Project Officer - Species Recovery Volunteer Network

Job Description

Introduction

Volunteers are amazing. They enhance our organisational capacity and enable us to make a bigger and better impact for nature. This is an exciting project which empowers people to take conservation action for the UKs most threatened species. You will join at a critical point in the project as we seek to expand both the project team and develop new species projects.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and organised individual with a passion for working with people to assist the project manager in achieving the outputs and objectives of the Species Recovery Volunteer Network. This project will seek to increase volunteer capacity to sustainably monitor, protect, and advocate for the most endangered species in the UK.

The Species Recovery Volunteer Network is already supporting the recovery of species in Eastern England, including little tern, stone-curlew, and turtle dove. You will work with project teams to support the development of these projects as they become self-sustaining and volunteer-led. You will also be part of the expansion of the project to support new species projects which will include providing capacity building and support for staff for initial species project set up, development and skills progression for volunteer teams with the ambition to have volunteer species recovery teams in all four UK countries. You will support the project manager to compile the annual project report and promote the project internally and externally.

About the role

The successful candidate will have proven experience of working as part of a team to deliver, monitor and report on projects. You will be a team player, with experience in training and supporting staff and volunteers in new ways of working and a range of tasks. You will have experience of volunteer management and be passionate about the vital role volunteers and communities play in delivering long-term, sustainable conservation.

You will be responsible for:

Working with staff and volunteers to ensure that actions are delivered to the agreed standards of cost, quality and time

Helping to put in place the right governance structure to keep the project on track and assisting species teams to identify roles and tasks for volunteers

Undertaking agreed activities, for example volunteer and staff workshops, in order to deliver the project outputs and objectives in accordance with the project plan

Assisting species recovery teams with the recruitment and induction of volunteers where appropriate

Helping with the development of an accreditation system for volunteer team development

Producing relevant project documentation, such as contributions to species team reports, volunteer training guides and newsletters, as directed by the project manager

Developing and delivering appropriate communication activities such as volunteer team ‘thank you’ events, media interaction, presentations and production of project promotional materials in association with communications colleagues to support the delivery of the project

Coordinating meetings and reporting to the project manager and project board if appropriate

Ensuring that risks and issues are highlighted to the project manager

Contributing to annual project reviews and project board meetings

What we need from you

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

Experience of managing volunteers

Ability to work well as part of a cross-functional project team, working with species teams, volunteers and other stakeholders

Experience in developing and organising training events, workshops or facilitated discussions and meetings

An ability to produce clear and written communications with experience of producing written materials e.g. reports, newsletters and similar project related communications

An ability to persuade and influence a wide range of people, both internally and externally

An ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances

Proven time management, organisational skills and attention to detail

The ability to communicate about the project in a passionate and credible manner

Demonstrable experience of developing and working in partnerships to achieve shared outcomes

Competent IT user (e.g. MS packages, Outlook etc)

Desirable

Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to find creative solutions

Experience of working with and engaging communities

Additional Information

This role will require travel throughout England and, on occasion, short periods staying away. Initially, travel will mainly be within eastern England but we expect this to extend to the rest of the UK as the project develops.

This is a fixed term role until September 2025

The location of this role is flexible within England and can be home and/or office-based

This is a Fixed-Term, Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week.

The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 10th October 2022. For further information please contact rowena.staff@rspb.org.uk.

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As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

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The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.