Reuse Coordinator

Background

Wayward Plants, an initiative by the design practice Wayward, is a pioneering reuse and circular economy initiative that tackles two linked challenges: the growing volume of landscape waste in construction and horticulture, and the nature gap – the unequal access to green space experienced by underserved communities across London. We address both through the redistribution of plants, trees and landscape materials to a network of nearly 2,000 community and school gardens across the city.

For the past decade we have been the Official Reuse Partner of the RHS, running the reuse schemes at shows including RHS Chelsea Flower Show and RHS Hampton Court Palace. We are now scaling up, establishing our first Wayward Plants Reuse Centre at Cultivate Colindale and transitioning Wayward Plants into a dedicated charity.

About the role

The Reuse Coordinator supports the day-to-day running of the Wayward Plants Reuse Centre and our network of community and school green spaces across London. The role is varied, combining hands-on work with plants and materials, systems and inventory development, and relationship building with community groups, schools, partner organisations and volunteers. The role also supports wider partnerships with local authorities, developers, construction companies and cultural institutions, including our ongoing partnership with the RHS, as well as public engagement through Wayward Plant Adoption Events. You will work closely with Wayward leadership and the Cultivate Colindale Head Gardener, alongside a growing community of partners and volunteers.

Key responsibilities

• Supporting operations at the Wayward Plants Reuse Centre
• Supporting the coordination of the reuse initiative for RHS shows, including volunteers, community groups and schools, and plant and material collections
• Coordinating the delivery and distribution of surplus plants, trees and landscape materials
• Liaising with community groups and schools to match materials with local needs
• Developing relationships with sources of surplus plants and materials, such as landscape contractors, garden centres and nurseries
• Helping develop a “plant hospital” and quarantine process for incoming plants
• Coordinating and supporting the volunteer programme
• Designing and maintaining systems for the identification, storage, distribution and reuse of donated materials
• Keeping accurate records and supporting monitoring and evaluation
• Running community engagement workshops
• Coordinating and delivering public Wayward Plant Adoption Events
• Helping to develop and pilot new Wayward Plants initiatives

About you

We are looking for someone who is:

• A strong, confident communicator and relationship builder
• Practical, organised and comfortable managing multiple tasks
• Knowledgeable about plants and horticulture, with experience in horticulture or landscape sectors helpful but not essential
• Passionate about gardening, equitable access to green space and circular economy thinking, and interested in how ideas of reuse translate into practice
• Comfortable with hands-on physical work and outdoor environments
• Committed to equitable access to nature and community-centred work

There is space for creativity and initiative in this role, and we encourage applicants to share any additional skills they bring. This might include graphic or product design, carpentry or fabrication, photography, or other relevant areas.

Working arrangements

• Part-time (2–3 days per week), with the potential to become full-time
• Based at Cultivate Colindale, with travel across London as required
• Occasional evening or weekend work for events
• During May–July, availability will be required to support RHS show collections and associated travel. This may involve short periods of increased or fuller-time hours, agreed in advance and compensated through additional pay or time off in lieu.
• A valid UK driving licence is required, with occasional driving needed to support collections, site visits or events
• Experience using a cargo bike or forklift is a plus, though a willingness to learn is equally welcome

The deadline for applications is Friday 6 February. We may close applications early if we receive a strong response, so early applications are encouraged.

Wayward Plants is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible working environment.