Project Officer

Job Title: Project Officer
Reporting to: Sow the City Programme Manager - Green Spaces & Community Development
Salary: £26,209
Hours: Full-time 5 days a week, 35 hours a week or part-time hours considered. Occasional weekends and evenings (which will accrue TOIL)
Contract: Fixed Term for 36 months.
Probationary Period: 3 months.
Location: Based in Manchester, with travel across the Greater Manchester area (travel costs reimbursed).

Do you want a varied and meaningful role where you make a positive impact on people and the planet? Do you have the skills and enthusiasm to help communities create green spaces in urban places?

Background to the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our small, dynamic and growing social enterprise based in Manchester. The successful applicant will deliver a busy programme of horticultural training and community development work, sharing their knowledge and passion for urban nature, food growing and environmental wellbeing.

About Us

• Sow the City is a Manchester-based nonprofit social enterprise, founded in 2009 with a few packets of seeds and some compost to help communities create greener cities and connect with nature.
• We partner with grassroots groups, community gardens, businesses and organisations to create a movement of people and organisations that care about nature in cities.
• We transform derelict and unused land into thriving community green and blue space, tackling inequality, and delivering programs that enrich learning, and promote wellbeing.
• Our portfolio spans a wide range of projects including food growing spaces, allotment and wildlife gardens, biophilic design, health gardens, nature restoration, green roofs, wetland habitats and health and sensory gardens.
• Since we were founded, we have provided courses/ workshops for 28,000 people, facilitated over 23,000 volunteering hours, and transformed almost 55,000 m2 of unused and derelict land into useful community green and blue infrastructure.
• Our office is based at our community centre the Boiler House (www.boilerhouse.org) in Moss Side near central Manchester. You will work delivering community projects and workshops across Greater Manchester.

Specific Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver horticulture and nature‑based learning sessions for differing ages, abilities and backgrounds, including topics such as food growing, composting, nutrition, conservation and nature crafts.
• Help with delivery of community-focused environmental projects across Greater Manchester including offering advice where needed, supporting with community consultation, attending meetings and community events.
• Support emerging community greening and growing groups, helping them build early skills, confidence and momentum.
• Support the creation and maintenance of community garden sites and work with volunteers with diverse skills and needs.
• Work closely and build relationships with partner organisations including Local Authorities, Housing Associations, NHS, schools and the voluntary sector.
• Gather stories, photos and basic content from community groups to support programme learning and communications.
• Document, monitor and evaluate your work in line with our funding requirements.
• Manage a diverse workload with multiple clients and locations and meet project deadlines.
• Undertake informal and formal training as agreed.
• Work closely with other members of the Sow the City team and help with projects and tasks as required, which are commensurate with the grade of the job.

Key responsibilities – all staff

• To be aware of the mission statement of Sow the City and our policies and procedures.
• To undergo appropriate checks including an enhanced DBS check.
• The post holder will be subject to performance objectives agreed every 3 months.

The duties of this post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or level of responsibility entailed.

Other Details

• 5% employer pension.
• 30 days holiday per year (including bank holidays).
• 35-hour working week (however we will consider a part-time position or job share opportunity).
• Sick-pay is 4-weeks full-pay, 4-weeks half-pay followed by statutory sick pay (subject to satisfactory probation period).
• Competitive paternity and maternity leave packages.
• The role will require the successful candidate to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends. We provide a TOIL system including compensation for any occasional ‘anti-social’ hours worked.

Equal Opportunities

Sow the City strives to be an equal opportunities employer and celebrates diversity. We welcome applications from people looking to return to work and may not have continuous employment history.

Application and Recruitment Details

For an informal chat about the post, please contact Emily Corner or Jon Ross at Sow the City on 0161 465 6954 or email [email protected].

Interviews for this post will be held week commencing 2nd November.

Appointment subject to the receipt of satisfactory references.