Job Description and Person Specification
Position: Development Officer
Reporting to: Operations Manager
Duration: Fixed term to end March 2029.
Salary: £30,000 per annum
Hours: 5 days per week (flexibility is required)
Office: Work at home and green spaces
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Geographical spread: Developing and delivering the Scottish Green Pathways project to highly socially deprived areas in the central-west of Scotland.
Froglife is a national wildlife conservation organisation with a specific focus on the protection of amphibians and reptiles and their habitats. Central to our ethos is to help as many people as possible to take action, which benefits nature and enhances mental and physical health. We are particularly committed to involving those who for socio-economic reason are often excluded. Our work is mainly urban based, working with disadvantaged and vulnerable people (focusing particularly on poverty and trauma) and improving green spaces. We are working for a fairer Scotland where people living in highly socially deprived areas have the same opportunities to access high quality green space as those living in more affluent areas.
Froglife is seeking to recruit a Development Officer with a strong interest in social inclusion and outdoor nature focused education to develop and deliver our Scottish Green Pathways Scheme, currently operating in Glasgow, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire to areas with high levels of disadvantage.
The Development Officer will take a leading role in developing the Green Pathways scheme. Green Pathways involves delivering nature conservation educational sessions working with vulnerable and disadvantaged people. The main focus of the project is working with young people aged 8-18 (or up to age 25 if they have additional support needs) introducing them to their local natural
Froglife, Brightfield Business Hub, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough, PE2 6XU Tel: 01733 602102 Email: info@froglife.org Charity Patrons: Jules Howard, Kate Bradbury & Prof. Roger Downie
environments and providing them with opportunities to help nature, especially our native amphibians and reptiles.
Participants will get involved in practical projects improving their local area, including pond creation, wildlife surveys, wildflower planting, creating wildlife neighbourhood corridors, photography and arts projects.
Froglife is proud of its green credentials and all staff are expected to use green forms of transport wherever possible, and to ensure that all outputs are environmentally friendly.
Job Description
Principle duties and responsibilities:
Build on Froglife’s existing excellent reputation and projects in the central belt (Scottish Green Pathways, Scottish Dragon Finder, Come Forth for Wildlife, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire & Fife Living Waters).
Run high quality learning sessions with disadvantaged young people to enable them to take action to improve their local green spaces.
Build relationships and liaise with referral agencies, young people, green space managers and funders to ensure activities meet the needs of all stakeholders and ensure that those in need of the projects are able to access them.
Monitor and evaluate the work effectively, both the impact of nature focused work on individuals and on nature deficient neighbourhoods. Disseminate findings widely.
Ensure that all new projects are linked to the Froglife Curriculum.
• Work with the CEO and Operations Manager to apply for funding for new projects.
Work with the Operations Manager to set-up new projects.
• Recruit volunteers to help with the development and setting up of new projects.
• Ensure regular project reporting to the Operations Manager, Board of Trustees and funders.
• Manage project budget.
Work with Froglife’s Communications Manager to ensure that the projects are being widely promoted and obtain good press coverage.
• Any other duties relevant to the project.
Other duties
• To contribute to the wider work of Froglife as required by senior management.
• To encourage and maintain professional standards.
• To act as a responsible ambassador for Froglife.
This job description is an indication of the breadth and requirements of the post. The post-holder will be expected to be flexible and accept that certain elements/priorities of the job description may vary as the project is developed and delivered.
Person Specification
Essential criteria
Must have a strong commitment to developing and implementing projects working with disadvantaged young people. Must be committed to a fairer and compassionate Scotland in which everyone has equitable access to nature. Must have a strong commitment to nature conservation and inclusivity.
Knowledge
• Knowledgeable about the impact of vulnerability and/or disadvantage on young people and the measures that can be taken to alleviate some of these impacts.
• Practical understanding of wildlife gardening and habitat creation, restoration & management.
• Good knowledge of the geography, demographics, wildlife and nature areas in the target areas.
• Knowledge on the impact of nature on mental and physical well-being and being able to evidence this.
Professional qualification in a relevant area of study.
Proficient at using MS Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook.
Experience
• Track record in delivering projects engaging with communities and individuals, especially within deprived areas.
Experience in working with wide ranging partner organisations.
Experience in writing successful funding applications.
Personal Attributes
• A willingness to work outside normal office hours and to travel when required.
Self-motivated with can do attitude.
Excellent organisation and communication skills.
• Ability to build good relationships with project participants and partners
• Sound financial acumen including experience in managing budgets.
Willingness to offer support to Froglife outside main role
Note: This position requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check (PVG) and Safeguarding Children Training
Desirable criteria
• Experience in Safeguarding Children, training or desire to be trained before starting the post.
Experience in digital technologies, video and social media
• Valid First Aid certification