We are looking for two passionate and motivated individuals to join the RSPB England Engagement team as Local Groups Development Officers. These are really exciting opportunities for people with great leadership qualities who are able to inspire, engage and motivate people. 

What's the role about? 

The successful candidates will be joining the team at an exciting time as a new vision for the future of local groups across the UK is launched later this year. You will have the opportunity to work closely with local groups and RSPB staff to support groups to develop and deliver engaging programmes of activities in line with our 2030 Strategy. You will join a small, dynamic team and will play a valuable part in how the RSPB connects with people across England.

RSPB local groups are run by dedicated, knowledgeable and experienced RSPB volunteers who undertake engagement and outreach, conservation, campaigning, fundraising and social activities in their communities across England and inspire people to take action for nature.

The local group network consists of 120 groups and you will be one of four Local Group Development Officers. Line managing a large number of dispersed volunteers, you will develop ways to support them to have a greater impact for nature. To achieve this, you will need experience of working with volunteers and be organised and consistent in your approach to deliver a quality volunteering experience. As the local groups’ main point of contact at the RSPB, you will ensure they have everything they need to succeed, to carry out their work safely and that policies and procedures are followed. As an excellent communicator who has experience working with a wide range of people in a leadership role, you will be an ambassador for groups internally, championing their work.

You don’t need to be a wildlife expert - we are looking for people who are interested in working with people and who can help inspire and develop volunteers and local groups.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience (please address each point in your application):

1. Understanding of volunteering through working as a volunteer/experience of managing volunteers. 
2. Experience of working in communities and/or with community groups to achieve shared goals.
3. Understanding and knowledge of volunteering best practice, innovation and sector standards and a demonstrable track record of having successfully developed volunteering roles across an organisation
4. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, successfully influencing, persuading, guiding, listening to and negotiating with others, constructively challenging thinking where appropriate.
5. Experience of providing advice and guidance to people at all levels and monitoring the impact of the support you have provided. 
6. Strong skills in identifying and analysing problems, issues and areas of improvement, working collaboratively to develop creative solutions. 
7. Ability to balance a strong focus on achieving successful outcomes with the need to empower, enable, motivate, inspire and develop others.
8. Experience of developing training and resources to support and upskill others.

The location of these roles is flexible however, we have team members based in Brighton and Lancaster and are looking for applicants who can provide a good geographical spread across England. Roles can be home-based and/or working from one of our offices in Exeter, Birmingham, Sandy, Norwich. 

There are two permanent roles available, one at 30 hours and one at 22.5 hours, that could be split as follows: One role at three days per week & one role at four days per week, or, two roles at 3.5 days per week. Interviews will be via MS Teams 31/08/22 or 01/09/22. For further information please contact kensa.cooper@rspb.org.uk

We are committed to making our organisation diverse and inclusive, and as such are keen to encourage applications from people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, as well as those with disabilities or other protected characteristics. The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

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.  If you require any adjustments to this process, please ask us.

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.