Buildings and estates general manager jobs

An exciting new opportunity has arisen to join the Borde Hill team to work on the Reinventing Borde Hill project. This role will be responsible for managing the Community Growing Garden at Sugworth Farm, part of our new 2-acre biodynamic market garden which produces seasonal fruit and vegetables to supply the new restaurant, café and farm shop at Borde Hill.

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project includes an Activity Plan including a range of learning, community and volunteering activities, and this new role will have responsibility for overseeing community engagement both at the Community Growing Garden, and across the Parkland and main Garden.

Your role will focus on two key areas: overseeing the seasonal growing at the Community Growing Garden with volunteers and community partners, and developing and delivering an annual site-wide community engagement programme.

You will work closely with the NLHF Project Team, as well as the Green team. You will lead on liaising with local schools, community groups and charities, encouraging and facilitating participation in the Community Growing and wider site community programmes. Your passion for learning, community engagement, horticulture and nature will be key in ensuring this programme succeeds in delivering the ambitions set out in the Activity Plan.

Although funded via the Lottery project, this role is permanent as we are committed to continuing it after the funded project; we intend to continue the wide range of the activities that your role will nurture and develop.

Knowledge, skills and experience needed: (Please provide evidence in your Covering Letter and CV) Tasks and responsibilities

• Build a seasonal programme of community engagement and growing in the Community Growing Garden and at the main site, building on and developing the programme set out in the Activity Plan
• Deliver new community programmes and connect with participants. To include:
  o Facilitated sessions
  o Supported visits to the site
  o Drop-in activities and events
• Work with community partners to develop and deliver a community volunteer programme, ensuring access for people who will benefit from the opportunity
• Identify and build partnerships with relevant and diverse community groups, organisations and individuals, taking responsibility for the community engagement elements of the Reinventing Borde Hill project more widely
• Work with the Borde Hill Green Team, especially the Market Garden Growing Team, to ensure that the Community Growing Garden is aligned with their work, and supports the biodynamic certification aims of the Farm
• Identify routes for participant and volunteer progression and sustain communication
• Ensure equality of opportunity, access and inclusion for all participants and volunteers
• Work with freelance delivery partners and local community groups to deliver community activities
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the programmes, maintaining accurate monitoring data and adjusting programmes in response to feedback
• With audience needs in mind, review similar offers across the sector, especially in other local horticulture/nature organisations, to ensure our programmes are distinctive, attractive, appropriate and innovative
• Support and attend events delivered by other members of the team when required (e.g. large public events) and lead smaller community events
• Record and monitor the income and costs of the programmes, to meet budget goals
• Comply with the Safeguarding policy and all other policies relevant to programme delivery
• Ensure effective systems for resources and documentation are maintained in line with GDPR legislation and organisation policy
• Carry out any other duties as reasonably requested

Skills and experience To be considered for this position, you should be able to demonstrate some or all of the following skills:

• Experience of working with a diverse range of community partners, and a commitment to and experience of delivering community engagement activities including learning engagement and activities
• Experience of managing and recruiting a diverse cohort of volunteers
• Ability to lead community group activities and co-ordinate a programme of community group activity across the season
• An understanding of seed sowing, crop rotations, pest and disease management, plant husbandry techniques needed in a productive market garden, and/or a willingness to learn about Biodynamic principles and practices
• A passion for growing and experience of growing fruits, vegetables, salad crops and ideally cut flowers in a recognised establishment
• An understanding of growing crops undercover and knowledge of cultivation under polytunnels
• Appreciation of nature and natural heritage, and its potential to contribute to wellbeing, creativity and learning among families and communities.
• Proven commitment to and understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Good organisational skills.
• Flexible, collaborative, and self-motivated.

We’d also be interested to know if you have experience in any of the following areas (it isn’t essential to have experience of them all):

• Experience of partnership working, especially with marginalised and/or disadvantaged communities
• An innovative approach to planning and delivering family learning
• An understanding of barriers limiting access to nature and natural heritage opportunities.
• Experience facilitating engagement with gardens / public spaces for the community
• Understanding of communities and the challenges they face in the areas near Haywards Heath and the wider Mid Sussex area
• Understanding of the role of stakeholders in successful community engagement
• A practical approach to using evaluation to inform future programming.  Competence with the Microsoft Office suite of applications  Experience of managing budgets and maximising income.

The Ecological Land Cooperative is seeking a strategic and values-driven Finance Coordinator to help secure the long-term financial resilience of a pioneering land justice organisation.

We widen affordable access to land for ecological farming and currently steward seven farm sites supporting 18 small farm businesses.

This senior operational role combines hands-on financial management with strategic oversight.

You will:

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling
• Prepare management and annual accounts
• Oversee compliance and financial reporting
• Support Board decision-making and governance
• Contribute to funder and investor reporting

We’re looking for strong financial experience, strategic thinking, and alignment with cooperative and ecological values.

Permanent | 2.5 days per week (flexible) | Flat pay structure | 4% matched pension

If you meet most of the criteria, we encourage you to apply.

https://ecologicalland.coop/home/work-with-us/

Please apply by: 9am Monday 9th March

Interviews: Monday 16th March

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and a covering letter (maximum 2 pages) 

We use an anonymised shortlisting process and assess applications against a structured score sheet based on the criteria in the Job Description and Person Specification.

In your covering letter, please clearly demonstrate how your experience, skills, and knowledge meet the essential criteria, using the headings in the Person Specification as a guide. We recommend providing specific examples to show how you meet each area, rather than general statements. Applications are scored solely on the evidence provided, so please ensure you explicitly outline relevant experience, including transferable skills where appropriate.

THE CLINK CHARITY

YOUTH SUPPORT WORKER (LONDON & SOUTHEAST)

Salary: £30,000 FTE

Contract: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full Time, 39 hours p/w

Location:  Supporting students from The Clink’s sites across London and the South East

Applications close on Friday 27th March but will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applications are    advised

 ABOUT THE CLINK CHARITY

The Clink Charity, founded in 2009, aims to prevent and reduce reoffending through training, rehabilitation, and support. We deliver hospitality and horticulture training behind the prison walls and in the community by creating an environment where our students are supported to gain the skills, confidence and qualifications they need to rebuild their lives.

Since that time, we have trained approximately 5,000 people in prison and delivered 2,600 City & Guilds qualifications in a variety of hospitality and food courses.

What makes The Clink so unique is our post-release support and mentoring programme that rehabilitates an offender back into society through assistance with health and mental health issues, housing, employment, family connections and friendships.

The charity operates an award-winning fine-dining restaurant open to the public inside HMP Brixton, training kitchens in the prison estate, horticulture projects at HMP Send and HMP Erlestoke, a commercial bakery in Brixton, and a bespoke delivery service, Catered by Clink.

Additionally, Clink Events is our social enterprise catering business with food produced by the women in HMP Downview and also in an additional kitchen at Herne Hill and then served by alumni on front of house at some of the best venues in London including: the Guildhall, the Science Museum, Cutty Sark, Kew Gardens and the Camden Roundhouse. In 2024, across 218 events, The Clink fed 36,000 people.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Clink Training Café, located in Herne Hill, is a real-life professional kitchen and café that provides young people with meaningful work experience over a 12-week programme. During this time, participants work towards five accredited City & Guilds qualifications while gaining hands-on hospitality and employability skills.

We work closely with the Youth Justice Service, as well as Children in Care and Care Leavers teams, to engage vulnerable and at-risk young people in the programme. Many of the young people we support are at risk of criminal exploitation and grooming, and we also work with neurodivergent young people who have additional learning needs.

At our café in Herne Hill, we have supported 100% of our students who have participated in the program to graduate into further education or employment.

The Youth Support Worker will provide a high quality and responsive support, mentoring and advocacy service which creatively addresses the needs and risks of our students and graduates, enabling them to avoid the risk of criminal exploitation upon completion of the program and to progress into the next step of their education or employment pathway.

You will be joining The Clink Charity at an exciting time as we plan to scale the success of our Café project by taking on a second site in Guildford to work with vulnerable NEET young people across Surrey. This role will offer the successful candidate the opportunity to mobilise this project and to take a leading role in building referrals, establishing networks and establishing this new intervention.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As a Youth Support Worker, you are responsible for:

Individualised Support

• Act as a strong advocate for all students, representing their needs and interests.

• Complete a personalised support plan for each student to understand their individual needs, challenges, and personal circumstances.

• Work closely with young people to identify risks, recognise warning signs, and develop strategies to reduce the likelihood of involvement in criminal exploitation, grooming, or other harmful behaviours.

• Support student engagement throughout the programme, addressing conflicts or challenges as they arise to maintain a positive learning environment.

• Establish appropriate boundaries and respond effectively to student behaviour to ensure a safe and inclusive environment.

• Support students in developing resilience, confidence, and independent decision-making skills.

Monitoring and Impact

• Conduct weekly 1:1 session with each student, focusing on personal growth, emotional wellbeing, and life skills such as budgeting, accurately logging all sessions in both internal and external CRM systems.

• Ensure all contact logs and essential paperwork are accurately updated and completed weekly.

• Contribute ideas to improve programme delivery and student engagement through innovative activities or support strategies.

• Use data insights to report progress to referral partners and funders.

Partnerships and Networks

• Build and maintain strong, positive relationships with all external partners and networks.

• Engage with external partners to build the relationships needed to receive referrals for our target audience and meet with each student prior to starting the programme to ensure a smooth induction.

• Liaise with relevant networks and attend meetings with funders or partner organisations that support the students' development.

• Seek out new partnership opportunities to enable The Clink's youth programs to grow and develop.

Employer and Further Education Connections

• Establish relationships with a variety of employers and further education providers to support work placements and future career opportunities.

• Assist students in creating structured CVs and preparing for interviews, including attending interviews if required.

Safeguarding

• To prioritise child protection and safeguarding of beneficiaries.

• Report and log all safeguarding concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead promptly, following charity policies.

General

• Travel between different sites when necessary, including locations such as our second site in Guildford, Surrey. Able to accompany our young people on trips, visits, or work placements, always maintaining safety and professional standards.

• Attend all training sessions and supervision meetings provided by senior management.

• Work collaboratively with staff across The Clink to achieve the best outcomes for young people and maintain healthy, professional working relationships.

• Support the planning and delivery of special events, career fairs, or community engagement projects.

DESIRABLE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Holds an enhanced DBS check suitable for working with both children and adults, ensuring full compliance with safeguarding and legal requirements.

• Experience of working with young people aged 16-25, with an understanding of their developmental stages, personal challenges, and individual needs.

• Possesses a relevant youth work qualification or equivalent, demonstrating a commitment to professional standards and best practice in supporting young people.

• Experience of working in prisons, youth offender institutions, or the criminal justice

system, including having lived experience, and the ability to use this knowledge to positively guide young people.

• Experience of supporting young people involved in gangs, at risk of exploitation, or affected by county lines, with the ability to identify risks and implement interventions to reduce harm.

• Experience of networking and building strong professional relationships with employers, apprenticeship services, and external partners to support education, training, and work placement opportunities.

• Experience of referring young people to specialist services and working collaboratively within a multi-agency framework to provide holistic support and guidance.

• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues and the PREVENT Duty, with the ability to assess risks, consult with line managers, and log appropriately in line with organisational protocols.

• Ability to maintain a safe, structured environment with clear boundaries while responding appropriately to behaviours and supporting young people to make positive choices.

• Ability to identify risk factors for criminal exploitation or grooming, help young people recognise warning signs, and implement strategies to reduce their vulnerability.

• Strong numeracy skills, sufficient to assist young people with budgeting, calculating benefit entitlements, understanding rent arrears, and managing finances.

• IT literate, able to maintain accurate records, logs, and assessments on internal and external systems while ensuring data is up to date and securely stored.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

• Able to build trust, motivate, and advise a diverse group of young people while maintaining professional relationships.

• Able to adopt a supportive, confident, and motivating approach, inspiring young people, building their self-esteem, and promoting positive personal development.

• Demonstrate empathy, patience, and understanding of the diverse challenges young people may face, including personal, social, and emotional issues.

• Demonstrate resilience and adaptability, able to respond to changing circumstances and manage stress effectively while maintaining a positive approach.

• Highly organised and proactive, able to manage multiple tasks and competing priorities efficiently without compromising the quality of support.

• Committed to teamwork and collaboration, working effectively with colleagues, external partners, and multi-agency teams to achieve the best outcomes for young people.

• Willingness to engage in continuous training, professional development, and reflective practice to enhance knowledge, skills, and performance.

REPORTING LINES MANAGEMENT EXPECTATIONS

You will report directly to the Support Lead for London and the SE, the Executive Leadership Team, but also work closely with any external networks such as the local authority and related Clink project leads in the community. 

GENERAL CLINK CHARITY INFORMATION

All staff are expected to:

• Comply with all current legislation

• Comply with all prison operational policies

• Comply with The Clink Staff Handbook

• Undertake such other duties within the scope of the post as may be requested by your manager

Special Requirements:

• Must have an enhanced DBS for children & adults

• A driving licence is preferred because of travel between sites — but not essential.

Company Benefits:

• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays

• Company pension scheme

• Free meals on duty when based in a restaurant or at Herne Hill site.

HOW TO APPLY

If you would like to apply for this post, please send your CV and a supporting statement (maximum 2 sides of A4).

In your supporting statement you should ensure that you try to address the desirable criteria set out in the person specification for the role. Make sure you give evidence which shows how you meet the criteria, not just telling us that you did it.

Interviews will be arranged on a rolling basis for this role, so early applications are encouraged. The deadline for applications is Friday 27th March.

We do not send individual acknowledgment of applications due to the high volume we receive, and we will only contact candidates who are shortlisted for an interview. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, your application has not been successful on this occasion.

If you would like an informal chat about this role, we can offer a call with a member of The Clink Team. Even if you feel you do not meet some of the criteria listed above, we would still welcome applications from passionate candidates who are keen to make a difference.

Appointment process

Applicants who have demonstrated that they meet the desirable criteria set out in the person specification will be contacted and interviews arranged on a rolling basis.

Interview

If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be invited to a selection process. A panel of two or more, including the recruiting manager conducts all interviews. If there are any special arrangements associated with the selection process e.g. tests or presentations, you will be informed accordingly.

Interview outcome

If you are invited to attend an interview, you will be informed either verbally or in writing of the outcome. The successful candidate will have the decision confirmed in writing as an offer of employment. Unsuccessful candidates will be offered the opportunity for feedback.

References

If you are successful in your application, you are asked to provide us with the details of two referees. We only contact referees with your permission after an offer of employment has been made.

All offers of employment are conditional upon the receipt of references that are satisfactory to The Clink Charity, verification of right to work in the UK and where applicable, verification of qualifications and Disclosure and Barring Service (where required). 

Personal information

The personal information that you have supplied will only be used for recruitment and selection purposes. You should refer to the Privacy Notice on our website, which sets out how The Clink Charity will deal with the personal and sensitive data you have provided in your application form and supporting information.

EDI

We welcome all applicants and are keen to enhance our team to reflect the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve. We would like to encourage applications from disabled people, those from LGBTQIA+ and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and those experiencing other forms of marginalisation, as they are underrepresented at this level. In addition, as this role works directly with people in prison and those at risk of offending, those with lived experience are encouraged to apply. 

Accessible recruitment

The Clink Charity is committed to making our recruitment process and workplace accessible to all. If you are an applicant with a disability and/or have any specific needs or adjustments that you would like us to consider, at application, interview, or appointment stage, please make us aware in your application.