Job Description

Job Title:Active Schools Officer, Longbridge, Birmingham

Reference:SUS2196

Salary:Grade F: £21,965 - £24,586 pro rata per annum

(dependent on relevant skills and experience)

Hours:2 days (15 hours) per week.

Potential opportunity for hours to increase to 4 days (30 hours) per week pending ongoing funding application.

Fixed Term:Contract to 30 June 2019

Base:Sustrans, The Walker Building, 58 Oxford Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 5NR.

The majority of work however, will be delivered at schools in the Longbridge and south west Birmingham area.

Job Purpose:

To deliver educational/promotional schemes to support the Move More Eat Well project in achieving increased modal shift to sustainable modes of travel to and from schools.

Dimension of Job:

The postholder will deliver of a programme of activities and initiatives at 12 primary schools and 1 secondary school that will promote active travel amongst pupils, teachers and parents via walking, scooting, and cycling and be responsible for the recruitment and support of ‘active travel champions’ amongst teachers, governors and parents, encouraging a culture of sustainable and active travel in the schools that can be sustained beyond the lifetime of the project.

Place in organisational structure:

The postholder will be one of Sustrans school-based staff and will report to the Delivery Coordinator, West Midlands. There will be close liaison with local authority staff, Sport Birmingham, Sustrans regional staff and Sustrans’central behaviour change team and reporting and monitoring unit.

Key Relationships:

Internal:Delivery Coordinator, West Midlands

Head of Delivery, West Midlands

Bike It and other school-based officers (UK wide)

England Midlands Director

Partnership Manager West Midlands

Behaviour change team members (Bristol)

Reporting and Monitoring Unit

Regional staff

Other Sustrans staff

External:Schools and parent ‘champions’

Sport Birmingham

Local authority staff including school travel, road safety and cycling officers and physical activity co-ordinators

Birmingham Cycling Revolution Team

Bike retailers

Supporting organisations i.e. healthy schools staff, schools sports coordinators, British Cycling, Cycling UK & local cycling groups

Local media

Key Responsibilities:

  1. To proactively recruit schools to the programme and identify barriers to increased levels of sustainable and active travel to and from school.
  2. To promote active and sustainable travel through the planning and delivery of school based events, activities and training, e.g. cycle skills, leisure rides, bike maintenance, incentive schemes and classroom sessions.
  3. To measure baseline travel behaviour and carry out follow up surveys at participating schools and complete other monitoring tasks required of the post.
  4. To provide advice, information, training and support for ‘champions’ – which may include teachers, parents and governors at schools to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the programme.
  5. To promote cycling to school by working with local authorities and other partners to help deliver secure cycle storage, on-road cycle training (meeting level 2 of the National Standard). Staff will not be expected to deliver on-road cycle training to pupils however cycle skills and learn to ride sessions will be delivered as part of the duties.
  6. To provide support to local authority when needed in the consultation, planning and delivery of school travel plans and safe walking and cycling routes to the selected schools.
  7. To provide stories and information for Sustrans press office and local authority communications team, together with information for the Sustrans School Travel and Workplaces Information Service.
  8. To compile progress reports and presentations for project funders, including the local authority.
  9. To develop links between schools, businesses and the local walking & cycling community and other existing support for active and sustainable travel.
  10. To collaborate with colleagues and external partners, supporting them with advice and evidence from the project, to assist in bringing forward initiatives and opportunities to encourage more active and sustainable travel, particularly cycling.
  11. To share good practice with other local authorities, businesses and schools in the area through presentations, workshops and press articles.

Communication and marketing

12.To support and comply with the charity’s guidance on branding, tone of voice and key messages, positively contributing towards raising Sustrans’ profile.

Training and personal development:

  1. To attend essential Sustrans training as required by the Charity.
  2. To ensure own personal development by working to objectives set as part of the Charity’s appraisal process.

Health & Safety, Safeguarding and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

  1. To support and comply with the organisation’s policy for the management of Health and Safety.
  2. To support and comply with the organisation’s policies for the management of safeguarding.
  3. To support and comply with the organisation’s policy and procedures relating to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and apply principles of best practice in own role.

Other

  1. To perform any other duties consistent with the nature and grade of the role as agreed with the line manager.

Working Conditions:

The postholder will be one of Sustransmany school-based staff and will live close to Longbridge or Birmingham, although there may be opportunities to work from home at times. Occasional overnight stays away from home, weekend and late working may be required.

National standard cycle instructor, ride leader and walk leader training will be available if required.

The post holder must be prepared to walk, cycle and use public transport for the majority of daily work journeys.

Employment will be conditional on clearance by an EnhancedDBS Disclosure check.

Special Note:

This job description does not form part of the contract of employment, but indicates how that contract should be performed. The job description may be subject to amendment in the light of experience and in consultation with the jobholder.

Compiled: Delivery Coordinator, West Midlands

Updated: July 2017

Active Schools Officer,Longbridge, Birmingham (SUS2196)

Person Specification

Criteria / Essential
Qualifications & education / Good standard of education
Experience / Experience of working with children and young people
Experience of partnership working within a community-based or environment project
Experience of engagement activities
Experience of organising, publicising and delivering events
Skills and abilities / Proven ability to deliver engagement activities and promotional events
Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Excellent presentation skills
Ability to motivate and enthuse others
Ability to plan, prioritise and organise own workload
Excellent organisational skills
Good report writing skills
Knowledge / IT literate - familiar with use of Microsoft Office
Understanding of the school setting
Knowledge of the health benefits of active travel
Other / Committed to the promotion of walking and cycling and the ideals of Sustrans
Criteria / Desirable
Qualifications / Educated to degree level or equivalent
National standard cycle instructor training
Walking/cycling specific training and/or qualifications
First Aid qualification
Experience / Experience of working with schools and local authorities
Experience in the use of internet research
Experience in sales and marketing, including running social media channels
Experience of leading group workshops and event planning
Good knowledge of the local area
Skills and abilities / Bike maintenance