Rural partnerships development manager jobs in Newcastle

The Woodland Trust is looking for an Engaging Communities Officer to join our exciting Sherwood’s Living Legends project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. A development grant has been awarded by Heritage Fund to help the Woodland Trust progress the project over 18-months to apply for a 5-year delivery stage grant. If this application is successful, the project will safeguard the future of ancient and veteran trees in Sherwood Forest and reconnect communities with this iconic landscape. This is a fixed term contract for 18-months, with the potential for an extension. 

The Role: 

• Lead the community-focused development of Sherwood’s Living Legends, shaping how people connect with the cultural, historical and ecological significance of ancient and veteran trees. 
• Co-create imaginative engagement approaches with consultants, using storytelling, heritage and local myth to inspire urban and rural communities. 
• Define target audiences and craft compelling key messages that will underpin the project’s delivery-stage communications. 
• Promote the project across the Sherwood NCA through social media, local press, PR events and creative outreach activity. 
• Ensure engagement plans are inclusive, accessible and responsive to the needs of diverse communities and participants. 
• Build and maintain strong relationships with partners, community groups, landowners and Woodland Trust teams to support joined-up project development. 
• Monitor and evaluate engagement activity, gathering insight and data to inform project design and future delivery. 
• Represent the project internally and externally, sharing successes and supporting alignment with wider Woodland Trust communications. 

The Candidate: 

• Experienced in coordinating and delivering varied community events, including consultations tailored to different audiences and locations. 
• Confident leading groups outdoors, with experience engaging children, schools and community participants in nature-based activities. 
• Skilled in partnership working, able to collaborate with volunteers, community groups and external organisations to achieve shared outcomes. 
• Strong communicator with excellent written, verbal and digital skills, including social media content creation and public-facing representation. 
• Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, with an understanding of how to design accessible and welcoming engagement. 
• Organised and proactive, able to manage multiple workstreams, prioritise effectively and work independently within a dispersed team. 
• Competent with IT systems, particularly MS Office and collaborative platforms such as Teams. 
• Professional, positive and adaptable, able to represent the Woodland Trust and partners with confidence and clarity. 
• The successful candidate will be required to undertake a Basic DBS Check, as part of our pre-employment screening. 

Benefits and Wellbeing: 

Joining our team means you’ll be a big part of tackling environmental and climate issues. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer: 

• Enhanced Employer Pension 
• Life Assurance 
• Flexible & Hybrid Working Options 
• Generous Annual Leave - 25 Days Plus Bank Holidays (pro rata’d for part-time) 
• Buy and Sell Holiday Scheme 
• Enhanced Parental Pay 
• Employee Assistance Programme 

About Us: 

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity.  We want to see a world where trees and woods thrive for people and nature. The Trust engages and inspires people to make their difference tackling the nature and climate crisis helping protect, restore and create our vital woods and trees. 

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: 

To achieve our vision of a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature, we need to better reflect society and the communities we work in. All people, no matter their background, identity, ability, or circumstance, should benefit from trees.

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.  

Please contact us to discuss any additional support or adjustments you may need to complete your application. 

Application Advice: 

For fairness we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, and CVs are redacted until after shortlisting is complete. 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. Even if you don't meet every requirement of the role, we would encourage you to apply.

Acceptable Use - Artificial Intelligence (AI): 

We understand that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their job applications-for example, to help structure or edit written responses. We welcome the use of AI in this way, particularly where it helps improve accessibility, such as for neurodivergent applicants. 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, send in your application today. We might close the job opening 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 process, we will email you prior to closing to give you time to complete. 

Interviews to be held on April 21st 2026.

Contract:  Permanent, part time (3 days per week)

Salary:  £14,920 per annum (FTE £29,010 per annum)

Location:Home based within Oxfordshire, ideally within one hour of Burford, with regional travel

Closing date:  Friday 13 March 2026

Interview date:  Thursday 19 and Friday 20 March

As Community Project Coordinator, you will be part of a dedicated team overseeing the efficient day-to-day operation of our Pet Food Bank project and wider community-based initiatives. Working closely with the Community Project Lead, you will help deliver projects that improve the lives of people and pets, with dignity at the heart of everything we do. This includes supporting a national network of pet food banks and partners, increasing awareness of Blue Cross, and ensuring practical, compassionate support reaches pet owners in short term crisis.

More about the role

This is a home-based role within Oxfordshire, ideally located within one hour of our Burford offices, as you will be required to travel to Burford on a weekly basis to manage deliveries at our Warehouse. Due to the rural location and less frequent public transport, travelling by car is often the most practical option. While the role is home based, you will be contractually attached to the Burford site. Travel to Burford will therefore be treated as normal commuting and expenses will not be payable for travel to this site.

Working across a defined geographic region, you will support the development and smooth running of the Pet Food Bank project and other community initiatives. This will involve close collaboration with pet food banks, suppliers, local authorities, community groups and volunteers to ensure effective coordination, communication and logistics.

You will secure donations of pet food and services, oversee the movement of food and equipment, and regularly travel to food bank partners and other organisations. A key part of the role involves liaising with volunteers and colleagues by phone and in person, ensuring everyone is supported, informed and working together effectively.

Alongside core project delivery, you will support the planning, preparation and delivery of a large-scale summer event in June 2026, working in partnership with one of our corporate partners. This event will play an important role in expanding our outreach and support for pet owners in need. You will also provide essential administrative support, contribute to reporting, and help deliver a clear and effective communication plan to support project and event activity.

Occasional travel to other partner organisations or Blue Cross locations will be required. Travel to locations other than your attached Burford site will be claimable in line with Blue Cross expenses policy.

You will act as a positive ambassador for Blue Cross, ensure policies and procedures are followed, and support the Community Project Lead with income delivery and media activity where required. 

About you:

You will thrive in a role where you can see the impact of your work every day. You are an organised, proactive and people focused individual who enjoys building meaningful relationships and working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders.

You will be a confident and empathetic communicator, able to engage professionally and non-judgmentally with members of the public, volunteers, partners and colleagues. You will be comfortable managing multiple priorities, adapting to changing deadlines, and handling sensitive information with discretion.

Able to work independently across your region, you will also be a strong team player with good problem-solving skills and the ability to balance day-to-day delivery with forward planning. An understanding of the local areas within your region would be an advantage.

Essential Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

• Full UK driving licence with access to your own vehicle
• Demonstrable experience of using excellent communication skills to build and maintain effective internal and external relationships
• Proven ability to prioritise and organise work and projects
• Proven administration skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• IT literate with MS Office and web based databases and platforms
• The ability to demonstrate, understand and apply Blue Cross values 

Desirable Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

• Experience in a similar role
• Experience supervising or managing volunteers
• Previous experience working in the charity sector

How to apply 

To apply, please click the apply button and submit your application. As part of the application process, you will be asked to indicate your preferred base site. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of suitable applications. 

Blue Cross benefits   

Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it weren’t for their amazing efforts and commitment, we wouldn’t be able to make the difference that we do today.  In return, we want to provide you with the best working environment we can.

With a wide range of perks aimed at enhancing your life both inside and outside of work, you'll
thrive in a supportive and rewarding environment.

Our generous benefits package includes:  

• 38 days per year, increasing to 43 with service (including bank holidays). For part-time roles, holiday entitlement is calculated pro-rata.
• Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution 
• Life assurance 
• Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme
• Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
• Free access to GP via MetLife
• Recognition scheme
• Annual volunteer days 
• Claim for professional fees
• Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers. 

We want you to feel valued and supported throughout your career with us. For more details on our benefits and to see how we invest in our team, visit the 'Why Work for Us' page on our website.

To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the 'why work for us' page on our website.