Head of Engagement

Leadership & Management:

The Head of Engagement will be part of the Senior Leadership Team and Operational Management Team, partnering the Directors and CEO, to:

• Be an informed and passionate advocate for the essential role of people in nature’s recovery. Inform and influence SWT’s strategic planning to ensure the Trusts role to support, inform and enable people to take action for nature is considered at all levels and across teams.

• Provide the link between strategic and delivery, helping the engagement team to prioritise and maximise impact of their work to best deliver SWT’s strategic objectives, whilst also feeding back team insight on gaps in delivery, issues, achievements and ideas to a strategic level to inform future planning.

• Influence and mentor the teams within the Action for Nature department and across the whole of SWT to deliver Team Wilder as an organisational strategic goal.

• Oversee financial management of a number of cost centres including setting & managing budgets, resource allocation and income generation.

• Influence and mentor the wider Action for Nature team and oversee financial management of a number of cost centres including setting & managing budgets, resource allocation and income generation.

• Work with the Marketing and Communications Team and act as a media spokesperson where required.

Responsibility 1: Overall Engagement Strategy

• Identify and develop strategic opportunities to deliver goal 2 including bringing together engagement journeys, developing approaches to deliver Team Wilder across the whole county and identifying funding to realise those opportunities.

• Provide effective leadership, mentoring and support to build strong working relationships across all areas of the charity, to ensure integrated engagement activities and the embedding of the Team Wilder ethos to achieve the maximum impact for biodiversity and for people.

• Champion a high and consistent standard for working with communities and volunteers.

• Work with the central team and partners on collecting, collating and analysing data (demographics, nature connection etc.) and acting upon relevant insights in programmes of work.

• Forecast delivery needs and work across teams to develop projects and activities that directly deliver strategic requirements and retain, develop and recruit high-performing staff.

• Lead on strategic planning, forecasting and decision making to identify and secure county-wide capacity building funding and other incoming generation to deliver SWT engagement goals.

• Develop positive external relationships and influence with local authorities, partners and other organisations across sectors, acting where needed as a ‘collective voice’ for the desire and need for change. Use working relationships and technical expertise to overcome barriers and enable partners to implement changes to enable people to take action for nature in their lives and communities.

• Keep abreast of national and regional developments that may impact the Trusts work with communities. This includes developing a proactive relationship with the new Unitary Authority, and engaging as appropriate with initiatives such as LNRS, LCNs, Somerset Tree Strategy etc.

• Lead on the design and delivery of effective monitoring of the impact of the Trusts engagement activities that both demonstrate biodiversity gain and lead to individual behaviour change and the importance of connection with nature for people and communities.

Responsibility 2: Wilder Communities

• Oversight of the “Wilder Communities” workstreams which cover: volunteering, community organising, community networks and advice, individual actions for nature (e.g. gardens), training and resource development.

• Manage and support the Wilder Communities Manager and Wilder Projects Coordinator to identify and develop opportunities to enable, support and coordinate communities to manage public and private land to benefit biodiversity and enhance Somerset’s nature recovery network.

Responsibility 3: Wilder Lives

• Oversight of the “Wilder Lives” workstreams which cover: health and wellbeing, youth, children and families, visitor experience and events.

• Manage and support the Wilder Lives Manager to identify and develop opportunities to enable, support and coordinate work that promotes the value of nature and its importance to people’s health and wellbeing, and influences the health, social housing and employment sectors to use nature-based preventative and therapeutic solutions.

The full job description and person specification is attached in the link at the bottom of this page. For further information about the role please contact: Adam Murray, Director Action for Nature at adam.murray@somersetwildlife.org.

Fantastic benefits of working with us:

• Matched pension up to 7%

• Life insurance

• An annual professional institution subscription • Flexible and agile working

• Wellbeing support – EAP, wellbeing champions

• Diversity networks through RSWT/TWT

• Pool car and mileage allowance • Paid volunteer days

• Continuous Professional Development opportunities

• 33 days of holiday (25 + bank holidays)

The opportunity to make a real and positive difference to nature, communities and the climat

Apply by sending your completed application form to recruitment@somersetwildlife.org.

The closing date is 5pm Monday 12th February 2024.

Please note that we will review applications throughout the advertising period and may close the advert early if a suitable applicant is found.

Somerset Wildlife Trust has an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan and is committed to continuing to improve the equality, diversity and inclusion of every aspect of our work; we know we need to engage with everyone to live our values and achieve our goals. We welcome applications from everyone and are happy to discuss any accommodations or arrangements that would make the recruitment process better for you, and the working environment should you be employed.