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LIFE Raft Socioeconomic Development Project Assistant x2 (Northern Ireland) Part-Time

Reference: SEP20222376
Expiry date: 2022-10-19 22:59:00.000
Location: Rathlin Island
Salary: £23,939.00 - £26,558.00 Pro Rata
Benefits: Pension, 26 days Annual Leave (pro-rata), Life Assurance
Duration:1 year possibility of extension
Attachments: CandidateGuidanceNotes2021.pdf

We are currently recruiting for two part-time Socioeconomic Development Project Assistants for the ‘LIFE Raft project - Rathlin Acting for Tomorrow: Removing invasive non-native ferrets and rats from the Rathlin Island SPA, Northern Ireland.

About Rathlin Island

Rathlin is 4km off the County Antrim coast and is Northern Ireland’s only inhabited offshore island, with a permanent community of around 160 people. At a national and international level, Rathlin’s seabird populations are important but invasive non-native ferrets and rats threaten their status.

The LIFE Raft project’s aim is to safeguard the island’s wildlife by eradicating both the ferret and rat populations from the island, whilst embedding sound biosecurity measures to prevent their return. The project will strengthen existing local pride in, and stewardship of, Rathlin's natural heritage and create significant socioeconomic opportunities for a sustainable future. Success will require a multi-disciplinary approach covering technical operations, community engagement and collaborative working across the project partnership and with key external stakeholders

The project has been made possible with funding from EU LIFE; National Lottery Heritage Fund; and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, (with contributions from RSPB NI, Rathlin Development and Community Association (RDCA) and support from the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust and Causeway Coast and Glen Borough Council).

About the role

The role will strengthen existing local pride in, and stewardship of, the islands natural heritage and create significant socioeconomic opportunities for a sustainable future. Success will require a multi-disciplinary approach covering technical operations, community engagement and collaborative working across the project partnership and with key external stakeholders.

The person(s) appointed will design and implement a programme with the island community at the heart of the project. This plan will be unique to Rathlin and will strengthen and deliver socioeconomic benefits inline with the project. The plan will incorporate approaches that match the values and aspirations that matter most to the community e.g. well-being economy and social enterprises.

Key Results

  • Manage and identify opportunities for Rathlin Island community, including maintaining a detailed knowledge of the various organisations and stakeholders.
  • Prepare two or three proposals and plans of a relevant opportunity to advance as a priority action as part of LIFE Raft.
  • Working with contractors and as a team, engage with businesses and community members on Rathlin Island to develop and monitor the islands socioeconomic baseline.
  • Propose and develop new sections for the rathlin360.com website as approved by the RDCA and Programme Manager.
  • Manage your workload using the Project Management Framework including identification or risks and issues that might impact on your work area.
  • Collate community suggestions and opportunities in a manner that can be shared with the RDCA and LIFE Raft team and where appropriate, developed into viable strategies and plans.
  • Contribute to project communications and reporting requirements.

What we need from this role(s)

1. Identify the challenges

  • Work with Rathlin’s community to identify economic challenges
  • Identify what social factors restrict economic development
  • Identify what other factors restrict the development of businesses on the island
  • Identify practical/logistical factors that restrict economic growth

2. Identify solutions

  • Based on the outcomes of (1) above, work to identify how other island communities have addressed the issues that limit economic growth.
  • Explore how such solutions could be implemented on Rathlin

3. Support the development of opportunities

  • Once challenges and solutions have been identified, develop a socioeconomic plan based on the island flourishing economically, socially and sustainably
  • Provide guidance, and support, to community members that already run businesses and those that want to develop new business opportunities
  • Provide guidance and support to the Programme Team on how social barriers can be overcome to develop opportunities for the island.
  • Engage with Invest Northern Ireland and other relevant bodies to ensure the local community is supported in its plans

The appointed persons will work with The LIFE Raft project team, The Rathlin community, Appreciating People, The Project steering group & Project stakeholders including members of the public that visit Rathlin.

What we need from you

Essentials:

  • Excellent written and spoken English
  • A proven aptitude or experience of community development
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Experience of working with communities
  • Experience of developing plans
  • An ability to produce high level written communications and reports
  • An ability to maintain positive working relationships
  • Ability to respond positively to colleagues' and stakeholder’s needs and feedback
  • Competent IT user.

Additional Information

This is a Fixed-Term (1 year with the possibility of extension), Part-Time role for 20 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 26 October 2022. For further information please contact john.kelly@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application, you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form where you will have the opportunity to tell us how you meet the criteria set above.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer.

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