Project Officer

Job Title: Project Officer
Reporting to: Sow the City Communities Manager
Salary: £22-25K (based on qualifications & experience)
Hours: Full time 5 days a week, 35 hours a week or part time hours considered.
Occasional weekends and evenings (which will accrue TOIL)
Contract: Fixed Term for 12 months
Probationary Period: 3 months
Location: Based in Manchester, with travel across the Greater Manchester area
(travel costs reimbursed)

Do you want a varied and challenging job where you make a positive impact on people and the
planet? Do you have the skills and enthusiasm to help communities create green spaces in urban
places?

Background to the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our small, dynamic and growing social enterprise,
based in Manchester. The successful applicant will provide a busy programme of horticultural
training and community development work, sharing their knowledge and passion for the
environment and urban agriculture.

 About us:

• Sow the City is a Manchester-based nonprofit social enterprise, founded in 2009 with a few
  packets of seeds and some compost to help communities create greener cities and connect with
  nature.
• We partner with grassroots groups, community gardens, businesses and organisations and are
  creating a movement of people and organisations that care about nature in cities.
• We transform derelict and unused land into thriving community green and blue space,
  tackling inequality, and delivering programs that enrich learning, and promote wellbeing.
• Our portfolio spans a wide range of projects including food growing spaces, allotment and
  wildlife gardens, biophilic design, health gardens, nature restoration, green roofs, wetland
  habitats and health and sensory gardens.
• Since we were founded, we have provided courses/ workshops for 21,000 people, facilitated
  over 15,000 volunteering hours, and transformed almost 14,000 m2 of unused and derelict land
  into useful community green and blue infrastructure.
• Our office is based at our community centre the Boiler House (www.boilerhouse.org) in Moss
  Side near central Manchester. You will work delivering community projects and workshops across
  Greater Manchester.

Specific Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare lesson plans around horticulture and the environment including teaching to
  differing ages, abilities and backgrounds.
• Teaching more specialised food and nature-based sessions depending on knowledge and levels
  of experience e.g., composting, wildlife, nutrition, preparing food, conservation, nature
  crafts.
• Help with delivery of community-focused environmental projects across Greater Manchester
  including offering advice where needed, supporting with community consultation, attending
  meetings and community events.
• Support the physical creation and maintenance of various community garden sites and work
  with volunteers with diverse skills and needs as part of a team.
• Work closely and build relationships with partner organisations including Local
  Authorities, Housing Associations, NHS, schools and the voluntary sector.
• Manage a diverse workload with multiple clients and locations and meet project deadlines.
• Document, monitor and evaluate your work in line with our funding requirements.
• Co-ordinate volunteers involved in our projects.
• Undertake informal and formal training as agreed.
• Work closely with other members of the Sow the City team and help with projects and tasks
  as required, which are commensurate with the grade of the job.

Key responsibilities – all staff

• To be aware of the mission statement of Sow the City and our policies and procedures.
• To undergo appropriate checks including an enhanced DBS check.
• The post holder will be subject to performance objectives agreed every 3 months.

The duties of this post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of
the post or level of responsibility entailed.

Other Details

• 5% employer pension.
• 30 days holiday per year (including bank holidays).
• 35-hour working week (however we will consider a part time position or job share
  opportunity).
• Sick-pay is 4-weeks full-pay, 4-weeks half-pay followed by statutory sick pay (subject to
  satisfactory probation period).
• Competitive paternity and maternity leave packages.
• The role will require the successful candidate to work flexible hours including evenings
  and weekends. We provide a TOIL system including compensation for any occasional ‘anti-social’
  hours worked.

Equal Opportunities

Sow the City strives to be an equal opportunities employer and celebrates diversity. We welcome
applications from people looking to return to work and may not have continuous employment
history.