Project Coordinator

Garden Organic is looking for a Project Coordinator to oversee an exciting portfolio of projects each designed to enable, inspire, and facilitate positive environmental action in communities around the UK., Garden Organic is looking for a Project Coordinator to oversee an exciting portfolio of projects each designed to enable, inspire, and facilitate positive environmental action in communities around the UK. We are a growing charity (literally and metaphorically!) and to service that growth we are looking for a candidate who can take on a wide ranging but very rewarding role.

As Project Coordinator you will work collaboratively and proactively with project colleagues, stakeholders and volunteers. You will identify new partnership and delivery opportunities based on local community and project needs. You will support the delivery of events and activities by enlisting volunteers and ensuring that they have the guidance and materials they need. You will also support nationally coordinated seasonal activities relevant to projects, managing the provision of associated materials and engagement tool kits. Evaluation of project impact is paramount for the charity and it's commissioners, so you will work with volunteers to collate written feedback and produce detailed reports as required. Your written feedback will require analysis and evidence of the expected or actual impact of your, and your associated volunteers, work.

What we are looking for:

You will be joining a UK-wide team with a broad range of skill sets, knowledge, and experience. Our ideal candidate will share our passion and enthusiasm to inspire more people to use the principles of organic gardening, whether that's composting, growing your own, boosting biodiversity or reducing waste. This role sits at the heart of our outreach delivery working alongside colleagues based at the charity's main offices as well as those based remotely. You will be a conduit for enabling the greatest possible impact across our delivery and you will be naturally curious to understand our mission and proactively seek out fresh and creative opportunities to expand our reach.

This role will also be based out of our head office at Ryton but you will be communicating and building many relationships across the UK. An engaging and proactive communication style is essential, be it, in person, virtually or by telephone and email. Our ideal candidate must also have strong organisational, time management and administrative skills to ensure they can manage a busy workload with multiple simultaneous projects and changing priorities.

Our ambition:

Our voice is amplified by more than 350 volunteers supported by local colleagues who, in 2023, recorded over 22,000 conversations. Our ambition is to increase the number of volunteers we support and thereby increase our reach, engaging more people in sharing the positive environmental messages of home composting, organic growing, and reducing food waste.

Responsibilities & Main Duties:

Coordination

• Work effectively with project colleagues internally & externally


• Support department heads/HQ in the successful delivery of a number of volunteer projects


• Coordinate a portfolio of projects and provide administrative support, as required


• Collate and provide data and information to feedback on progress and track delivery timescales against project targets.


• Coordinate and chair / support the chair at both internal and external network meetings.


Supporting volunteers

• Coordinate the sign up of volunteers to specific project areas/activities (utilising our volunteer database system, Better Impact)


• Provide resources to support their activity.


• Source opportunities for volunteers to reach audiences in their local communities, this will involve liaising with event organisers.


• Working alongside colleagues to contribute to the updating of policies and processes.


• Maximise dissemination and PR associated with projects by liaising with the team.


• Design, develop and deliver training for a range of different audiences.


General

• It is the nature of the work of Garden Organic that tasks and responsibilities are, in some circumstances, unpredictable and varied. All employees are expected to work in a flexible way when the occasion arises where tasks are not specifically covered in the Job Description and have to be undertaken.


• Occasional evening, weekend and bank holiday working will be required.


• A valid UK driving license would be useful, but not essential., We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Garden Organic reserve the right to close the advert early depending on response levels.


As part of our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion all applications will be anonymised before being submitted to the recruitment panel. You are welcome to submit an anonymised CV in application for the role however please ensure you provide a contact telephone number or e-mail address.

Experience of coordinating and supporting volunteers

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Experience of managing stakeholder relationships

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Experience of connecting with and building trust within local communities, identifying community need, and community partners.

x

• Experience of facilitating high quality activities and community events.


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Experience of designing, developing and delivering training for a range of audiences.

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Experience of producing relevant written reports.

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Experience of administering databases

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Knowledge and Skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

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Good IT Skills (Microsoft Office).

x

Good understanding of GDPR

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Knowledge and understanding of relevant Health and Safety and safeguarding procedures, including identifying and assessing risks and taking appropriate action. (Basic training will be provided)

x

Knowledge of organic growing, composting, biodiversity and/or waste reduction

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Approach and mindset

Happy to balance being part of a productive team whilst working on own project outcomes

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Organised and able to prioritise own workload

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A high level of professionalism, engaging with others respectfully and with appropriate professional courtesy

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A collaborative, empathetic approach - able to adapt your plans and style to meet the needs of partners, team members and audiences.

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A commitment and enthusiasm for the principles of organic gardening including composting, waste reduction and general environmental sustainability.

Our organisation promotes the know-how and benefits of organic gardening to individual and community gardeners. Showing people how they can encourage ecosystems to flourish in their own growing space has never been more important to stem the decline of plant and insect species and aid nature's recovery. Our work is set in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and we want to ensure Garden Organic is having demonstrable and measurable positive impact, in particular on SDG 15 - Life on Land.

Why it's a great time to be joining Garden Organic:

Our charity was founded over 60 years ago, when organic growing was an 'alternative' way of life. Today, there is huge interest in how gardeners, consumers and businesses can follow sustainable practices, to do their bit to protect the environment and the biodiversity on their doorstep. With our unrivalled expertise, gained through decades of hands-on organic growing, we are in the best possible position to support people to follow the organic way.