Job title: Engagement Officer
Responsible to: CEO of RHC
Vision
From its source on the moorlands above Holmfirth the River Holme and its tributaries flow north, meandering through some of Yorkshire’s most captivating landscapes before joining the River Colne at Aspley near Huddersfield town centre.
Rich in history and heritage, and teeming with wildlife, the River Holme provides wellbeing opportunities for young and old. It can be a place for leisure and recreation, or somewhere to relax and connect with nature, but it needs looking after.
Working together, we want to make the River Holme catchment a better place for people and wildlife.
Introduction to the role
We are looking for a keen and enthusiastic communicator, who will engage local people of all ages and backgrounds to help us to achieve our vision.
We already have a fantastic group of volunteers and a well-respected programme of work in schools. The Engagement Officer will continue to deliver that work in the context of our exciting landscape recovery scheme.
They will lead local (Holme catchment) engagement activity as outlined in the Nature’s Holme Landscape Recovery Project Stakeholder Engagement Plan. This role is crucial to raising awareness among communities, business and visitors to achieve health, wellbeing and environmental benefits throughout the river catchment.
Crucially they will foster constructive partnerships with statutory authorities, local stakeholder groups, Nature’s Holme project team and volunteers, the third sector and community groups to ensure that local people are inspired to help us to achieve our vision.
Responsibilities
Working on own as directed by RHC CEO or as part of a team.
Engagement Activities
- Lead and host all local engagement activities agreed on the delivery plan e.g. consultation workshops, walks and talks, events, environmental monitoring (citizen science projects with volunteers) and environmental education work.
- Co-ordinate all volunteer engagement activities.
- Lead and host any project conference(s) and festival(s).
Stakeholder Engagement Plan
- Be responsible for the delivery of the stakeholder engagement plan within the approved project budget, timescales and quality criteria.
- Work alongside the project team and colleagues to understand the impacts and risks of proposed changes to the plan and offer pragmatic solutions.
- Working with the CEO and project board, allocate budgets accordingly and resolve risks and issues as the project progresses.
- Continue to monitor the stakeholder engagement outcomes and address issues when raised.
- Continue to develop stakeholder relationships over the project’s lifetime.
- Maintain stakeholder engagement by reviewing the methods of engagement and the longevity of these methods, developing opportunities for continuous engagement and adapting when stakeholder, communities or target groups change over the project’s lifetime.
- Adapt engagement where and when appropriate, considering risks, contingences, mitigations, or opportunities from ongoing engagement.
- Evidence stakeholder engagement outcomes ensuring all project targets are met in the agreed timescale.
Communications
- Champion and promote the Nature’s Holme project across the Holme catchment, in wider meetings and through hosting visitors/stakeholders.
- Manage delivery and responsibility of the communication plan, providing information in a timely manner for routine reporting and communication.
- Provide support, guidance and professional advice to the Nature’s Holme project team.
- Contribute and actively participate in team and project meetings.
- Be responsible for marketing and promoting sales and revenue generation for the Nature’s Holme offer.
Safe Working
- Ensure safe working policy and practice for self and others.
- Responsible for the day-to-day operational safety management of yourself and communicating safety risks to others working with you (e.g. volunteers/contractors). Key safety management tasks are identified in River Holme Connections’H&S policy.
- Identified safety training for this post includes risk assessments, outdoor first aid at work, display screen equipment, community facilitation & presentation skills.
- Responsible for ensuring yourself and any reports have up-to-date knowledge of River Holme Connections’ safeguarding policy in relation to children and vulnerable adults.
Personal Specification
It is essential that in your covering letter and/or CV you give evidence or examples of your proven experience in the following criteria. This experience may be in a paid or voluntary capacity.
| Qualification, development & knowledge | Essential | Desired | Assessed by |
| A full driving licence. | √ | Application | |
| Experience of giving talks to inform, educate and inspire people to take action. | √ | Application/Interview | |
| Experience of planning and leading walks which are tailored to specific audiences. e.g. families, older people, people with additional access needs. | √ | Application/Interview | |
| Experience of engaging with members of the community and building their support. | √ | Application/Interview | |
| Experience of working with school or youth groups, ideally to improve their knowledge of the natural world. | √ | Application/Interview | |
| Relevant academic, professional or vocational qualification in an environmental or education field. | √ | Application | |
| Experience in the recruitment, management, support and coordination of volunteers. | √ | Application/Interview | |
| Ability to frequently work outdoors in a physically demanding role, e.g.on uneven pathways along waterways and in remote upland areas. | √ | Application/Interview | |
| Knowledge of how to work safely in the outdoor environment following health and safety policies and procedures. | √ | Application/Interview | |
| An understanding of environmental issues which face urban and rural rivers. | √ | Application/Interview | |
| Good verbal, written and IT skills, including MS word, powerpoint and excel. | √ | Application/Interview | |
| Understanding and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, with an ability to relate to people from a diverse range of backgrounds and ages. | √ | Application/Interview | |
| Flexible working required. Frequent out of hours working (evenings/weekends) will be necessary. | √ | Application/Interview | |
| Experience of working in a small organisation or the voluntary sector. | √ | Application/Interview |
Applications
To apply, please email your CV and covering letter to admin@riverholmeconnections.or
