Job Title:Cycling Officer, Perth and Kinross Council

Job Description

Reference:SUS1863

Salary:Grade F: £21,534 - £24,103 per annum

(Dependent on relevant skills and experience)

Hours:37.5 per week

Fixed Term:contract to 30 June 2017

Base:Perth and Kinross Council, Pullar House,

35 Kinnoull Street, Perth, PH1 5GD

Job Purpose:

To deliver the I Bike project to the schools within Kinross High, Blair High and up to six primary schools within their respective clusters in Perth and Kinross, to promote active travel (cycling, scooting and walking) to and from school and for independent journeys in leisure time;
to support staff and volunteers promoting active travel within the school community (known as school champions); and
to harness local authority resources available for active travel and to make links between schools, external partners and the bicycle industry.

Dimensions of job:

The post holder will deliver the I Bike project in Kinross High, Blair High and up to six primary schools within their respective clusters in Perth and Kinross. This project is aimed to encourage active travel (cycling, scooting and walking) amongst school pupils and within the whole school community.

The post holder will promote active travel by working intensively with the selected secondary schools and their feeder primary schools. As well as delivering activities which promote active travel across the whole school community, I Bike aims to address two specific issues around cycling to school; the drop off in active travel between primary and secondary school and the gender gap which sees girls being less physically active than boys.

Project background:

The I Bike project is now in its seventh year in Scotland. Initially developed in Edinburgh and Perth & Kinross then expanding to Fife, East Dunbartonshire, Dumfries & Galloway and more recently to Falkirk, Midlothian, Dundee City, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire and Aberdeenshire.

I Bike has been running successfully in Perth and Kinross for seven years and is a partnership project funded by Perth and Kinross Council and Transport Scotland. Initially the new post holder will shadow the existing officer to assist in events and gain experience of I Bike activities and working methods, the officer will then work in parallel to deliver activities across the area.

I Bike supports the work of a number of local teams including Perth and Kinross Council’s Transport and Access; Roads, Active Schools, and Educational Services. The post holder will be part of a local working group of all interested partners. This working group aims to ensure that I Bike complements and strengthens existing initiatives within Perth and Kinross council.

Place in organisational structure:

The post holder will report to the I Bike Coordinator and will be one of 12 Cycling Officers across Scotland. Close and proactive liaison with other relevant Perth and Kinross officers will be expected on a day-to-day basis as required (see below).

The Cycling Officer will update the Council to monitor and celebrate progress and support implementation.

Key Relationships:

Internal: I Bike Coordinator, Edinburgh

Cycling Officers (I Bike projects)

I Bike Volunteers and Champions Officer

Smarter Choices Manager, Edinburgh

Deputy Director, Behaviour Change, Edinburgh

Smarter Choices team members, Edinburgh

Other Sustrans staff and volunteers, UK wide

External:Perth and Kinross Council staff including:

Schools, head teachers, teachers and parents

Outdoor Education Officer (Oversight Group)

Bikeability Co-ordinator

Education Services Team Leader

Road Safety Training and Education Officer

Access Officer

Active Schools Officer

Police Scotland

Parent councils

Supporting Organisations:

Cycling Scotland

Scottish Cycling

Living Streets

Bike Club & local cycling groups

Local Bike retailers

Local Community groups

Local press and media

Key Responsibilities:

To promote active travel (cycling, scooting and walking) across the whole school community in selected schools in Perth and Kinross
To deliver a range of practical activities which engage pupils, particularly aged 9-14, during the transition from primary to secondary school.
To deliver a range of sessions for girls, covering themes such as health and fitness, self-esteem, clothing, cycle maintenance, cycle training, led rides, and cycling to school.
To ensure that the project does not detract from the number of boys who cycle to school and identify synergies with whole school cycling initiatives.
To work with Sustrans Research and Monitoring Unit and the local authority, to measure baseline pupil active travel levels to and from school and other journeys and to carry out follow up surveys at selected schools.
To record and monitor activities delivered in schools through detailed monthly updates.
To work closely with Perth and Kinross Council and other local partners, such as Road Safety Education to support the delivery of Bikeability on-road cycle training to P6 and P7 pupils in selected schools in Perth and Kinross.
To deliver Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training to staff, parents and volunteers, allowing schools to cascade on-road cycle training (Bikeability Scotland) to pupils.
To deliver cycle maintenance training and cycling skills through Dr. Bike events, cycle clubs and classroom activities.
To monitor expenditure for school events including training, marketing and publicity.
To provide advice, information and other support for ‘school champions’ (who include teachers, parents, head teachers, pupils and residents).
To help with the co-ordination and delivery of ‘school champion’ training sessions.
To assist in the development of I Bike resources and lesson plans with links to the Curriculum for Excellence.
To provide support to local authority when needed in the consultation, planning and delivery of school travel plans and safer walking and cycling routes to the selected schools.
To complete specific risk assessments for activities deviating significantly from Sustrans generic assessments, such as local bike rides.
To provide stories and information for Sustrans press office (who will liaise with other media partners), for Sustrans and local authority publications.
To compile progress reports, newsletters and presentations for project funders.
To develop links between schools and bicycle manufacturers, local retailers, local cycling groups, and Perth and Kinross Council Officers with responsibilities for cycling.
To offer and participate in shadowing and shared learning with other cycling officers and staff.
To share good practice with the I Bike and Communities team as well as local authorities and schools in the area through presentations, workshops and press articles.
To support and comply with the organisation's Policy for the management of Health and Safety.
To support and comply with the organisation’s policies for the management of safeguarding.
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
To carry out other duties as required.

In the first (summer) term of employment, the Officer will principally focus on shadowing the existing I Bike Cycling Officer, supporting the EDC Transport and Access team’s efforts to build up a cycling culture in the school cluster areas and making preparations to launch I-Bike activities after the summer.

Working Conditions:

The postholder will be one of twelve Cycling Officers. The base location of the post is the Transport department in Perth where flexible desk and meetings space is always available. The nature of the position is such that the post-holder would be expected to operate independently in the school cluster areas for the majority of the time as most work will be delivered during school hours and in the school term.

The post-holder will therefore ideally live within easy access to Perth and surrounding area and will have the option to work from home when appropriate. Occasional overnight stays away from home, occasional weekend and late working will be required with time off in lieu.

Employment will be conditional on clearance by the appropriate enhanced Disclosure Scotland (Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme) 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 by:I Bike Coordinator, Scotland

Date:May 2016

Cycling Officer, Perth and Kinross (SUS1863)

Person Specification

Criteria / Essential
Qualifications, education and training / Educated to Higher Education / A Level standard
Experience / Experience of working with children and young people
Experience of partnership working within a community-based or environmental project
Skills and abilities / Excellent written and verbal communications skills
Excellent presentation and report writing skills
Ability to prioritise and manage own workload
Ability to enthuse and motivate others
IT literate
Knowledge / Understanding of active travel programmes in Scotland.
Other / Committed to the promotion of cycling and the ideals of Sustrans
Undertaken (or willing to attend) National Standard cycle instructor training and bike maintenance training
Current and clean driving licence
Criteria / Desirable
Qualification / Educated to degree level or equivalent
National Standard cycle (Bikeability Scotland) instructor training Bike maintenance training
Experience / Experience of leading groups. workshops and event planning
Experience of working with schools and local authorities
Experience of developing lesson plans or learning aids
Knowledge / Good understanding and knowledge of the needs of young people in relation to cycling and physical activity
Understanding of Health and Safety in relation to the delivery of outdoor and classroom activities