Role: Community Project Co-ordinator – training & volunteer liaison

Location: Home Based (Cumberland)

Key Requirements: To recruit volunteers and manage the co-ordination and delivery of our Master Composters Project. This role requires specific understanding of delivering volunteer led projects ideally within the charity sector, engaging local communities in the practice of home composting. The successful applicant with have proven skills in planning, training, and engaging with people and local organisations.

Hours: Part time 14 hours per week

Duration: Fixed Term until 30^th September 2027.

Salary: £23,000 pro-rata

Role subject to DBS Check: No

About us:

At Garden Organic we care about organic growing, composting, seed conservation, research and citizen science. Our small but hugely knowledgeable and committed team is backed by a family of members and volunteers, all dedicated to growing food and flowers in harmony with nature. We are an established, experienced and innovative membership charity, working in communities around the UK and campaigning for organic practice which protects and promotes life above and below the soil. Now in our seventh decade, we are also home to the vitally important Heritage Seed Library a living collection of 800 rare vegetable varieties that otherwise would have died out.

Our mission is to show people how to be organic growers and in doing so, we strive to be a great place to work, volunteer or partner with. We care about what we do, how we do it, and the impact we make. We believe that our time is now – when people are actively seeking positive contributions that they can make in the face of biodiversity loss and climate change.

About the role:

The role of Project Co-ordinator is to recruit, train and support Master Composter Volunteers in Cumberland.

You will be reporting to our Cumbria Project Supervisor and your core responsibilities and main duties are as follows:

To support the delivery and development of Garden Organic’s programmes and outreach activity
To provide point of contact support for Master Composter volunteers.
To plan and coordinate all project activities in line with the objectives and milestones defined for the project (including support for volunteers at planned events)
To recruit new volunteers and work with the Project Supervisor to coordinate and deliver the training programme for Master Composter Volunteers.
To help identify and engage with complimentary schemes / community groups / settings / events that may benefit from the support of a volunteer.
To maintain contact with complimentary schemes and local community groups.
Arrange training / workshop events for the volunteers; including arranging venue hire, catering, administration and promotion.
Gather data / information / photographs / feedback / case studies from volunteers and beneficiaries to inform progress up-dates and reports.
Manage the project social media accounts and website content.
Occasional travel for meetings at Garden Organic’s Head office in Coventry as required (typically 3 per year).
To represent the organisation at appropriate events.

What we are looking for:

We are looking for someone who enjoys working with people, who can energise and enthuse, support and appreciate the many volunteers and community organisations who will be essential to the work we are doing in Cumbria.

You will be organised, flexible and efficient. You will be working as part of a team that is based across the UK so an ability to connect and proactively engage with colleagues is essential to ensure you are contributing to and feel part of the organisation.

You will be comfortable with organizing your own time and prioritising workload to ensure that targets and tasks are met and completed.

What we can offer:

Salary: £23,000 pro-rata
25 days Holiday plus bank holidays and additional leave at Christmas (pro-rata)
Additional long service holiday
Group Pension Scheme with 8% employer contribution
Employee Assistance Programme
Salary Extras benefits platform (Instant discount scheme and health, wellbeing and financial support)
We Care benefits platform (With access to virtual GP consultations, nutritionist support, get fit programmes, smoking cessation and further health and wellbeing support)
TOIL for additional hours worked
Life Assurance
Garden Organic membership

Person Specification:

Experience	Essential	Desirable
Coordinating and supporting community volunteers	✔
Sustainable Waste Management		✔
Liaising with external stakeholders and local community partners		✔
Basic Horticulture		✔
Event management	✔
Training delivery		✔
Ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels	✔
Working as part of a home-based team		✔
Knowledge and Skills
Ability to work under minimal supervision, to make decisions and act on own initiative	✔
Ability to work effectively under pressure and handle changing priorities		✔
Ability to prioritise workloads		✔
Ability to deal effectively with competing demands		✔
Local geographical knowledge of project areas (Cumberland)	✔
Full UK Driving Licence		✔
Approach and Mindset
Commitment and enthusiasm for waste prevention and home composting	✔
Prepared to undertake frequent out of hours work (weekends and evenings)	✔
An appreciation and commitment to Health and Safety issues in the workplace	✔
A commitment to equal opportunities in all workplaces	✔
Prepared to undertake outdoor work	✔

How to Apply:

All applicants must complete a Garden Organic Application Form along with a covering letter explaining why you think you would be a great fit for the role. We pay close attention to covering letters so please do send us one. Our application form can be downloaded here.

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and we reserve the right to close the vacancy early depending on response levels.

As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion applications will be anonymised before being submitted to our recruitment panel.

Recruitment Timetable:

Application Deadline: Friday 1^st November

Interview Dates: W/C 11^th / 18^th November

Interview Location: Online

Equal Opportunities:

At Garden Organic we embrace diversity and recognise the value it brings to our organisation. As such, we match charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates and welcome candidates from various backgrounds irrespective of age, disability, gender, gender identity or reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief or sexual orientation. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and take pride in ensuring that everyone feels welcome, respected and empowered.

Garden Organic is also a Disability Confident Employer and aims to create opportunities wherever possible. It should be noted that some of our roles require travel and attendance at events where accessibility arrangements will vary.

Safer Recruitment:

Garden Organic is also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects employees, associates and volunteers to share this commitment. We may require some candidates to undertake a DBS check relevant to the requirements of the role.

Please note that we only accept applications from individuals with the right to work in the UK. We are unable to sponsor working visa applications.