Senior Project Officer

The Conservation Volunteers are seeking a Senior Project Officer to manage and deliver a programme of practical environmental volunteering, Green Gym projects and horticultural activities, based at TCV’s Derry/Londonderry office. 

Location and geographical area 
The post is a permanent, 35 hour per week role based at TCV’s office at Brooke Park in Derry/Londonderry. TCV has new purpose-built premises at Brooke Park including office, training room, workshop and a garden with polytunnels. There are also a number of vehicles and an extensive range of tools and equipment. Three other TCV staff are based at Brooke Park. 

The Senior Project Officer will organise volunteering activities at Brooke Park and throughout Derry City and Counties Londonderry, Tyrone and Fermanagh. 

Main activities 
The main activities the Senior Project Officer will undertake are as follows: 
a) Leading volunteers undertaking practical environmental projects such as tree planting, pond construction, woodland management, control of invasive species, path construction, hedgelaying and fencing. 
b) Leading volunteers undertaking horticultural and community projects such as food growing, garden creation, management and improvements to community sites and urban open spaces. 
c) Delivering TCV’s Green Gym project to connect local people to green spaces for physical and mental health and social well-being benefits. 
d) Working with unemployed people who are volunteering as part of TCV’s ESF programme, providing them with work experience to help increase work skills and employability. 
e) Running community events and community development work. 
f) Working with schools and youth groups on environmental projects. 
g) Recruiting volunteers to become involved in TCV’s projects. 
h) The Senior Project Officer will be responsible for finding work from a wide range of landowners including councils, schools, farmers, public bodies and private landowners. This role includes site visits, preparing costings and agreeing costs with the landowner and then ensuring the work is implemented on time, to specification and within budget. 
In a typical week the Senior Project Officer will spend up to 4 days running practical environmental projects and working with volunteers. The rest of the week will be spent on seeking work, site visits and administration activities relating to the various projects. 

Experience 
Applicants should have substantial experience of practical environmental work, horticulture or landscaping. The Senior Project Officer’s main role is leading volunteers to complete a wide range of practical environmental work and they will need relevant experience to plan, lead and support volunteers. Experience and understanding of working with volunteers, community involvement and the charity/NGO sector is important. 
The Senior Project Officer is also involved in generating work, advising many different sorts of landowners about their sites, making recommendations for improvements and providing proposals and costs. Some previous experience relevant to giving advice and creating plans and costings is important. 
There is no specific qualification required, but a qualification in horticulture or environment such as NVQ, HND or BTEC is helpful. Certificates of competence in using equipment such as brushcutter, lawnmower or safe use of pesticides, are also very useful. 

Transport 
The Senior Project Officer will be required to travel widely and drive volunteers to many different sites in a TCV minibus and sometimes tow a trailer with tools or materials. A full driving licence is essential. All TCV minibuses are driver plus eight passenger seats and can be driven on a car driving licence. 

Funders 
During 2019-20 this post is funded by a mix of funders including: 
• Public Health Agency 
• European Social Fund 
• Probation Board for Northern Ireland 
The funders may change a little from year to year. 

Holidays 
25 days per year and rising on day per year of service to 30 days at 5 years, plus all public holidays. 
 

A bit more about us:
We recognise that each community and the people living there have different needs. Whether improving wellbeing, conserving a well-loved outdoor space or bringing people together to promote social cohesion and combat loneliness, TCV works together with communities to deliver practical solutions to the real life challenges they face.

For over 50 years we have adapted our work with volunteers to reflect the changing needs of communities in the UK and, by giving people a sense of purpose and belonging, we have empowered them to take control of their lives and outdoor spaces for the benefit of all.

Whilst our activities vary, our inclusive approach has remained consistent; bringing people and places together to create happy, healthy and connected communities for everyone.

How to apply

Please visit https://www.tcv.org.uk/careers/ for further information and to download a copy of the person specification.

Alternatively email, [email protected] or call 01302 388878 for a recruitment pack.

Please return applications to the HR People Services team via [email protected] or post to HR, The Conservation Volunteers, Sedum House, Mallard Way, Doncaster DN4 8DB.

 Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Wednesday 18 September 2019. Provisional date for interviews is week beginning 23 September 2019