Nature Towns and Cities Project Lead

Sunderland City Council; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional local government is looking for a Nature Towns and Cities Lead to support the regeneration of urban green spaces in Sunderland. This role involves managing the Connecting Through Nature project, collaborating with various local partners, and fostering community engagement. Ideal candidates will have experience in coordinating multi-agency projects and a background in nature-based regeneration initiatives. Strong relationship-building and collaborative skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience coordinating multi-agency, community-led projects.
• Experience with nature-based regeneration initiatives.
• Understanding of place-based, whole-system approaches.
• Ability to demonstrate impact using evaluation and learning.
• Strong relationship-building skills across sectors.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and coordination of the Connecting Through Nature project.
• Manage and monitor projects and funding streams.
• Support grant programmes and funding contracts.
• Lead community capacity building and engagement.
• Develop innovative funding models.

Skills

Coordination of multi-agency projects

Community engagement

Understanding of regeneration initiatives

Building collaborative relationships

Job description

Overview

Fixed Term until 31/08/2028

This exciting role will support the regeneration of urban green and blue spaces across Sunderland, prioritising and embedding people and nature recovery into local systems and empowering communities to lead change. You’ll work closely with a newly formed partnership network and a small core staff team working towards the Nature Towns and Cities accreditation. Sunderland City Council, in partnership with Durham Wildlife Trust, is recruiting a Nature Towns and Cities Lead to coordinate the delivery of the Connecting Through Nature project, which is a transformative, place-based programme funded for three years through the Nature Towns and Cities initiative from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, in partnership with Natural England and The National Trust. Nature Towns and Cities is a coalition of public, private and third sector organisations, committed to bringing nature and green space to urban areas for everyone's benefit. This coalition will help to put nature, green infrastructure and heritage at the heart of local decision-making, focusing on those areas that will benefit the most.

Responsibilities

• You will be responsible for leading the planning and co-ordination of the Sunderland Nature Towns and Cities project, Connecting Through Nature. This will include coordinating staff from Durham Wildlife Trust, who are funded to work on the project, managing and monitoring projects, programmes and external funding streams which are being delivered by the Council or external partners. You will also ensure effective service delivery by supporting and monitoring grant programmes, and funding contracts.
• Lead community capacity building and inclusive engagement, across all communities
• Support the development of innovative funding models and a pipeline of investable projects
• Use experience and insight to influence decision-making
• Foster collaborative relationships across councils, partners, and communities

About You

• Has experience coordinating multi-agency, community-led projects
• Has experience working on area or nature-based regeneration initiatives
• Understands place-based, whole-system approaches
• Uses evaluation and learning to demonstrate impact in complex systems
• Builds strong, collaborative relationships across sectors

This post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore will be subject to a DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

For an informal discussion please contact Helen Peverley at [e-mail]

Potential interview dates are 7th and 9th October. Interviews will be held face to face in City Hall, Plater Way, Sunderland, SR1 3AA.

Applications should be made online at northeastjobs.org.uk/sunderlandcitycouncil. For further assistance contact Customer Enabling Services by email: [e-mail]

Please note that CVs are not acceptable.

Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered online with North East Jobs, including your invitation to any online assessment you are required to undertake and your invite to interview if you are short-listed. Please check your email inbox after the closing date for notifications as you may not be notified by any other means. Please remember to check your junk mail items.