Sustainable Communities Adviser

Salary: £36,176 - £43,355 (Band D) per annum
Working Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Balloch with hybrid working model

The Role:

We are on a mission to restore nature, tackle climate change, and inspire action that helps Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and its people to thrive. We are looking for a Sustainable Communities Officer to play an active and important role as part of the Communities & Place Planning Team, supporting National Park’s communities to flourish in sustainable, climate resilient places with strong connections to nature, land use, landscape and culture.

You will lead on achieving this by supporting active and empowered communities with well-established local organisations to prepare and implement Local Place Plans and deliver innovative projects that improve their places and contribute to tackling the climate and nature crises.

You will also lead on coordinating the monitoring and delivery of outcomes identified in the National Park Partnership Plan by identifying initiatives that help communities to grow community wealth, adapt to climate change and reduce their reliance on carbon and increase community-led action for nature.

Responsibilities:

• Lead, Coordinate and Promote Community Led Action: Drive the delivery of community led action across all National Park communities, including through supporting the preparation of Local Place Plans and providing support to delivery of actions and projects that align with the National Park Partnership Plan’s vision of becoming a carbon negative, nature positive, thriving place.
• Community Capacity Building: Provide support to community organisations and through partnership working identify and signpost them to sources of funding, training and development support. Maintain a general point of contact with key community representatives. Maintain oversight, coordinate and share intelligence of National Park Community Councils and Development Trust activities and capacities internally and to Board Member briefings.
• Foster Collaborative Relationships: Cultivate and nurture relationships with National Park community organisations as well as a wide range of stakeholders, including landowners, ensuring strong collaboration with public, private, and third sector partners.
• Community Empowerment Act: Support the National Park Authority to meet it’s duties under the Community Empowerment Act and offer policy insights on this and the other relevant policy areas including Community Wealth Building, Planning and Land Reform as they apply to National Park communities.
• Community Wealth Building: Lead and support the delivery of Community Wealth Building within National Park including community management or ownership of assets and land, social enterprise and local wealth generation. Develop or support initiatives which promote wider understanding of the role of communities in delivering the National Park’s objectives.
• Partnership Working: Represent the National Park Authority on external partnerships and funding groups to influence and secure support for community led delivery of actions that supports priorities identified in the NPPP.
• Advice and Insights: Provide support to other National Park teams, Board Members and Programmes, including project scoping and delivery, monitoring and measuring outcomes and securing funding sources.
• Other Duties: Undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade as required.

Who we are looking for:

Your skills, abilities and experience should include:

• Demonstrable working knowledge and understanding of the rural community development sector
• Experience of working with community and/or voluntary organisations or the community development sector
• Working knowledge of Scottish Government policy direction on Community Empowerment, Community Wealth Building, Planning and/or Land Reform
• Experience in partnership working and delivery of partnership projects, particularly where working with community groups
• Articulate with excellent interpersonal skills and ability to manage sensitive stakeholder relationships
• Ability to think strategically as well as on detailed tasks
• Ability to work independently and pro-actively within a defined work programme and set of outcomes
• The ability to prepare convincing strategies, reports, recommendations and business cases to achieve strategic outcomes
• Degree or equivalent in social, environmental or economic subject area.
• Current UK Driving Licence

Ideally, but not essentially, you’ll also have:

• Experience of initiating, developing and managing projects, including success in securing and managing external funding
• Experience of community led action for climate, nature and community wealth building, particularly for rural communities
• Understanding and knowledge of National Park aims and present priorities for action
• Forward thinking and able to work creatively,
• Ability to identify opportunities and trial new approaches/ initiatives
• Appreciation of the values, roles and responsibilities of a National Park in Scotland.
• Appreciation of sustainable development principles.

How to apply:

If you are interested in this role, please complete your application by 29th September 2025 @ 9am

• Access our application form on our job portal
• Interviews will be virtual
• Interviews taking place w/c 6th October 2025

Who we are and our values:

We offer flexible and remote working, with a generous pension scheme and annual leave allowance. Staff have access to wellbeing services and there is a strong focus on wellbeing throughout the organisation.

Being part of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority means being passionate about what you do, working hard to inspire and lead the way for others. We care about each other and are accessible and friendly treating each other with respect and understanding, we think about our planet with each decision we make. Together, we are the difference.

Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority are proud to celebrate difference. Diversity of experience is vital in our success we want our business to be representative to the communities we work alongside. As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applicants from a wide range of individuals, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, gender identity and expression, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.