The RSPB is developing new ways of working alongside communities in the UK. Our new approach uses community organising techniques in order to support communities to build their own power whilst connecting with nature and taking action in a meaningful way.

Through our Nature on Your Doorstep project, this role will work alongside other community organisers, volunteers, RSPB Giving Nature a Home Edinburgh project and the UKHQ Community Team to co-design and test a new community organising framework, resources and monitoring and evaluation methodology. This will ensure that our work has impact and that those teams working in communities are supported in the future. We are looking for someone with a passion for building community power for the benefit of people, place and planet.

The role will require going out into the local community to build a relationship with the local community leaders, listening to their needs and gain an understanding of the area. The Community Connector will have excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to adapt to different audiences and handle challenging conversations. Through the process of co-design, and in the true spirit of ‘community organising’, the role will then facilitate the community themselves to run a programme of activities that enables them to connect with and act for nature. The role will explore the use of a supportive community network, including formal or informal volunteers, community leaders and local partners. Reflective practise will occur throughout, feeding into the ongoing plan of activities and resources as well as informing the evolving community organising framework. From the beginning we will have in mind that we want to build confidence and capability in the community and their leaders so that ultimately, we can step away from the community with the exception of occasional light touch support, promoting and celebrating their successes.

Key Work Areas

1. Codesigning and piloting a new framework to help RSPB staff work with communities
2. Helping design & implement a monitoring and evaluation framework and using this to report on the progress of your work Listening to communities and understand their needs through mapping exercises and other suggested techniques.
3. Supporting community leaders to develop a programme of activities which delivers positive change for nature locally
4. Signposting to resources and identifying gaps for developing new resources
5. Working in network of other community organisers
6. Working with our social scientist to test different interventions in communities, including Barratt Developments.

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal, communication & written skills and ability to engage with a wide range of people face to face.
• Computer literacy and a basic understanding of social media platforms.
• Leadership and relationship-building skills with a strong ability to work under your own initiative and motivate others.
• Strong planning, organisational and project management skills.
• Experience of delivering targets and monitoring, evaluating and reporting outcomes.
• Experience of working with partnership networks.
• Volunteer recruitment and support.

Desirable

• Formal experience of community organising, empowerment and/or engagement.
• Delivering community-focussed events.
• Able to perform administrative tasks and to deliver accurate reporting to given timescales.
• Mediation training.
• Good basic knowledge of UK wildlife, habitats and key species (sufficient to be able to lead public engagement activities in a credible way and to train and motivate volunteers).
• Geographical knowledge of location and community.
• Budget management.

This is a part time (0.8 30 hours a week contract)  Fixed term until 31.3.24 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 17th April. For further information please contact fiona.weir@rspb.org.uk.

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.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.