Job Purpose

*** 2 Year Fixed Term Contract ***

We're the charity who look after and bring to life 2,000 miles of waterways, because we believe that life is better by water. Our research shows that spending time by water, whether it be your lunchbreak, daily commute or just a weekend stroll, really can make us feel happier and healthier.

Our canals and rivers are the perfect places to boost your mood and improve your physical and mental health. Even in busy towns and cities, they provide special spaces where you can relax, recharge, and get your body moving.

Through our project coordinators and volunteers, we deliver our national participatory campaign ‘Let’s’ (Let’s Walk, Let’s Paddle, Let’s Cycle, Let’s be Mindful, Let’s Plant etc.); introductory physical activity, health and wellbeing activities which are FREE and Local. Whilst we do offer introductory sessions, our goal is to embed these activities into the Trust and community by growing them into a sustainable offer.

• Let's Plant: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-events-canal-festivals/2022-03-22-lets-plant 
• Let's connect: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/recharge-by-water/the-five-ways-to-wellbeing/connect
• Let's go outdoors: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/explorers/children/lets-go-outdoors
• Let's walk: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-events-canal-festivals/2022-03-23-lets-walk-and-litter-pick

The Let's Project Coordinator will be responsible for supporting the development and delivery of Let's activities, and associated community engagement, across the Northwest; promoting activities, events and programmes, and managing volunteers delivering participatory projects on our network.

Funding

These programmes are supported by, and work in partnership with Sport England's activity programmes.

Location & coverage

Our Project Coordinator vacancy will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces as and when required for team working a collaborative meetings. 

Relevant Hubs: Ellesmere Port or Burnley. 

This a very pro-active and balanced role, aiding in person delivery on the network on a regular basis. The regularity & flexibility of travel will be discussed further at interview stage. Regular accessibility to this network is essential. 

See our canal network here: (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network).

All outdoor activities will be conducted under current Covid-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of both our teams and participants. 

Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience

Working directly with the Participation, Health & Wellbeing Project Manager, you will play a key role engaging with key stakeholders and partners, encouraging people to be more active through the delivery of our Let’s Programme. 

Key Accountabilities:

• Initiate, develop and maintain positive and strong relations with stakeholders, partners and local communities and support collaborative planning to identify local issues and priorities to inform the development of the Let’s programmes locally.
• Design and deliver Let’s activities to meet the specific needs and interests of local communities.
• Manage the Let‘s programme delivery budget.
• Recruit, engage and manage Let’s volunteers in the delivery of Let’s activities.
• Co-ordinate volunteer training to maintain and improve skill levels necessary to carry out delivery.
• Co-ordinate colleagues, volunteers, vehicles and equipment for the efficient delivery of the Let’s programme, ensuring all safety checks are carried out in accordance with guidelines.
• Work with the Trust’s digital and communications teams to positively promote the Trust, Let’s programme and the outcomes delivered.
• Ensure participation is representative of the diverse and varied local communities involved.

Safety Responsibilities:

• Possess a good understanding of behavioural safety management and help to lead the Trust towards a zero incident / accident performance.
• Ensure their personal safety and the safety of others at all times.
• Work closely with everyone to develop safety best practice.
• Co-operate with their line manager/team leader in meeting Health & Safety requirements.
• Comply with all Trust policies, rules, instructions and procedures (PPE, Risk Assessments, etc).

Knowledge, Experience & Skills

Qualifications and Attainments: 

• First Aid qualification (desirable).
• Paddlesport Instructor/Leader qualification (or equivalent) and/or Ride Leader training. 
• Walk Leader training (desirable).
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (essential).

Training will be provided, as to aid continued professional development.

Work experience:

• Experience of planning and delivering inclusive, physical activity, health and wellbeing activities in an outdoor setting (essential).
• Experience of community engagement and collaborative working.
• Experience of managing volunteers and planning and managing volunteer activities.
• Experience of working with a diverse age range of people and growing engagement.
• Comprehensive working knowledge of issues relating to young people including safeguarding.
• Experience of working with people who have disabilities and/or long-term health conditions (desirable).
• Experience of working with culturally diverse communities (desirable). 

Skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills that allow you to inform, help and support participants, volunteers, colleagues and partners and liaise with other professionals.
• The ability to enthuse and motivate individuals and teams of both volunteers and colleagues.
• Skilled and confident negotiator and relationship builder with the ability to deal sensitively and diplomatically with stakeholders and community partners.
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage a diverse workload.
• High levels of energy and commitment.
• Confident and competent user of social media – principally Facebook and Twitter.
• Ability and willingness to work evenings / weekends as required.
• Ability to work unsupervised and alone when appropriate.

DBS

As this role is on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 Exception Order applicants must state the details of any cautions or convictions whether spent or unspent on the self-disclosure section of the application form.

A criminal record is not necessarily a bar to employment with us. HR will advise and decisions made on a case by case basis.

To Apply:  click on the "Apply for this job" button and follow the process - complete the application form & upload current CV.

Applications close: 28th March 2022

Interviews: w/c 4th April 2022 (subject to availability during the Easter break). 

If you have any questions about the role, please contact CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk

We are currently conducting our interview processes virtually as we continue to respect and follow necessary social distancing guidance to protect our team and our candidates. You may be invited to a face to face further stage interview which will always be conducted following strict social distancing guidelines. 

What We Offer

In addition to your salary of Â£25,000, you will benefit from a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, great holiday entitlement and numerous other employee benefits, including several salary sacrifice benefits, all of which can be found here (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits).

At the Trust we care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do as a Trust. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job.

When you join the Canal & River Trust you become a member of an engaged team working to preserve our heritage for future generations. Come and share your passion and knowledge with a team that makes a difference to millions of people every day.