Local recruitment: Catchment to Coast Project Officer

Thames21

United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Job Description

Salary:                       £27,000-£29,000, 35 hours per week

Contract length:      1-year fixed term

Location:                   Thames21 offices/ home working/ various sites in Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock/ Southend Council office

Responsible to:       Engagement Manager, Head of Engagement and Education.

THAMES21

Thames21 is the leading charity for London’s rivers and those throughout the Thames Basin. We connect people by putting healthy rivers at the heart of everyday life. We restore rivers, increase resilience of our rivers and communities to a future climate, educate and empower the community and campaign for positive change for the good of people and their local rivers. We’re a small, dynamic charity is looking for a key member of the team to help deliver our new exciting Catchment to Coast programme.

Innovative Flood Resilience

Catchment to Coast, based in Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock, is one of 25 national programmes which are supported by the Flood and Coastal Innovation Resilience Fund and which aim to test and demonstrate innovative and practical flood resilience measures and activities. The evidence and learning developed through this programme will inform future investments and programmes in how to deliver healthier more climate resilient rivers, catchments and communities.

Catchment to Coast

The primary objectives of the Catchment to Coast project are to reduce surface water flood risk to communities through the use of nature-based resilience measures and use innovative natural erosion management techniques to provide coastal erosion protection to several historic landfill sites.

The project will install a range of flood resilience measures in the upper and middle catchment, including constructed wetlands, leaky dams and rainwater harvesting. Resilience measures in the lower catchment and coast will include installation of biotiles and or bioblocks to increase biodiversity, reduce coastal erosion and encourage establishment of saltmarsh.

The involvement and integration of local communities within this programme is critical to its success and will be led by Thames21, working closely with Southend-on-Sea Council, Thurrock Council and other project partners.

Your role

The post holder will join Thames21’s Engagement and Education team and work together with our Engagement Manager and project partners in Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock Councils. The role will be to lead on the planning, organisation and delivery of an innovative programme of community engagement focussed on building understanding and awareness of flood risk and potential solutions.  Working with the Catchment to Coast project team the post holder will facilitate the development and delivery of nature-based solutions to improve flood resilience across the catchment. The role will support collaborative design approaches, monitor benefits and evolve these processes to enable enhanced roll-out in future flood resilience programmes.

As well as traditional engagement and participation techniques such as regular dialogue with community groups and volunteering activities, innovative engagement techniques will be trialled, including community mapping and co-design. These activities aim to build long-term relationships and understanding of the catchment and facilitate communication between communities and multiple stakeholders to build local flood resilience as well as, improve the environment and our rivers.

Main duties and responsibilities

  1. Work with the project team to plan and deliver a programme of volunteering and community engagement activities to enable a greater understanding of flood risk and the multiple benefits that nature-based solutions provide;
  2. Work with the Engagement Manager to plan and facilitate co-design workshops that bring together local residents and the wider project team to synthesise local knowledge with technical expertise, to create collaborative designs for project interventions;
  3. Co-ordinate a variety of citizen science activities to investigate and gather evidence across a range of indicators and to inspire involvement & knowledge exchange;
  4. Develop engagement materials that will enable people to learn about their local environment, local environment, climate change impacts and flood risks within the catchment, with a view to helping them take or support action to become more resilient;
  5. Recruit, support and retain volunteers and community groups to secure long term sustainable involvement in the project;
  6. Work with the Thames21 Training Officer to encourage volunteers to take Thames21 training courses and support trainees to form independently active groups.
  7. Work closely with project managers and partners to ensure the programme of activity is coordinated and supports the achievement of project targets;
  8. Represent Thames21 and the at relevant forums;
  9. Maintain clear records of progress, ensure all administration and statistical information is kept, and regularly uploaded information onto the Thames21 CRM database;
  10. Support the development of appropriate funding opportunities for the sustainability and further development of this work in liaison with the project team and Thames21 support;
  11. Regular co-ordination with Thames21’s Communications Team to ensure key milestones are recognised and volunteer opportunities are publicised;
  12. Attend Thames21 Team Meetings and liaise with Thames21 staff, including experience other projects through annual ‘project exchange’ days;

This job description cannot cover every issue or task that may arise within the post at various times and the post-holder will be expected to carry out other reasonable duties from time to time which are broadly consistent with other Thames21 activities and with those in this document.

Person Specification

It is essential that in your application you give evidence or examples of your proven experience in each of the following criteria including the competencies.

Qualifications & knowledge:EssentialDesirableAssessed by
A degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject (Environmental or Social Science); or 2 years relevant experience Application
A knowledge and understanding of the agencies and authorities that manage flood risk and how they work together. Application & interview
An understanding of one or more or relevant topics, such as community engagement or co-design. Application & interview
Experience of:   
Experience organising and delivering successful environmental volunteering events. Application & Interview
Track record of successfully delivering projects and satisfying funders’ requirements. Application & Interview
Community participation and knowledge of equal opportunities issues and the ability to work effectively with a broad range of community groups. Application & Interview
Demonstrable knowledge of working with disadvantaged communities Application & Interview
A good level of experience working in partnership with a range of organisations and sectors to achieve common goals. Application & Interview
A relevant First Aid qualification. Application & interview
Skills and competencies:   
Competence with MS Word & Excel and use of IT for communication and uploading data onto the Thames21 database Application & interview
Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Application & interview
A natural leader, with diplomatic skills; able to hold the attention of a wide range of audiences. Application & interview
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. Application & Interview
Full UK driving licence or legally entitled to drive in the UK and be competent with drive a van safely in London. Application & Interview
Ability to work some weekends and occasional evenings. Application & Interview

 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • 25 days paid annual leave are available pro rata plus public holidays.  In addition, the Thames21 office is closed between Christmas and New Year.
  • Thames21 operate a flexitime system of working.
  • Thames21 have an ‘Auto Enrol’ Work Place Pension Scheme with NEST
  • Laptop & Mobile phone for company use
  • Childcare voucher scheme is available
  • The postholder must be willing to travel sensibly throughout London

Thames21 is committed to achieving a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religious belief. Thames21 will only recruit within the stated salary band for this role.

If you are interested in applying, please email your CV and covering letter of no more than two sides, stating your suitability for the position. Completed applications should be emailed to: recruitment@thames21.org.uk.

Deadline for completed applications: Sat 12th February 2023

Interviews will be held on: week commencing: 20th/21st February 2023


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