Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels: Developing Community Action

ProjectDeveloper

Full time - 35 hours a week; Fixed term 7 month contract

Location Of Job / Scottish Wildlife Trust HQ Leith
Dept/Region / Conservation
Reporting To / The Scottish Wildlife Trust’sSaving Scotland’s Red Squirrels Project Manager

Overall Purpose of the Job

To develop the detailed activity plan and budget for the five-year Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels: Developing Community Action project.
To manage a number of consultant and agency contracts regarding specialist development of community engagement objectives and a data management review.
To manage the Development Phase and compile and finalise the project’s Stage 2 submission for the Heritage Lottery Fund funding application.

Key Internal and External Contacts

  • Heritage Lottery Fund Grants Officer
  • Liaise closely with the SSRS Project Manager, the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Volunteer Development Officer, People and Wildlife Manager, Director of Public Affairs, Marketing & Communications Manager, Grants Fundraising Manager and Finance Department.
  • Liaise with existing local squirrel groups in southern Scotland andthe squirrel conservation project and local groupsin northern England.
  • Report to the SSRS Project Manager and Steering Groupand Scottish Wildlife Trust Councilas the work develops.

Main Duties

  • Develop a detailed 5 year Project Activity Plan with targets and milestones in accordance with the Outline “SSRS:Developing Community Action Plan” already developed.
  • Manage the contracts of specialist consultants/agencies to:
  • Develop a cohesive Communications and Community Engagement Strategy encompassing situation analysis, market research, community consultation, volunteer engagement plan and identification of KPIs and associated monitoring strategy;
  • Develop a Skills Training Programme for members of volunteer groups to enable them to fulfil tasks required to run an independently active group, drawing on the results of the Community Consultation report from the contract mentioned above;
  • Review the existing data management processes, to include analysing data flows, recommend system refinements and supply a database schema.
To include finalising the briefs, appointing the consultant/agency, managing the contracts and ensuring timelyproduction of agreed contract outputs.
  • Review the SSRS Community Action project stated outputs and outcomes in the light of the completed contract reports.
  • Review the contract reports and continue the development of the evaluation and monitoring procedures.
  • Manage the HLF Development Phase budget.
  • Prepare a detailed 5-year budget for the project with accurate costings.
  • Produce job descriptions for all new roles under the HLF-funded project.
  • Compile the HLF Stage 2 submission documentation.

Personal Specification

Essential Qualifications
  • Degree or equivalent vocational qualification.

Essential Experience
  • Experience of project development. Minimum two years.
  • Experience in managing contracts with specialist consultants/agencies, to include finalising the briefs, appointing the consultants/agencies, managing the contracts and ensuring timely production of agreed contract outputs.
  • Experience in projects involved in recruiting, motivating, training and supporting volunteer groups and individuals to undertake active conservation work and engaging the wider public in conservation issues.
  • Experience of finance management and reporting.

Desirable Experience
  • Experience of working up large-scale funding applications to the Heritage Lottery Fund or similar.
  • Experience of using Excel to present budget forecasts
  • Experience of partnership working.
  • Experience of working with steering groups, boards or other management groups.
  • Experience of working with communities, landowners, contractors and the public sector.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • Excellent organisational and reporting skills
  • Strategic thinking skills
  • Good IT skills including Word, Excel, e mail, internet, PowerPoint, image handling
  • Strong communication skills, both verbal and written

Advantageous
  • Knowledge of wildlife conservation and the work of natural heritage conservation organisations.

Date / 21/01/16 / Author: Mel Tonkin / Project Manager Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels