Engaging Communities Officer - Trees for All (Bolton and Wigan)

The Woodland Trust is looking for an Engaging Communities Officer. As Engaging Communities Officer, you will support the delivery of the Woodland Trust's Trees for All programme in Bolton and Wigan as part of the Woodland Trust’s Smithills Estate, Northern Forest Treescape and North Regional team. You will lead delivery of the Woodland Trust's Trees for All programme in the area, focusing on increasing tree cover and access to nature in neighbourhoods with the lowest Tree Equity Scores.

The Role:

• Deliver engaging community programmes, events and activities that connect people with trees, woods and nature, supporting the Woodland Trust's Trees for All ambitions.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with community groups, schools, volunteers, local authorities, health organisations and other stakeholders to maximise participation and project impact.
• Engage and inspire diverse and underrepresented communities, removing barriers to participation and improving access to local green spaces through inclusive and accessible approaches.
• Coordinate and support the delivery of volunteering opportunities, tree planting projects, educational activities and Woodland Trust initiatives, ensuring activities are well planned, safely delivered and effectively managed.
• Promote Woodland Trust projects and the benefits of trees and woodlands through community outreach, events, presentations, local publicity, social media and partnership networks.
• Support effective project and programme management through administration, record keeping, monitoring and evaluation, GDPR-compliant data management, reporting and the capture of learning and impact.
• Develop case studies, stories and evidence of impact, working collaboratively with communications, fundraising, operational and programme teams to increase the reach and value of community engagement activities.
• Work in line with Woodland Trust policies and procedures, including safeguarding, health and safety, biosecurity, equality, diversity and inclusion requirements, while undertaking travel and other duties appropriate to the role.
• This is a hybrid position with a mix of home working and from our office in Smithills. Office attendance would be required once or twice a week on average. Occasional travel to other offices and remote locations may also be required.

The Candidate:

• Experience of engaging and working with communities, volunteers, schools, partner organisations and a wide range of stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships and partnerships, communicating confidently with diverse audiences and adapting approaches to different needs.
• Experience of planning, organising and delivering projects, events, engagement programmes or community-based initiatives, while managing competing priorities effectively.
• Ability to promote projects, initiatives or campaigns using a range of communication and engagement methods, including developing case studies, promotional content and communication materials.
• Experience of monitoring activities, maintaining accurate records, using IT systems and databases, and contributing to reporting, evaluation and project learning.
• Knowledge of inclusive and accessible engagement approaches, with experience of engaging priority, underserved or underrepresented communities and encouraging participation.
• Understanding of community engagement practice and the environmental, social and health benefits of trees, woodlands and green spaces, with experience of delivering environmental, education, community, health or wellbeing projects.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, health and safety, GDPR and biosecurity requirements, with strong IT skills, experience managing small to medium budgets, and the ability to travel throughout the region with a full UK driving licence.
• The successful candidate will be required to undertake a Enhanced Background Check, as part of our pre-employment screening.

Benefits and Wellbeing:

Joining our team means you’ll be part of our fight for a greener, healthier planet for people and wildlife. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer:

• Enhanced Employer Pension
• Life Assurance
• Flexible and hybrid working options (7am - 7pm)
• Generous annual leave - 25 Days plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part-time)
• Buy and sell holiday scheme
• Enhanced parental pay
• Employee assistance programme

To support inclusivity and remove barriers for candidates, we publish all salaries upfront and proudly follow the We Show the Salary pledge. The salary listed is the set salary for this role, and we don’t ask applicants to state their current pay or expectations. If you choose to apply, we’ll take that as confirmation that the advertised salary meets your expectations.

About Us:

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity.  We want to see a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature. The Trust engages and inspires people to make a difference by protecting, restoring and creating woodland and getting more trees in the ground.

Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:

To achieve our mission, we need to better reflect society and the communities we work in. People of colour and disabled people are currently under-represented across the environment and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we particularly encourage you to apply.

Application information and advice:

For fairness we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, and we do not ask for your CV at application.

Make sure that your personal statement clearly shows how your skills and knowledge link to the specifications in the job description and you share with us your passion for the role.

Completed applications will be reviewed by a hiring manager and/or a member of the recruitment team, and you will receive an update on the outcome of your application via email.

Acceptable Use - Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We understand that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their job applications. However, we ask that any information submitted reflects your own experience, skills and understanding. During interviews, candidates are expected to respond independently without the use of AI tools.

Apply now:

If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, apply today. We might close advertising early if we get a lot of applications, so it's a good idea to apply soon. If we do close the advert early, and you have an application in progress, we will email you prior to closing to give you time to complete.

Interviews will take place via Microsoft Teams on Monday 9th November 2026. Interview questions will be provided before the interview to help you prepare.