Job Description - Senior Volunteering & Community Officer
Summary Working as part of Belfast Portfolio Operations Team within the Northern Ireland region of the National Trust, you will be working on a large-scale project at one of our flagship countryside sites in the region. You?ll work closely with your colleagues in the operations team, as well as those in the internal Consultancy service who provide specialist advice and support. We are grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Northern Ireland Environment Agency who have generously provided grant to funding for this project post. This role is a fixed term contract to 30 Nov 2026. Interviews will take place on Tuesday 17th December 2024. What it?s like to work here Divis and the Black Mountain offers a spectacular viewpoint for visitors seeking panoramic views over Belfast and beyond. Resting in the heart of the Belfast Hills, this mountain provides a beautiful backdrop to the city?s skyline. This 2622-acre started with an area of the site acquired by the National Trust in 2004 with National Lottery Heritage Fund and in 2022 a further 622 acres with grant funding through the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. This vast landscape contains a mosaic of grassland heath and bog and are home to a host of wildlife and archaeological remains. These mountains are home to priority habitats and species, including at risk peatland habitat that we have a duty to restore and protect. Explore this rich, varied archaeological landscape and discover how it is home to a host of wildlife. The walking trails through heath, on stone tracks, along boardwalks and road surfaces offer a diverse array of terrains to interest all walking levels with views of Strangford Lough, the Mournes and the Sperrins, as well as Donegal and Scotland. We are currently in the delivery phase of ?Divis: A View to the Future?, a National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Garfield Weston funded project. Our vision is to implement a conservation approach that enhances and restores this valuable natural asset, and to enable and support meaningful connections with the mountain for local communities to transform lives for the better. We know that this will only be successful if it responds to needs identified by local communities. As the Senior Volunteering & Community Officer for the project you will lead for people, involvement and communities on site. This post is required for busy periods including bank holidays and weekends. Occasional evening work may be required. The role holder may need to spend some time lone working without direct contact with their colleagues and direct supervision. What you?ll be doing Our project, ?Divis - A View to the Future? was awarded funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund ( 3m), Northern Ireland Environment Agency ( 1.5m) and the Garfield Weston Foundation ( 300k), to deliver a series of initiatives to enhance engagement with and access to Divis & the Black Mountain as well as undertaking landscape scale nature restoration. You?ll be leading for community engagement, volunteering and participation around Divis & the Black Mountain, this will primarily be through implementation of the project?s Community Activity Plan, growing interest and support to further the aims and outcomes of our project. This project isn?t your typical investment project, you will be an integral part of a team delivering physical improvement works, large-scale nature conversation initiatives, in-depth community engagement & partnership, and inspiring interpretation of the social, cultural & natural heritage. Over the course of the project you will lead on the People & Communities workstream, which includes a small project team to support you, with the ability to draw on the expertise of your colleagues, as well as appoint third-party suppliers. You?ll also be balancing the need to deliver project activities alongside the day-to-day operations and existing initiatives that are continuing. You will be part of the wider Belfast portfolio team and will work closely with the Volunteering & Community Manager for the portfolio. You will also be part of a network of Volunteer & Community Leads across the region. Please also read the full role profile attached to this advert. Who we?re looking for ?Experience of working directly with communities to engage, consult and partner with to achieve aims that not only further the strategy of the National Trust, but the objectives of the community, local authorities, funders, and partner agencies. ?Experience in understanding and processing data & information, able to effectively prioritise and make clear recommendations on strategies and ways forward that best achieve the aims of the project ?Practical and successful experience of widening and deepening relationships with existing and new audiences and developing innovative approaches to audience engagement ?Experience of stakeholder management ? experience of leading and managing stakeholder relationships to deliver outcomes and maximise the Trust?s influence and harness opportunities. ?Good communication skills ? evidence of good written and oral communication. ?Experience in developing, leading and facilitating workshops and other engagement activities to bring people together, discuss issues & ideas, and agree ways forward. ?Experience of managing a budget and you will support with developing innovative approaches to fundraising on site The package The National Trust has the motto ?For everyone, for ever? at its heart. We?re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It?s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we?re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too. ?Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary ?Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18) ?Rental deposit loan scheme ?Season ticket loan ?EV car lease scheme ?Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts ?Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria. ?Flexible working whenever possible ?Employee assistance programme ?Free parking at most Trust places Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support y
