Climate Change Community Engagement Officer

FOREST OF DEAN DISTRICT COUNCIL; Berry Hill; Hybrid; GBP 32.000 - 44.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Agile working (home and office)

27 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays

Health cash plan

Local government pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Zusammenfassung

FOREST OF DEAN DISTRICT COUNCIL is seeking a Climate Change Community Engagement Officer to deliver the Nature and Climate Emergency Strategy across the district. You will develop and coordinate a county-wide engagement programme, inspiring action on nature recovery, energy efficiency, sustainable transport, circular economy and food resilience.

You will partner with communities, councils and stakeholders, manage grants, identify funding, and oversee external delivery partners.

Qualifikationen

• A qualification in a relevant area or equivalent experience (five years).
• Experience in climate change, sustainability engagement/communications/project delivery.
• Understanding of climate change evidence, targets, timelines and actions.
• Ability to communicate effectively and motivate action across audiences.
• Ability to work as part of a team with internal and external stakeholders.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel as required.

Aufgaben

• Develop and coordinate a district-wide Climate Change Community Engagement Programme.
• Build strong partnerships with communities, town/parish councils, businesses and partners.
• Administer community grant schemes and identify funding opportunities.
• Commission external project delivery partners and monitor progress.
• Help communities access support, resources and funding to achieve climate ambitions.

Kenntnisse

Communication

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Teamwork

Climate change knowledge

Public speaking

Ausbildung

Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Jobbeschreibung

Climate Change Community Engagement Officer £38,150 per annum Fixed term position until March 2028 (Possibility of a further 12 month extension subject to funding) Coleford/Hybrid

Forest of Dean District Council is dedicated to creating a vibrant and sustainable future for our community. Our priorities are centred on fostering thriving communities by empowering and engaging residents, enhancing infrastructure, responding to the Climate Emergency, protecting nature, promoting community well-being, and ensuring social equity. If you're passionate about helping communities, take meaningful action on climate change and nature recovery, this is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference across the Forest of Dean.

As Climate Change Community Engagement Officer, you will play a key role in delivering the Council's Nature and Climate Emergency Strategy by developing and coordinating a district-wide Climate Change Community Engagement Programme. Working closely with local communities, town and parish councils, businesses, partners and stakeholders, you will inspire and support action that contributes to a fair and sustainable transition to a low-carbon future which is resilient to the impacts of climate change. This varied and rewarding role will see you promoting and supporting projects across a range of themes including nature recovery, renewable energy, home retrofit, sustainable transport, circular economy initiatives, climate resilience, and sustainable food and land management. You will build strong partnerships, support the Forest of Dean Climate Action Partnership, administer community grant schemes, identify funding opportunities, commission external project delivery partners, and help communities access the support, resources and funding they need to achieve their climate ambitions.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive individual with experience in climate change, sustainability, community engagement, communications or project delivery. You will be a confident communicator with strong organisational skills, able to build effective relationships and inspire action across a range of audiences. A relevant degree-level qualification or equivalent experience, project management skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office, and a passion for driving positive environmental change are essential for success in this role. This is a fixed term position until March 2028. (Possibility of a further 12 month extension subject to funding) You will need…

• A qualification in a relevant area of expertise, equivalent to a degree or relevant experience of five years;
• Experience of working in a climate change and/ or climate or sustainability engagement/ communications/ project delivery role;
• A sound understanding of climate change evidence, targets, timescales, and basis for action, as well as an appreciation of the issues, challenges and variation in knowledge and perspectives;
• Ability to communicate effectively, transfer knowledge and motivate action and behavioural change, working in different contexts and with different types of audience;
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders towards the achievement of common goals and outcomes.
• Ability to remain calm and confident when dealing with challenging customers and environments.

Special Conditions

• You will be expected to work reasonable additional hours in line with the needs of the service (we operate a flexitime system).
• There may be a requirement to work at other locations to meet the needs of the business.
• Full UK Driving Licence.
• Ability to travel / access to a vehicle for work purposes.

Forest of Dean District Council is dedicated to creating a vibrant and sustainable future for our community. Our priorities are centred on fostering thriving communities by empowering and engaging residents, enhancing infrastructure, promoting community well-being, and ensuring social equity.

We are committed to decarbonisation and nature recovery, focusing on renewable energy transitions, energy efficiency, transport transformation, nature recovery, and food resilience. Additionally, we strive to build a sustainable economy through the promotion of a circular economy, robust business support, workforce skill development, sustainable town initiatives, and the preservation of natural capital. Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email. Forest of Dean District Council is committed to meeting its statutory and moral duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people under 18 years of age and adults at risk who are the recipients of its services and/or activities. Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references; proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years' employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.

• Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
• Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
• 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 30 days after five years of service
• In addition you will have an extra two volunteering days a year for you to support a charity of your choice
• Renewed again for another year there is a Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
• Generous contributory local government pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
• Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements