Community Access and Engagement Officer

As a Community Access and Engagement Officer you’ll thrive on working within a motivated team
in managing and protecting the 862 km public rights of way network, ensuring that it is
provided to a great standard for the public to use and enjoy.

Possessing self-reliance, you will play a key role in working with communities and developing
the rights of way network in accordance with the Council’s responsibilities and delivering
projects in line with the Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

The role enables involvement in the planning process to protect and enhance public rights of
way and realise investment opportunities to create sustainable and convenient links in turn
supporting personal health and wellbeing and helping the city achieve net zero by 2050.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We
seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Community Access and Engagement Officer, you will bring to the role:

• An ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative with communities
• An ability to manage and deliver projects to agreed timescales quality and budget
• An ability to develop and write clear and concise Public Path Order reports
• The ability to undertake Path inspections to recognised standards
• Familiarity of public rights of way law and practice and appreciation of the issues
  concerning their management, protection and improvement

About the role 

Reporting to the Public Rights of Way Manager the role provides an opportunity to work across a
range of disciplines to contribute towards sustainable Active Travel. Public Rights of Way
provide an invaluable resource for health and wellbeing activities, principally being routes
for walking, horse riding and pedal cycling and are a key element in an interconnected green
infrastructure for local communities, who seek good quality and well way marked routes.

As a Community Access and Engagement Officer you’ll engage in collaborative work with
communities, partnership groups and volunteers to achieve positive outcomes in improving and
developing the rights of way network and collecting path survey data to feed into maintenance
programmes.

Having reasonable cartographic skills, together with experience of using GIS applications and
good organisational skills, the post holder will also work closely with colleagues to ensure
that our Definitive Map is accurate and that changes to the public path network are in line
with relevant procedures. In this regard knowledge of both Modification Order and Public Path
Order procedures is advantageous.

The role is integral to our Natural Environment team (composed of 3 integrated sections:
Forestry, Natural Habitats and Public Rights of Way), which form a central part of a larger
Climate Energy & Green Spaces service, who lead on the City’s Climate Change adaptation.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Bob
Buckenham, Public Rights of Way Manager. Call 0113 3782902 or email [email protected].