Green Skills Leader

The Conservation Volunteers; Doncaster; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The Conservation Volunteers is seeking an Edinburgh-based Green Skills Leader to manage a cohort of trainees and deliver biodiversity projects along the John Muir Way. The role combines hands-on site work with team leadership and partnership development, supporting employability and local biodiversity outcomes.

You will oversee practical training, schedule activities, and contribute to programme evaluation, budget management and promotion, with hybrid on-site days and team meetings.

Qualifications

• Experience of leading a small team.
• Previous management of a training programme/structured delivery model.
• Mentoring and/or coaching young people.
• Knowledge and understanding of practical biodiversity projects and events.
• Experience in recruiting and managing trainees and/or other stakeholders.
• Experience in working in partnership with multiple organisations with potentially differing demands.
• Support trainees through regular one-to-one meetings to agree personal goals, review their progress and plan next steps.
• A full, clean or near clean UK driving licence is required for this post, which has been held for a minimum of one year
• To fulfil the role, you must be resident in the UK and have the right to work in the UK

Responsibilities

• Lead and line-manage a team of Green Skills Trainees
• Deliver practical biodiversity enhancement tasks on partner sites
• Coordinate with greenspace teams from City of Edinburgh Council and community groups to agree sites and projects
• Contribute to project evaluation, local budget management and programme promotion
• Schedule and manage external training, trainee attendance, annual leave, onboarding and programme exiting of trainees in partnership with People Advisor and People Admin Coordinator

Skills

Team leadership

Mentoring

Biodiversity projects

Stakeholder management

Training delivery

Driving licence

One-to-one coaching

UK work permit

Job description

The John Muir Way is one of Scotland's most iconic long-distance walking routes, spanning 134 miles from Helensburgh on the west coast to Dunbar on the east. The John Muir Way Green Skills programme, a three-year initiative funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, focuses on improving biodiversity along this route, creating opportunities for trainees aged 16 - 24 years old with barriers to employment, to learn new skills, build confidence, and contribute to Scotland's natural and cultural heritage.

The John Muir Way Green Skills programme is a 3-year employability initiative with 18 months remaining, through which a total of 72 trainees are engaging in practical biodiversity tasks and projects along the route. The Green Skills Traineeship helps build practical skills, knowledge and confidence for work, volunteering or further learning in the environmental and conservation sector.

The programme aims to bridge the skills gap and tackle workforce challenges, increase connectivity and break down the disconnect with nature, and create accessible opportunities that recognise and value different ways of thinking, learning and engaging.

Role Overview

As the Edinburgh Green Skills Leader you will lead a team of six Green Skills Trainees per year, including the existing cohort. The post holder will have overall responsibility for line managing the trainees, leading delivery of practical training and the delivery of practical biodiversity enhancement tasks on partner sites. In Edinburgh the Green Skills Leader will liaise with greenspace teams from City of Edinburgh Council and community groups to agree sites and projects. This role will also contribute to the project evaluation, local budget management, and programme promotion. Trainees are in attendance 3 days per week (Monday - Wednesday), the role is hybrid and you will be required to be on site on the same days that the trainees are present and for team meetings. You will be part of a team of 4 Green Skills Leaders working with Scottish Canals and Local Authorities along the route. You will work closely with the People Advisor and People Admin Coordinator managing the schedule of external training, trainee attendance, annual leave, onboarding, and programme exiting of trainees. These roles will report into the John Muir Way Green Skills Operations Leader.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and line-manage a team of Green Skills Trainees
• Deliver practical biodiversity enhancement tasks on partner sites
• Coordinate with greenspace teams from City of Edinburgh Council and community groups to agree sites and projects
• Contribute to project evaluation, local budget management and programme promotion
• Schedule and manage external training, trainee attendance, annual leave, onboarding and programme exiting of trainees in partnership with People Advisor and People Admin Coordinator

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience of leading a small team
• Previous management of a training programme/structured delivery model
• Mentoring and/or coaching young people
• Knowledge and understanding of practical biodiversity projects and events
• Experience in recruiting and managing trainees and/or other stakeholders
• Experience in working in partnership with multiple organisations with potentially differing demands
• Support trainees through regular one-to-one meetings to agree personal goals, review their progress and plan next steps
• A full, clean or near clean UK driving licence is required for this post, which has been held for a minimum of one year
• To fulfil the role, you must be resident in the UK and have the right to work in the UK