Job Description

Outreach and Communications Facilitator

21hrs per week

Salary: £21,500 pro-rata

Fixed term role until March 31st 2018

Job / Outreach and Communications Facilitator
Line Manager / Board of Directors
Supported by / At least one Board member

1. Job Purpose

The aim of this role is to facilitate outreach and communications activities to promote and support the projects and services of the SHRUB. This includes recruiting and supporting volunteers for the Communications and Outreach working group and ensuring that this group carries out effective communications activities via a wide range of channels. This includes social media, SHRUB websites, media and membership communications as well as printed materials and merchandise.

2. Main Responsibilities

Proportion of role / Responsibility / Detail / Objective
20% / Recruit and support volunteers for the Communications and Outreach working group, with the aim of promoting the SHRUB’s activities / ●Recruit volunteers and support their induction in collaboration with colleagues
●Ensure that all volunteers are supported in their role and able to contribute to the decision-making of the Working Group.
●Support the planning and execution of communications and outreach tasks by members of the Working Group in accordance with our Working Group policy
●Ensure that the Board of Directors and wider membership is regularly informed about the activities and achievements of the group and invited to participate / Ensure that there is a well functioning, sustainable working group to deliver communications and outreach activities
30% / With the Working Group, facilitate the development of the SHRUB’s communications strategy and plan and deliver communications to promote SHRUB events and services via a wide range of channels including social media, websites, media, email and printed materials and merchandise / ●Facilitate the development of the SHRUB’s communications strategy
●Develop quarterly work plans for communications activities
●Deliver communications activities (ie creating social media posts, writing web content etc) in conjunction with Working Group members
●Produce monthly communications reports for the Board of Directors and wider membership / Facilitate and deliver excellent communications via all SHRUB channels.
Increase social media reach by 20%
Increase website traffic by 50%
Increase media coverage by 100%
15% / Drive the recruitment and retention of SHRUB members and supporters through excellent communication of member benefits and the provision of high quality support and stewardship / ●Develop a set of processes to support the recruitment and retention of members and supporters (ie online payments and recurring payment facilities)
●Drive targeted campaigns to recruit and retain members and supporters
●Work with colleagues and volunteers to support positive “member journeys”and “supporter journeys” throughout the SHRUB / Recruit new members and supporters
Retain a substantial proportion of existing members and supporters
15% / Develop and build on relationships with external organisations, institutionsand decision makers / ●Develop memorandums of understanding with organisations and institutions where there is mutual benefit to be gained from joint work
●Promote the SHRUB with elected officials and decision makers in order to gain support for our activities and services / Increase the number of participants in SHRUB events
Build support for SHRUB activities and services across the cities
10% / Drive fundraising initiatives such as crowdfunders and member/supporter donations / ●With the Working Group, develop a programme of crowdfunders and appeals for donations throughout the year / Raise £2000 from donations and fundraising
10% / Other ad hoc duties / ●As required

3. Knowledge, skills & experience needed [E = Essential; U = Useful]:

EEducated to HNC/HND, plus 2 years relevant work experience - or equivalent

Planning & Organising

E Able to work on own initiative, organise and prioritise own workload and activities

E Experience delegating effectively to successfully deliver a service

U Experience running and promoting events

U Experience of developing and delivering communications strategies

Coordinating People

EExperience supporting and empowering teams of volunteers

E Able to liaise and coordinate effectively with people inside and outside the organisation to complete projects and move the organisation forward

U Experience with or good knowledge of co-operative principles, non-hierarchical forms of organizing and consensus-decision making. Ability to teach others about and engage them in these ways of working.

Communication

E Excellent written and verbal communication skills

EFull proficiency with Microsoft Office packages and familiar with Google Accounts

E Experience of creating, editing and updating web content and using social media to engage people

U Familiarity with graphic design software

Environmental Awareness

E An understanding of waste and carbon challenges and passion for finding creative solutions to these

E Experience of promoting ideas for change and achieving positive behavioural outcomes

U Working knowledge of environmental behaviour change and ISM methodology

U Experience working in an environmental or social not-for-profit organisation

U Experience recording carbon accounts

Problem Solving

E A creative approach to engaging others and solving problems

E Ability to deal with complexity in project implementation and prioritise effectively

4. Key Contacts & Relationships

●Volunteers in the Swap Shop and throughout the SHRUB

●The members, SHRUB staff and the Board of Directors.

●The Climate Challenge Fund and other potential funders

●The University of Edinburgh and SRS department, and other institutional partners.

●Student societies and active groups at Edinburgh and the other city Universities.

●Civic society groups with similar objectives

●External organisations involved in promoting low carbon community activities

5. Dimensions & Job Context

The post holder will work as part of the cooperative team that implements the overall project with volunteers and staff members. The post holder will be based at the SHRUB premises at 13 Guthrie Street in the heart of the city, while reaching out to other agencies and academic and administrative colleagues and students across Edinburgh.

This position is funded through the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund and the European Regional Development Fund. As such the project must conform to the funder’s accounting and project reporting requirements.