking for highly engaged people who share our passion for rivers, wildlife and people who bring a creative, collaborative and investigative approach to campaigning. For this role we are looking for a confident and resilient community organiser who can build strong relationships to support communities to create change locally.
What you’ll be doing:
The Communities Coordinator will support community groups to campaign for clean rivers at a local level. By facilitating grass roots action you’ll be galvanising a strong and powerful network of community activists that have the power to create change both locally and nationally. You’ll be responsible for taking River Action’s national campaign strategy to a local level. You’ll work closely with the Campaigns Manager and the wider team to develop a Community Toolkit (including advice for activists, and guidance and services for communications, fundraising, legal support and citizen science projects) to support communities as well as provide strategic support to empower community activists to campaign for clean rivers. You’ll work closely with the Campaigns Manager and wider team to amplify the stories of those taking action at a local level and connect campaign groups to the wider national agenda. You’ll be working collaboratively with the River Action team to devise, develop and deliver our strategy ensuring our programme of community engagement is equitable, diverse and inclusive. You’ll be working closely with other organisations to ensure our community support compliments the work of others and meets the needs of community groups we work with.
Main Duties
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Contribute to the development and implementation of River Action’s campaign strategy.
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Develop River Action’s Community Toolkit as a package of support for local campaign groups.
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Identify community groups within river catchments areas River Action is working and build positive and impactful relationships..
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Organise site visits to develop good relationships and in-depth understanding of local issues impacting river health.
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Convene and align local stakeholders around river catchment and regional campaigns.
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Facilitate local community groups’ campaigns and provide support in line with our toolkit’s support package.
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Facilitate the creation of community group citizen science projects, integrated within a national system for gathering and sharing evidence of pollution.
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Organise community crowdfunding for citizen science and communications.
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Plan and host webinars, training sessions and online and in person events.
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Develop good working relationships with regulators including Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and Scottish Environment and Protection Agency.
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Support the CEO and Campaigns Manager to identify and deliver legal challenges at a local level.
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Maintain and develop partnerships and working relationships with other key groups and stakeholders working in similar areas of work to River Action.
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Identify opportunities to engage, empower and expand River Action’s network of supporters.
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Support the Communications Coordinator to create inspiring and engaging digital media content and news stories, including taking photographs and videos and conducting interviews.
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Support the Campaigns Manager and Communication Coordinator in responding to the reactive news agenda.
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Contribute to the Monitoring and Evaluation system for demonstrating impact of River Action’s community engagement work, reporting against KPIs.
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Contribute to fundraising efforts particularly crowdfunding and drafting of funding proposals to support Campaigns and Fundraising Teams and the charity’s mission.
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Work as a motivated and collaborative team player within a fast-paced team.
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Carry out any other duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the post as requested by your line manager or any other member of the River Action team.
Other Duties & Responsibilities
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Adopt a positive approach to personal and professional development; engaging in one to one meetings and relevant training.
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Be aware of, and act on, relevant health and safety responsibilities as an employee of River Action and adhere to these wherever you are working.
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To maintain confidentiality in all areas of work at River Action.
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UK travel will be required. Training & operational activities may require overnight stays away from home, in which case standard River Action procedures apply.
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Demonstrate a strong commitment to creating an inclusive, equal and diverse workplace.
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Work collaboratively with colleagues across River Action to collectively deliver our ethos and mission.
What you’ll bring
The position will suit an energetic, collaborative, resilient community organiser with a passion for aligning and mobilising communities to drive environmental change. The ideal person will be an excellent communicator, a natural convener, well-organised, and thrive within a dynamic and fast-paced environment. The person will have a passion to protect and renew our waterways and hold those responsible for environmental destruction to account.
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Experience in working with and supporting community groups.
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Experience in developing guidance documents and toolkits.
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Expertise in convening and galvanising people around a common cause, using a diplomatic and sympathetic approach combined with urgency.
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A head for organisation and excellent time management working in a calm and logical way.
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An understanding of the issues that are impacting our rivers.
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The ability to establish and maintain effective contacts and relationships with senior and influential external individuals and bodies.
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The ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with a wide range of people both verbally and in writing including the media, community groups, other NGO representatives, supporters and followers on social media.
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Great IT literacy.
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Ability to work independently and take initiative to solve problems.
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Ability to work flexible hours as necessary.
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Ability to travel to remote locations not necessarily well-served by public transport.
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A good team player with a willingness to muck in as and where required.
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Ability to think clearly even when working under pressure.
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A passion for River Action’s mission and vision.
Diversity and Inclusion
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies show that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single criteria. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. So if you like the look of this role but your past experience does not align perfectly with everything in the job description, we would still like to hear from you. You may be just the right person for this or other roles.
How to apply
To apply, please submit your CV, a cover letter explaining how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role and a written submission as described below to jobs at riveractionuk dot com. Only applications including all three documents will be accepted.
Written Submission:
This year, River Action will be developing its Communities Toolkit aimed at local campaign groups and activists seeking to develop their own local campaigns to rescue their rivers locally. As part of your application, we would like you to put together a one page document outlining a plan for the toolkit, mapping out the main structure and content of the toolkit and how you would deliver it to communities. We will particularly be looking at your style of communication and creative skills. Should you be successful in being invited to interview, you may be asked to present this idea.
Closing Date: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until 23:00 Friday 24 May. Screening calls and first-round interviews may be conducted with short-listed candidates before the application deadline. The deadline may be closed early if the right candidate is found.
Interview Date: Interviews expected to be held from 24 May via video conference.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Are you looking for a new opportunity?
We are seeking to recruit a On The Water Project Assistant to join our team based in Birmingham, on a full time, 11 week fixed term contract, starting on 8 July 2024. In return, you will receive a competitive salary of £27,250 per annum, pro rata.
The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is a vibrant and growing charity delivering life changing nautical adventure for young people through the Sea Cadets to give them the best possible head start in life. We also provide personal and professional development opportunities for seafarers with the Marine Society. Working with our staff, cadets, and volunteers, we have built a vision and five-year strategy to take us forward and further improve the astounding contribution already made through our work to the lives of thousands of young people and seafarers, while fully supporting our volunteers who are vital to our success.
The On The Water Project Assistant role:
The On The Water Project Assistant will support the delivery of the On The Water project at one of our boating stations in Birmingham. The project provides young people from outside Sea Cadets, age 9-14, the opportunity to get on the water, learn new skills and build confidence through boating activity. This is a very varied and rewarding role that requires someone who is self-motivated, inspiring, organized, creative, tenacious, positive, IT competent and with a real interest in people with a attention to detail and real enthusiasm for the project.
Responsibilities as our On The Water Project Assistant will include:.
- The welcoming and registration of participants for the On The Water project
- Collecting and uploading daily statistics and figures that show how the project is progressing
- Making new and repeat bookings
- Talking to participants and their parents/carers about the opportunities within Sea Cadets
- Managing a waiting list and reducing drop-outs
- Responsible for the safety and wellbeing of participants alongside the Boat Station staff
- Ensuring that participants complete surveys to share their experience of the project and encourage adults to feedback on their young people’s experience
- Attending any meetings as required by the project
- Assisting with the evaluation of the On The Water project
Requirements needed to become our On The Water Project Assistant:
- Previous experience of working with volunteers
- Experience in a customer facing role
- Experience working with young people
- Experience working with diverse community groups or working in outreach
- Experience of tracking targets and managing data
- Self-motivated and able to manage your time and workload effectively
- Flexible and enthusiastic
- Able to work as a team player with creative ideas and solutions who will empower our volunteers to make a difference to the lives of even more young people across the UK
- Satisfactory DBS
Benefits as our On The Water Project Assistant will include:
- Flexible Working hours and a hybrid culture
- Cycle to work scheme and Season Ticket Loan
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Life assurance (4x salary) for those that join the pension
- Private medical insurance
- Pension (employer contribution up to 10%)
- Wellbeing portal and EAP with 121 counselling
- Employee development: We are investing in our employees' development and have an annual calendar of learning and development opportunities, designed to support employees to develop into their roles and stretch them to achieve their full potential.
- National staff conference: All employees come together once a year to reflect on the past year and celebrate success at our offsite staff conference. This is a great opportunity to listen to employees' views, and for employees to network, share information and socialise.
Closing date: 3rd June 2024
Interview: Interviews to be held virtually 11 June 2024
If you are interested in this On The Water Project Assistant, please apply now!
All successful applicants are required to attend safeguarding training and undergo a criminal record check.
This Role is Homebased with Regular Travel to Brighton, Dover and Greenwich and Occasional Travel to Birmingham for Team Meetings.
Are you a communications professional looking for an exciting and rewarding new role? Apply for the Regional Communications Officer job vacancy at homelessness charity Emmaus UK.
About Emmaus
Emmaus is a secular organisation supporting formerly homeless and socially excluded people by providing a home for as long as it is needed, meaningful work experience in a social enterprise and a sense of belonging and community. There are currently more than 30 Emmaus communities and groups in the UK stretching from Glasgow to Dover and Norfolk to South Wales, collectively supporting more than 850 people. We understand that a home is more than just a roof over your head; it’s somewhere to belong, where you feel part of a community, and that’s what Emmaus offers.
About the role
The Regional Communications Officer role is an exciting, varied position working with Emmaus communities located in the South East region of the UK to increase their profile and engage supporters.
You will work closely with the Emmaus communities in your patch to identify their communications needs and plan and deliver a mix of work to help achieve their goals. As part of a wider team, you will also share ideas and draw on each other’s experiences to maximise PR, digital and communications opportunities.
A typical working week within this role can include:
· A weekly meeting with other Regional Communications Officers to catch up and share ideas and work of interest
· A visit to an Emmaus community to conduct interviews and capture photography and video
· Writing and sending press releases
· Scheduling social media content
· Creating graphics and marketing materials using Canva
· Updating community websites using WordPress
This is a part time position working four days per week (30 hours), Monday to Friday.
Within this role, you can be based at home or in an Emmaus community. Wherever you are based, maintaining positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders is vitally important. The current patch for this role is Emmaus Brighton & Hove, Emmaus Greenwich and Emmaus Dover. Regular travel to these three communities will be required (usually one community visit per week). Travel to team meetings, usually held in Birmingham, and other locations will also be required on occasion.
Who are we looking for?
We require someone with a strong skillset and at least two years’ experience working in a busy communications, public relations or marketing role. Although not essential, knowledge and understanding of homelessness and the charity sector would also be an advantage.
Creativity and passion are a must. You will have a broad range of communications skills, love seeing your creative ideas come to life and keen to develop your skillset within a national homelessness charity.
This is an exciting and rewarding role for someone who thrives working with different people and communities. The successful applicant will be well organised and able to juggle multiple projects, relationships and campaigns.
If you’re passionate about making a difference and seeing a long-lasting impact, then this is the perfect time for you to get involved with Emmaus.
What we offer
· Salary: £27,972 to £30,352 per annum pro rata
· Working hours: 4 days per week (30 hours), Monday to Friday
· Contract: Permanent
· Pension: Stakeholder pension with employer contribution
· Annual leave: 25 days & bank holidays pro rata + 3 concessionary days leave
· Training & development: Individually tailored induction. Ongoing training and development
· Volunteering: 2 days allowance each year
· Employee assistance: 24/7 employee assistance scheme is available
· Flexible working: Options available, subject to the requirements of the role
· Life assurance: Death in service lump sum of 3 x salary
To apply
To apply for this role, please complete our application form and equal opportunities monitoring form and email us.
Email address is in the application pack.
Please ensure you refer to the job description and person specification when completing your application form. CVs and posted applications will not be accepted.
The closing date for applications is 10am on Monday 20 May 2024.
Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview conducted via Microsoft Teams w/c Monday 27 May (excluding the bank holiday). If selected for interview, you will be asked to share examples of your past communications work and to conduct a short pre-prepared task based on information we provide. We will also share themes for discussion at the interview in advance.
If you would like to arrange an informal discussion about the role, please email us.
Email address is in the application pack.
Equal Opportunities
Emmaus UK provides equal opportunity for all job applicants and employees and is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination. We are dedicated to an inclusive culture, and we strive to create a workplace where teams of people with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together. We welcome applications from all individuals irrespective of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or belief, disability, marital status or parental responsibilities.
To ensure fairness and consistency in selecting the best candidate for our roles, all applications are anonymised until an interview has been confirmed so that shortlisting is based solely upon the suitability of the candidate’s experience.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Assistant Director Activism & Advocacy
Location: Flexible - Home-based, Shelter Office-based, or combination with regular travel to London and other locations
Contract Type: Permanent Full Time
Salary: £78,414 per annum
Hours: 37.5 per week (pro-rata if part-time)
Leave: 30 days holiday per annum + Exceptional Benefits
Closing Date: 27th May 2024 at 23.30pm
About Shelter
A home is a fundamental human need, as essential as education or healthcare. Yet millions of people across Britain struggle on a daily basis with homelessness, bad housing conditions, soaring rents, discrimination, and the threat of eviction. So, we are striving for change, with individuals, in communities, across society, and leading the way to a safe home.
We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.
At Shelter we are united by our purpose to defend the right to a safe home. Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. We believe that to win that fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement for change. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent.
We have committed to combat racism both within and outside Shelter and welcome you on our journey to becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.
About the Team
This role is part of the Communications, Policy, and Campaigns (CPC) team, which drives Shelter's ground-breaking campaigning efforts.
The CPC team leads initiatives advocating for social housing, renters' rights, and ending the housing emergency.
As our Assistant Director Activism & Advocacy, you'll work alongside other Assistant Directors, contributing to a collaborative, non-hierarchical decision-making environment.
About the Role
As Assistant Director Activism & Advocacy, you will provide strategic direction to the heads of Digital campaigning, Community Organising, Policy, Research, and Public Affairs teams.
You'll support the development of high-profile campaigns and drive continual improvement to achieve Shelter's strategic goals.
This role involves building strong relationships across Shelter, promoting collaboration, and acting as a spokesperson when required.
You'll need excellent political instincts, campaign experience, and the ability to oversee the production of high-quality policy and research.
About You
We're seeking candidates with experience in matrix management environments, senior leadership skills in project/change management, and a track record of impactful campaigning, policy, research, or public affairs activities.
You should demonstrate the Shelter Behaviours, including collaboration, prioritising diversity, enabling decision-making, creating change, openness to risk, and learning from experiences.
How to apply
You are required to submit a CV and a supporting statement. The supporting statement should include why you’re interested in the role and address the following 3 questions. The supporting statement should be no more than two A4 pages.
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Can you provide examples of your experience leading and implementing high-profile campaign strategies that have resulted in significant political impact, particularly in influencing complex policy decisions at the highest levels?
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Please provide an example of how you have successfully worked across different teams/departments and delivered on cross-organisational objectives?
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Considering Shelter's commitment to being an anti-racist organisation, can you outline how you would integrate anti-racism and equity principles into your leadership approach within the context of driving strategic change and delivering impactful activism and advocacy initiatives?
Please note any applications submitted without a supporting statement will not be considered.
Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension, and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support, and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.
To find out more about the role and the benefits of working for Shelter please visit our website. Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.
Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing, and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.
Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.