Diversity Outreach Coordinator (Maternity Cover)

Sustain; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 51,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food and farming alliance based in Greater London is seeking a Diversity Outreach Coordinator (Maternity Cover). This role, focusing on enhancing diversity and inclusion in the sustainable food sector, involves supporting organisational diversity initiatives and collaborating with various stakeholders. The ideal candidate should have experience in social justice and community engagement, and possess strong communication and organisational skills. This is a fixed-term role with a competitive salary and benefits including a hybrid working model.

Benefits

Pension contributions up to 5%

Cycle to Work scheme

25 days annual leave plus holidays

Qualifications

• Interest in healthy and sustainable food and farming.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice.
• Experience delivering workshops or public speaking.
• Ability to work independently with initiative.

Responsibilities

• Support the organisation’s diversity efforts.
• Coordinate with senior leadership on racial justice commitments.
• Build relationships with higher education and local authorities.
• Lead communication efforts including newsletters and blogs.

Skills

Social justice interest/experience

Experience engaging with diverse stakeholders

Organisational skills

Clear written and spoken English

Job description

Overview

Diversity Outreach Coordinator (Maternity Cover)

Organisation: Sustain – The alliance for better food and farming

Salary

£50,099 full-time pro rata (0.8 FTE). This is a pay level 6 salary. Salary increases annually in April according to Sustain’s payscale and progression, subject to satisfactory performance. Sustain matches pension contributions up to 5% of gross salary.

Hours

0.8 Full Time Equivalent (4 days per week)

Location

Office-based in Cambridge Heath, London; travel within London and the UK likely. Hybrid working from home up to half of working hours on request and subject to agreement after a three-month probation.

Position type

Fixed term (until September 2025). Secondments may be considered; please email to discuss.

Annual Leave

25 days annual leave based on 0.8 FTE (comprising 16 days Basic Annual Leave + pro rata of public holidays + office closures), rising annually by 2 days up to a maximum of 29 days.

Closing date

Closing date: 10am, Monday 29 July 2024

Website

www.sustainweb.org

Contact

[e-mail]

Equal opportunities

Sustain is committed to being a welcoming and inclusive employer, including recruiting for diversity. Read more about our approach here.

Right to Work

Entitlement to work in the UK. Sustain cannot assist with work permits or employ people living or working outside the UK.

Other details

Cycle to Work scheme available on salary sacrifice basis.

About Sustain

Sustain is a powerful alliance bringing together around 100 organisations nationally – and hundreds more at local and regional level. We believe everyone should have access to healthy and sustainably produced food that supports nature-friendly farmers and fishers, and protects people, animals and planet. We run campaigns, advocacy, networks and projects to catalyse permanent changes in policy and practice and to equip communities with change-making skills.

About this role

The Diversity Outreach Coordinator aims to build better opportunities, connections and allyship across the Sustain alliance and beyond to address racial injustice and lack of inclusion and diversity within the sustainable food and farming sector. The key objectives for the Diversity Outreach Maternity Cover role are:

• Supporting the internal DEI and anti-racism work of Sustain, with links to internal commitments and the coordination of project and campaigns.
• Building understanding, momentum and skills within Sustain and among alliance members and allies on diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism; co-convening a food and racial justice working group; hosting training/events; developing resources.
• Promoting careers in the sustainable food and farming movement, focusing on ethnically diverse groups; expanding Roots to Work platform work and engaging higher education sectors with workshops and opportunities.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Diversity Outreach Officer works with Sustain’s senior leadership, colleagues, alliance members and target audiences. The main tasks and responsibilities are:

• Support the organisation’s diversity work
• Collaborate with the CEO and Head of HR and Operations to ensure internal efforts reflect racial justice commitments and progress practical indicators of diversity and inclusion (e.g., annual The RACE Report actions)
• Attend and support planning of Core Diversity Group meetings; lead relevant work areas
• Advise project and campaign leads on embedding racial justice and diversity
• Support the Colleagues of Colour group
• Build understanding, momentum and skills among Sustain alliance members and allies
• Co-convene a food and racial justice network with Eating Better alliance; act on meeting outcomes
• Coordinate a food and racial justice symposium (Spring/Summer 2025) for 50+ participants
• Deliver a programme of support to alliance members to progress racial equity, diversity and inclusion; this includes online training, external facilitators, resources, peer sessions, and limited one-to-one support
• Develop an online hub for shared learning and insights across the sector
• Lead communications work (newsletter, presentations, blogs, briefings, social media)
• Diversity outreach with young adults and new entrants; deliver workshops on sustainable food careers in higher education and other organisations
• Build relationships with higher education and local authorities to engage younger audiences
• Organise and promote external speakers from diverse backgrounds for youth and new entrants
• Develop and promote Sustain’s Roots to Work jobs site across channels
• Lead on developing work experience and/or paid internship opportunities; include fundraising as needed
• Diversity outreach with organisers and organisations to involve underrepresented groups in Sustain’s projects and campaigns
• Explore new areas of support or projects for key groups
• Other tasks and responsibilities

The Diversity Outreach Coordinator will also :

• Maintain excellent financial records, contact databases and mailing lists in line with data protection and for payments
• Lead monitoring and evaluation of this work and report progress
• Report to Sustain and funders; provide information, contacts and evaluation to enable development
• Undertake other tasks as needed

Personal specification

Sustain seeks a well-organised, personable individual who works well in a team and can build positive relationships. We especially encourage applications from Black people and people of colour, and those with lived experience of racial diversity issues.

Essential :

• Interest/experience in social justice; healthy and sustainable food and farming; human health; climate and nature
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and racial justice; ability to speak on relevant issues
• Experience engaging with diverse stakeholders to progress shared initiatives
• Experience delivering workshops and public speaking
• Experience organising online/in-person meetings and events with understanding of effective formats
• Experience developing partnerships to attract funding or support
• Highly organised with strong diary/data management and deadlines
• Ability to work independently with initiative and motivation
• Adaptable, positive problem-solving
• Clear written and spoken English; ability to adapt to new tools and content creation
• Able to start work at end of September 2024

Desirable :

• Lived experience of racial diversity issues
• Interest in sustainable food and farming
• Experience in diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism in charity or social enterprise
• Experience running a working group and following up actions
• Experience writing newsletters and social media content or willingness to learn (e.g., Mailchimp, Canva, social platforms)
• Understanding of monitoring, evaluation and learning
• Experience managing contact databases in compliance with data protection
• Willingness to line-manage others
• Experience leading outreach and partnership/funding initiatives for social/environmental causes
• Experience administering budgets, invoices and financial records

Diversity

The appointed person will contribute to Sustain’s inclusive culture and commitment to equality and diversity. We welcome applications from diverse backgrounds.

Sustain participates in Ethnicity Confident and Disability Confident schemes. Applicants meeting essential criteria and indicating interest in these schemes will have enhanced chances for first-stage interviews.

Sustain welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, class, socio-economic background, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief. Flexible working is considered at hire. We particularly encourage applications from Black people and people of colour, and people with disabilities.

Improving your chance of success

Guidance for applicants is available from Sustain on how to present a strong cover letter and understand the recruitment process. See https://www.sustainweb.org/jobs/advice-for-job-applicants/