Dorset Coast Forum Project Officer

Dorset Council; Dorchester; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Part time

Job summary

Dorset Coast Forum is seeking a Project Officer to coordinate complex coastal projects along the Dorset coast, working with local authorities, communities and stakeholders. You will lead and support multiple work packages, organise meetings, workshops and events, and communicate progress to partners and the public.

Part-time 30 hours/week, with option for 37 hours, fixed-term 24 months. The role requires strong multi-tasking and excellent coordination skills, plus knowledge of coastal matters

Qualifications

• Excellent multi-tasking and ability to communicate with people at all levels.
• Experience in coastal matters and delivering in collaboration with coastal communities and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate multiple projects and work packages related to coastal topics.
• Organise and facilitate community and stakeholder meetings, workshops and events.
• Communicate updates with project partners and the wider public.

Skills

Project coordination

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Community engagement

Job description

About the role

Want to work in a dynamic team that works with coastal stakeholders and local communities along the Dorset coast? Have knowledge and passion of coast and marine topics as well as exceptional project co-ordination skills? If you have answered yes to those questions, then there is an exciting job opportunity to join Dorset Coast Forum as a Project Officer.

What you will be doing

The Project Officer, as part of the Dorset Coast Forum (DCF) team, is responsible for working in collaboration with DCF members, authorities and external stakeholders on subjects relating to economic, environmental and social matters relating to the Dorset coast. You will develop, lead and support several projects, working alongside partners and coastal communities. Your work will involve organising and facilitating community and stakeholder meetings, workshops, engagement events and activities, whilst also communicating updates with project partners and the wider public. Current key tasks include supporting the Studland Bay Marine Partnership and the Weymouth Regeneration and Clean Energy initiative, as well as developing new work packages related to Ocean Literacy and developing partnership frameworks.

About you

We are looking for someone who is great at multi-tasking and who can communicate with people at all levels. Someone who has knowledge of coastal matters but also enjoys delivering and working collaboratively with coastal communities and stakeholders to achieve effective outcomes.

The post will involve delivering several projects simultaneously therefore candidates should have excellent project co-ordination skills and the ability to prioritise with changing parameters. You will have substantial experience of stakeholder and community engagement, as well as knowledge and expertise across a broad range of topics including marine nature recovery, coastal communities, regeneration, coastal change and wider coastal and marine policy.

Further Information

Please download the Context Statement and Job Description for full details of position advertised.

This post is a part-time role, working 30 hours per week, from Mondays to Thursdays. We also welcome applications from candidates seeking full-time work, with a commitment of 37 hours per week, working Monday to Friday. This is for a fixed-term contract for 24 months, to be reviewed before end of contract and possibly extended depending on project funding.

Applications are welcomed as either

• a fixed-term appointment,
• a secondment opportunity for existing employees.

Candidates seeking appointment on a secondment basis should note that release from their substantive post is subject to management approval and operational requirements.

On occasion, the Project Officer will be required to work evenings and weekends where required and to meet the needs of community engagement.

The Officer will be expected to travel to meetings and events so should have a full driving licence and access to a vehicle. This will include ad-hoc attendance at evening and/or weekend meetings and events.

Deadline for applications: Thursday 8th October

Interviews to be held w/c 19th October (TBC)

About Us

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be Disability Confident Employer.

If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview.

We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.