Climate Emergency Engagement Officer

RBKC612989
Hours per week: 36
Contract type: Temporary up to 24 months

About Us:

Do you want to be part of a motivated team helping address the climate emergency, delivering a
wide range of exciting programmes and initiatives and inspiring Council staff, contractors,
residents, businesses and the community to act? We are looking for enthusiastic and committed
individuals, who are passionate for tackling climate change locally and motivated to create new
initiatives that could change the way the Council operates and make Kensington and Chelsea a
more sustainable, resilient, eco-friendly place to live, work, play and visit.

We are recruiting for two roles (two years fixed term) to support the delivery of the Council’s
climate change programme. These roles will work across the Council and with our partners to
deliver a range of climate change projects, securing funding and building strong networks.

These roles will be part of a small team responsible for delivering one of the Council’s top
priorities:

• Carbon Reduction Technical Officer.
• Climate Emergency Engagement Officer.

Climate Emergency Engagement Officer: Take climate action into the
community

At Kensington and Chelsea, we’re taking climate change seriously. In October 2019, we declared
a climate emergency, and since then our Climate Change Team had been responsible for delivering
our Climate Emergency Action Plan with the aim to achieve the Council’s in-house 2030 and the
borough-wide 2040 carbon neutral targets.

Building greener, fairer and more climate resilient neighbourhoods and borough and taking a
stand for nature is a fundamental part of our ambitious plans for the future. But we can’t do
it alone.

As a Climate Emergency Engagement Officer, you can help us reach our goals, putting the people
and environment of Kensington and Chelsea first at every turn. This is a truly unique
opportunity to make an impact where it matters, and to deliver real change and support to the
socially and economically excluded communities and residents most vulnerable to the effects of
climate change.

Are you passionate about climate change and engaging with staff, contractors, residents and
external partners to champion environmental sustainability?

The Role:

In this role, you’ll develop a strategic climate engagement plan and associated activities that
aims to promote greater awareness about tackling the climate crisis across Kensington and
Chelsea and support with delivering the climate change programme. You’ll build strong and
meaningful partnerships and genuine collaboration with residents, schools, local organisations,
businesses, and a whole host of other organisations across the borough, working in tandem to
increase participation and civic engagement on the climate change agenda.

Working closely with the members of the Climate Change Team, you’ll help inform, engage,
inspire, and empower the community to take climate action in their local areas.

This will involve outreach, organising events and trainings, lunch and learns and seminars,
developing and delivering communication campaigns, consultation and codesign work, and
delivering projects. This is a varied and multifaceted role, and so you’ll need to show real
flexibility in supporting the Climate Change Team reach their goals.

You will join a team which has and will be leading high-profile consultation and co-design
programmes such as the Future Neighbourhoods 2030 programme and engagement events such as
Children’s Parliament on the Environment, programme of works with schools, Climate Summit,
Greener Living Days etc. You will build on these foundations to make an impact in the local
community and work together to reduce emissions and increase resilience.

Please refer to the
Job Description for more information.

About You:

You’ll be educated to degree level in an environmental subject or other relevant subject area,
with demonstratable knowledge about the current climate change issues affecting local
authorities. You’ll also have an excellent understanding of environmental sustainability issues
and climate change, and experience of engagement activities, managing projects and organising
events.

With experience of developing and implementing practical solutions to environmental and
sustainability issues, you’ll be capable of managing and delivering in all aspects of
programmes – from inception to delivery. A natural communicator with excellent oral and written
skills, the successful candidate will be capable of communicating and engaging with a wide
range of individuals and groups, articulating messages from strategies and action plans and
reaching out to wide audiences to encourage involvement.

On a personal level, you’ll be a quick learner with great problem solving, project management,
and analytical skills. You’ll have the ability to work under pressure, make effective
decisions, and deliver against deadlines. Most importantly, you’ll be a person passionate and
committed about getting communities involved in reducing the impacts of climate change on
people and natural places. This is an exciting opportunity to do your bit for the planet and
progress your career in a dynamic and motivated local authority. You will present to groups and
attend events, sometimes in the evening or at weekends.

Please apply online explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person
specification and job description. We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early
without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.

Additional information:

The council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people
and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.

We make sure all our staff are vetted to a high standard by conducting pre-employment checks to
assess and assure the trustworthiness, integrity, and ability of prospective employees. This
includes validating identity, right to work in the UK, qualifications (where applicable), work
history (including the investigation of gaps) and referencing. They may also involve criminal
record checks (UK and overseas).

We promote equality, welcome diverse applicants, and ensure inclusivity in our recruitment and
selection process.

This post is covered by the Fluency Duty, as outlined in the Code of Practice on the English
language requirements for public sector workers.

Information about the safeguarding of children and support for families: www.rbkc.gov.uk/children-and-education/safeguarding-children

Information about protecting and safeguarding yourself and others from abuse and neglect:
www.rbkc.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/adult-social-care/safeguarding-adults

We do not accept speculative CVs.

Closing date: 1 September 2024.
Interview date: Week commencing 9 September 2024.