Green Skills Leader

About the role

The John Muir Way is one of Scotland's most iconic long-distance walking routes, spanning 134 miles from Helensburgh on the west coast to Dunbar on the east. The John Muir Way Green Skills programme, a three-year initiative funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, focuses on improving biodiversity along this route, creating opportunities for trainees aged 16 - 24 years old with barriers to employment, to learn new skills, build confidence, and contribute to Scotland's natural and cultural heritage.

The John Muir Way Green Skills programme is a 3-year employability initiative with 18 months remaining, through which a total of 72 trainees are engaging in practical biodiversity tasks and projects along the route. The Green Skills Traineeship helps build practical skills, knowledge and confidence for work, volunteering or further learning in the environmental and conservation sector.

The programme aims to bridge the skills gap and tackle workforce challenges, increase connectivity and break down the disconnect with nature, and create accessible opportunities that recognise and value different ways of thinking, learning and engaging.

As the Edinburgh Green Skills Leader you will lead a team of six Green Skills Trainees per year, including the existing cohort. The post holder will have overall responsibility for line managing the trainees, leading delivery of practical training and the delivery of practical biodiversity enhancement tasks on partner sites. In Edinburgh the Green Skills Leader will liaise with greenspace teams from City of Edinburgh Council and community groups to agree sites and projects. This role will also contribute to the project evaluation, local budget management, and programme promotion. Trainees are in attendance 3 days per week (Monday - Wednesday), the role is hybrid and you will be required to be on site on the same days that the trainees are present and for team meetings.

You will be part of a team of 4 Green Skills Leaders working with Scottish Canals and Local Authorities along the route. You will work closely with the People Advisor and People Admin Coordinator managing the schedule of external training, trainee attendance, annual leave, onboarding, and programme exiting of trainees. These roles will report into the John Muir Way Green Skills Operations Leader.

• Experience of leading a small team.
• Previous management of a training programme/structured delivery model.
• Mentoring and/or coaching young people.
• A passion for supporting young people to achieve their goals.
• Knowledge and understanding of practical biodiversity projects and events.
• Experience in recruiting and managing trainees and/or other stakeholders.
• Experience in working in partnership with multiple organisations with potentially differing demands.
• Support trainees through regular one-to-one meetings to agree personal goals, review their progress and plan next steps.

A full, clean or near clean UK driving licence is required for this post, which has been held for a minimum of one year. To fulfil the role, you must be resident in the UK and have the right to work in the UK.

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any during your application. If you would like to discuss your requirements further please contact the People Team via [email protected] or by telephone on 01302 388883 . We also offer reasonable adjustments on the job.

We are The Conservation Volunteers.

Our vision is Healthier, Happier Communities for Everyone. We believe that green spaces are an essential part of healthy, happy communities.

Our mission is To Connect People and Green Spaces to Deliver Lasting Outcomes for Both.

The opportunity to connect to nature on your doorstep and contribute to its protection should be available to everyone.

The outcomes of our work:

• Environment: Green spaces are created, protected and improved, for nature and for people.
• Communities: Communities are stronger, working together to improve the places where people live and tackle the issues that matter to them.
• Health & Wellbeing: People improve their physical and mental health & wellbeing, by being outdoors, active and connected with others.
• Learning & Skills: People improve their confidence, skills and prospects, through learning inspired by the outdoors.

Join in, feel good.

For further information and to apply, please visit our website. For an informal chat about this role please contact [email protected]

Closing date: 17 November 2026
Closing time: Midnight
Interviews: Monday 23 November 2026