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.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
About Us
Outrage + Optimism is a leading weekly podcast dedicated to producing high-quality content that informs, inspires, and engages audiences worldwide, hosted by Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Paul Dickinson. Across 3 seasons each year, the podcast delves into the climate crisis by uncovering the stories behind the headlines, with a focus on shifting mindsets, inspiring action, and highlighting change-makers who transform challenges into opportunities.
Over the past 5 years, Outrage + Optimism has experienced consistent growth amongst and loyal and engaged audience, many of whom use what they hear on the podcast to drive change in their respective communities. In our most recent Listener Survey, the majority of listeners surveyed reported that they had taken some kind of action as a result of listening to our content over the past 2 years.
About You
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Executive Producer, with strong climate credentials, to lead our small, dedicated production team. As the Executive Producer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the editorial direction in close collaboration with the hosts; oversee the production process end-to-end, including acting as Producer on episodes; and ensure the podcast maintains its high standards of quality and impact. Working closely with the hosts, content creators, and other stakeholders, you will drive the strategic vision of the podcast and spearhead efforts to grow its audience and influence.
Given the size of the team, this is a hands-on role, combining storytelling and editorial excellence, alongside strong climate knowledge and a commitment to driving action and impact.
This Role
Title: Executive Producer, Outrage + Optimism
Start date: Summer 2024
Contract: Fixed term (1 year), minimum 4 days per week
Location: Remote, with occasional travel
Salary: Based on experience
Closing date: Midnight on 7 June 2024, though applications will be considered on a rolling basis
Responsibilities
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Responsibilities:
- Content Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive content strategy aligned with the podcast's mission and objectives. Stay informed about global issues, emerging trends, and audience preferences to ensure relevance and timeliness of content.
- Production Oversight: Manage all aspects of podcast production (weekly and deep dive episodes), including planning, scheduling, recording, editing, and distribution. Coordinate with hosts, guests, and production team members to ensure smooth and efficient workflows.
- Creative Direction: Provide creative leadership and direction to ensure each episode delivers compelling storytelling, insightful analysis, and engaging conversations. Foster a collaborative and innovative environment that encourages experimentation, creativity and a culture of learning in public.
- Audience Engagement: Develop strategies to grow and engage the podcast audience across various platforms, including social media, email newsletters, and live events. Monitor audience feedback and analytics to inform content decisions and optimize performance.
- Climate Knowledge and Network: Identify themes and topics for future episodes and series. Develop guest strategy, ensuring the podcast is representing a diverse range of voices and viewpoints
- Partnerships and Collaborations: Identify and pursue opportunities for strategic partnerships, collaborations, and sponsorships to expand the podcast's reach and revenue potential. Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in the media industry.
- Budget Management: Manage the podcast budget effectively, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently to support production needs and strategic initiatives.
- Editorial judgement: Assess editorial risks across individual episodes, topics or series, working with colleagues and external resources (e.g. research, legal) when needed
- Quality Control: Maintain high standards of quality and professionalism across all aspects of production, including audio production, storytelling, and content accuracy. Conduct regular reviews and evaluations to identify areas for improvement.
- Funder Relationships: Attend meetings and co-produce regular reports for our philanthropic funders, in addition to collaborating on new fundraising initiatives.
Skills and Experience
Essential
- Proven experience as an executive producer or senior producer in the podcasting or broadcast media industry.
- Strong editorial judgment and storytelling skills, with a keen understanding of narrative structure and audience engagement.
- Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Adaptable and calm under pressure, with the ability to be responsive and reactive to internal and external changes .
- Strategic thinker with a track record of developing and implementing successful content strategies and growing audience engagement.
- Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
- Passion for global issues, sustainability, and social impact, with a commitment to creating meaningful content that drives positive change.
Desirable
- Proficiency in audio editing software (e.g., Adobe Audition, Pro Tools) and familiarity with podcast hosting platforms (e.g., Libsyn, Podbean).
- Strong network which you can activate to secure high-profile guests or technical experts
- A working understanding of the podcast marketing landscape, in terms of the different approaches for audience growth
Join our team and be part of a mission-driven organisation dedicated to creating meaningful content that inspires, informs, and empowers audiences around the world. If you're passionate about storytelling, social impact, and making a difference, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now and help us shape the future of podcasting!
About Global Optimism
Outrage + Optimism is part of Global Optimism, which operates as a family of projects and partnerships to elevate leadership, transform mindsets and accelerate action to protect and regenerate the web of life.
Global Optimism was co-founded in 2016 by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac upon leaving the UN, having overseen the delivery of the landmark Paris Agreement. Global Optimism’s mission is to ensure that by 2030 we all - business, civil society, government and citizens around the world - will have taken necessary and decisive action to restore and regenerate the web of life.
As Founding Partners Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac learned during their stewardship of the Paris Agreement, how we show up in the world defines how we work with others, how we interact with our surroundings and ultimately the future we co-create. It is in this spirit that Global Optimism activates the stubborn optimists of the world, inviting and inspiring people to face the climate crisis head on and take action towards a regenerative future. We do this through trusted partnerships, an award-winning podcast, public engagements and convenings. In all our projects and partnerships, we believe that mindset matters most - we model stubborn optimism and joyful curiosity as necessary inputs to achieving our goals and encourage the same in others.
“Our future is unwritten. It will be shaped by who we choose to be now. As we learned during our stewardship of the Paris Agreement, if you do not control the complex landscape of a challenge (and you rarely do), the most powerful thing you can do is change how you behave in that landscape, using yourself as a catalyst for overall change. All too often in the face of a task, we move quickly to ‘doing’ without first reflecting on ‘being’ – what we personally bring to the task, as well as what others might. And the most important thing we can bring is our state of mind.” - Christiana Figueres
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About you
Do you want to use your skills to make a real difference to the myeloma community?
We’re looking for a talented and enthusiastic Scientific Knowledge and Communications Officer who has a passion for delivering high quality scientific information to a range of different audiences. You’ll have excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to make complex information engaging and accessible. You’ll require strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise and manage your workload to meet strict deadlines.
About the role
This is an exciting time to join Myeloma UK as we launch our new five year strategy.
The post holder will be responsible for developing evidence led scientific communications that help engage new audiences as we aim to reach new people as part of our strategic goals. You will use your science communication expertise to bring our research and scientific information to life for a variety of audiences from people affected by myeloma to health care professionals as well as scientists and researchers.
You will support other teams across Myeloma UK by helping to develop engaging evidence led impactful communications that can be used for appeals, case for support and other activities. You’ll also work with our research and health care professional community to engage and involve them in our communications activities.
About us
Myeloma UK is the only organisation in the UK dealing exclusively with the blood cancer myeloma and related conditions. We are committed to bringing together the best and brightest people to help us ensure that every patient has an empowered present and a hopeful future.
Our ultimate goal is to find a cure and make myeloma history. Until then, our mission is to help every patient live well with myeloma for as long as possible. We are committed to diagnosing myeloma earlier, discovering and sharing knowledge, transforming the patient experience and influencing positive change in care.
Our culture
Wellbeing and staff engagement are at the heart of our culture.
We offer flexible working and flexitime to allow you to find the right working pattern for you. We have a Staff Engagement Group who work with us to ensure staff are happy and who help us review and update our benefits. We offer an employee assistance program and our Wellbeing Leads are there always here to support our staff.
How to apply
If you think you would be a great fit for this role, get in touch and tell us more about yourself by sending us the following :
1. A cover letter telling us more about you and what you think makes you a good fit for this role
2. A CV that sets out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements
Applications close on 20 May 2024 and interviews will be held w/c 27 May 2024. You may be asked to do a task prior to your interview.
Myeloma UK is an equal opportunities employer and always welcomes applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of:
· sex,
· race,
· disability,
· age,
· sexual orientation,
· gender reassignment,
· religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.
Please note, you will be asked to provide evidence of your eligibility to work in the UK prior to interview selection.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.