About Thames21

Thames21 is an environmental charity that works across London and the Thames Basin to deliver high-impact, nature-based solutions to the climate and biodiversity crisis by restoring rivers, while also connecting communities to their local green-blue spaces and inspiring long-term stewardship of them.

Purpose of the job

We are seeking a skilled engagement officer to deliver an innovative programme of community-led river engagement activities in and surrounding the River Roding as part of a project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, ‘The Roding Rises’. This role will engage with groups from the urban and rural reaches of the river Roding catchment to co-design activities that support the delivery of The Roding Rises activity plan and encourage participants along an engagement pathway from awareness to participation and independent action. This role offers the post holder the opportunity to make a difference in diverse areas of London, with varying challenges and a range of ambitions.

The key skill for this role is being able to connect with and bring people together. The project relies on creating strong networks of grassroots organisations, community leaders and representatives from the public and private sectors, including councillors and politicians.

The key value for this role is curiosity. Being interested in people, able to ask questions, listen, and encourage them to get involved in whatever way they are able, will help you succeed.

You’ll thrive in this role if you can identify the strengths and assets of communities and individuals and create opportunities for them to flourish. By working together with local people in diverse communities beside waterways, you will establish a new and positive ongoing relationship between Londoners and their blue spaces.

A typical day is likely to involve keeping on track with what’s happening across the Roding catchment, meeting with key partners, being alert to upcoming network meetings, or delivering community events or activities. You might be working from home, or out of our offices in Bow or Guildhall, or be out and about with a community group or local organisation, co-producing an engagement event.

You might be posting on social media or updating the web page. You may be working on strategic, long-term plans to share the learnings from the project. You’ll be thinking both big and small on any given day!

Diversity

We primarily serve a London community, and we would love our organisation to better reflect the diversity of this great city. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Being a diverse and inclusive organisation is very important to us. We actively encourage applications from candidates of diverse cultures, perspectives and lived experiences. This role is primarily about community engagement. For that reason, while an interest in environmental issues is essential, experience of working in the environmental sector is not required.

Main duties and responsibilities

Work with The Roding Rises Project Team, local community organisations and representatives to co-produce and deliver an inclusive and culturally relevant programme of 21 events and activities over the three-year life of the project as part of the River Connections programme of events within The Roding Rises activity plan.
Work with The Roding Rises Project Manager to oversee the successful delivery of the externally contracted River Testimonies and Roding Arts and Walking Festival and community co-development aspects of the Roding Masterplan.
Support community groups and partners with community-focused applications to the Roding grants scheme
In partnership with colleagues, conduct inclusive outreach activities that will engage a wide diversity of people with a range of backgrounds and life experiences, from both rural and urban areas in our core locations.
Build a catchment-wide community network, uploading details to Thames21’s CRM system in line with GDPR.
Collect and record qualitative and quantitative data on events and activities run, including written and verbal feedback from partners and participants, photos and numbers of attendees, keeping to GDPR requirements. Evaluate this information to develop the methods for engagement and inform future activities.
Carry out the administrative duties to run events, including conducting risk assessments and method statements, managing event registrations, liaising with local councils and community groups and maintaining and managing event equipment.
Work with the Thames21 Training Officer to establish a group of volunteers who are trained in Thames21’s modules to maintain and monitor local sites. Includes supporting existing volunteers and assisting with building their capacity so groups become autonomous.
Represent Thames21 and The Roding Rises at relevant local forums and proactively recruit volunteers through in-person engagement events.
Maintain clear records of progress, ensure all administration and statistical information is kept up to date,
Work with Thames21’s Communications Team to promote the project, celebrate its achievements and learnings; ensure key milestones are recognised, funders are acknowledged, and volunteer opportunities are publicised.
Attend Thames21 Team Meetings and liaise with other Thames21 staff.

This job description cannot cover every issue or task that may arise at various times within the post, and the post-holder will be expected to carry out other reasonable duties from time to time that are broadly consistent with other Thames21 activities and those outlined in this document.

For more information and how to apply, please refer the Job description via this link EO1025

Engagement Officer – Roding Rises