Volunteering & Community Officer

Join our team at West Exmoor, North Devon in this new, full-time role.

We deliver landscape-scale conservation work that seeks to protect and restore the environment whilst connecting people to the nature and beauty of the Exmoor Coast through participation and action. If you are passionate about the outdoors, have experience in community and volunteer engagement then we'd like to hear from you.

Interview date Tues 28th March. Interviews will be held at Heddon Valley, EX31 4PY

What it's like to work here:Exmoor is one of the most diverse landscapes in Britain, from deep wooded valleys of temperate rainforest to high sea cliffs, from wildflower meadows to moorland.

You’ll be joining an ambitious team, working to create a more resilient and dynamic landscape in the face of nature and climate emergency. This includes the planting of trees, encouraging species rich grassland, conservation grazing and trialling techniques to slow water flows and reconnect watercourses with their floodplains. To connect more people to this incredible work for nature, we are delivering projects across West Exmoor to develop the curiosity and skills of local people, raising the profile of what makes this place special, and reaching new groups.

We have a dedicated team of volunteers supporting our work across heritage and climate: a knowledgeable network of local people from a range of backgrounds. Our work reaches and benefits local communities in the rural villages and hamlets of West Exmoor, and coastal communities such as Combe Martin and Lynton & Lynmouth.

Working with volunteers and local communities is vitally important for us to achieve our aims to look after and share our places. If you want to be part of a dynamic team, who inspire, challenge and support each other, then please get in touch.

What you'll be doing:As Volunteering & Community Officer you'll play a key role in pulling together opportunities for community and volunteer engagement with the team. This will involve establishing links with partner organisations and communities which will lead to a sustainable programme of work (including art, education, wellbeing, and climate action).

Day to day you'll work closely with our vision-driven Ranger team by supporting their projects, raising the profile of this work within local communities, gathering community research and feedback, carrying out stakeholder mapping, developing the volunteering offer. You'll also support volunteer and public events.

With the Volunteering & Community Manager, you'll support the community focused approach that is developing across north Devon, deepening community and neighbour relationships, and facilitating events. In particular, you'll be linking people with conservation work at West Challacombe and Kipscombe, with a focus on people who may face barriers to engaging with or accessing the outdoors. This role may involve volunteer line management, with some weekend and evening working by arrangement. The role with be based with our West Exmoor team at Heddon Valley.
- Who we're looking forPassion for the environment and interested in making a positive impact for nature and people.
- Ability to build effective and collaborative working relationships with communities, community partners and within the National Trust.
- Understanding of good practice in community engagement and involvement, as well as broader participation and partnership working.
- Confidence to share ideas and people focused perspectives.
- Some experience of developing programmes for communities and volunteers.
- Sensitivity to the needs and contexts of local people as stakeholders in projects.
- Excellent organisational and planning skills.
- Strong communication and team working skills.

The packageThe National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.
- Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
- Free entry to National Trust properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
- Tax free childcare scheme
- Rental deposit loan scheme
- Season ticket loan
- Perks at work discounts i.e. gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
- Flexible working whenever possible
- Employee assistance programme
- Free parking at most locations
- Independent financial advice

Requirements :Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK
Fixed Term f/t (37.5 hrs pw for 24 mo)