Consultant Development Officer
West Highland Community Rail Partnership
The West Highland Community Rail Partnership is seeking to appoint a consultant development officer. The contract is initially for a 12-month period but may be extended subject to continued funding. The average work requirement is for 8 hours per week, paid at £6,000 per annum.
This is an exciting, challenging and wide-ranging job for an enthusiastic, confident and self-motivated individual with proven marketing and public relations skills.The officer must be able to develop strong working relationships with key stakeholders in the lineside communities between Crianlarich and Mallaig, as well as with the rail industry and transport authorities. Knowledge of the railway industry is preferred but not essential.
The main tasks will be to:
- develop and manage the partnership’s projects;
- promote and develop rail services on the line through a community based approach;
-encourage the integration of rail with other transport modes.
The development officer should:
- have a strong community based perspective and will need to have an ability to develop and manage projects - preparing funding bids and managing budgets.
-be able to work independently as well as in a team.
-have good negotiation skills as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills.
-have a full, clean driving licence with access to a vehicle.
For an informal discussion about the contract, please contact Hege Hernæs, West Highland Community Rail Partnership – , 07534078817.
The closing date for applications is 29 December 2017. Interviews will be held at venues along the West Highland Line in the week commencing 22 January 2018.
Job Description
Hours: a weekly average of 8hrs
Location:
Reporting to: the Board of the West Highland Community Rail Partnership
Core duties
- To promote and develop the rail services on the West Highland Line through a communitybased approach which ensures that the needs of local residents and visitors are met as far as is reasonably practicable.
- To act as a catalyst and facilitator, working positively with local communities, local authorities, train operators, tourism bodies, Network Rail and all relevant stakeholders along the corridor served by the line.
- To identify suitable community development projects, and, where agreed by the directors, develop them and prepare funding bids to relevant bodies.
- To co-ordinate and progress the projects approved by the partnership’s directors.
- To ensure the partnership is inclusive and genuinely reflects the profile of communities served by the lines; identifying potential new members of the partnership, or involving local bodies in specific projects.
- To encourage and promote integration of the rail services with local bus services, and links to the stations for walking, cycling and park & ride – in conjunction with local authority officers and other agencies.
- To prepare two-monthly management reports and project updates for the partnership directors.
- Identify and enter appropriate awards programmes, including the annual ACoRP awards, to highlight community activities on the line.
Person specification
-Experience in relevant areas with a community-based perspective (railways, tourism, marketing, community transport etc.)
-High educational standard
-Ability to deliver community based projects
-Ability to work on own initiative and as amember of a team.
-Excellent communication and motivational skills
-Ability to work flexible hours as required as travel and some out-of-hours working will be involved
-The post will be based at an office to be agreed
-Conversant with information technology
-Basic knowledge of the rail industry
-Ability to develop funding bids and manage finances
-A clean full driving licence and access to a vehicle