This diverse role, needs a candidate who is passionate about community engagement, and excited to be part of a team delivering projects which benefit all residents in the Borough. Bedford Borough Council are looking for someone with the skills to communicate and engage with a wide range of stakeholders, is proficient in using the Microsoft Office package and has experience in project delivery and events programming.
Full Job Description
The Opportunity:
We need a dedicated and enthusiastic individual to help support the team to deliver its objectives of increasing internal and external events on parks land, increasing community engagement across the borough and ensuring we deliver a service to all our park users and stakeholders. We are looking for a candidate with strong experience in administrative duties, events production, and community engagement.
This is a fantastic opportunity to engage with a variety of community groups and help deliver projects, which will enhance the local community. You will be working with likeminded people and engaging with the local community on a range of challenges and opportunities. You will build on a variety of core skills including developing and sustaining effective working relationships, communication, negotiation and influencing behaviour change.
In addition to the role and it’s benefits you will be enrolled on to the Change Agents UK Sustainability Leadership Skills programme. You can benefit from networking with peers, 1:1 coaching to focus on your professional development and a series of workshops covering our three key areas of study; personal effectiveness and work skills, concepts and theories and ?engagement, influence and impact.
About the Role:
This role at Bedford Borough Council is ideal for someone with an appetite for community engagement and background in events, parks, and administration. Communication, organisation and administrative skills are key to the success of this role, and you will have diverse experience in these. You will support the daily running of the Council’s events programme, parks infrastructure and Volunteering schemes, utilising your passion for supporting our community to engage a variety of departments within the council, and external stakeholders including businesses, event providers and community groups.
Key responsibilities: -
- Maintain and develop the delivery of the departments volunteering schemes and report on performance against agreed work programmes and indicators.
- Maintain up to 3 mailboxes, raise purchase orders using the council's financial system and use the council LOB system to ensure jobs are issued to officers out in the field.
- Support and contribute to events arranged by external organisers and assist with all aspects of the delivery of internal and external events.
- Support the inspection and maintenance programmes for the Parks buildings and Infrastructure.
- Assist in the management and allocation of stock to Parish Councils and volunteer groups.
- Provide guidance and advice to members of the public and direct them to the appropriate place to obtain the information they require.
- Assist with environmental development projects.
- Manage the use of social media to support marketing of events and volunteering opportunities.
- Support the Infrastructure and Events team in Purchase & Procurement tender processes and other income generation processes.
- Always contribute to all Health & Safety requirements and operational codes of practice, always wear/use safety equipment, and adhere to training as directed.
- Passionate about events, community engagement and service delivery, and excited to deliver community projects which will benefit our residents.
- Experience in project delivery, with the ability to identify, recommend and implement changes.
- Effective interpersonal, negotiation and influencing skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Proficient in IT, particularly Microsoft Office applications including Excel
- Able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills within a team and with key stakeholders.
- A qualified driver - driving license is essential along with a vehicle.
- Experience and knowledge of logistical operations (Parks).
- Experience of event programming.
- Experience of social media, blogging and content management and the use of partner platforms for event promotion.
- Knowledge of the challenges related to events and project delivery using volunteers.
- Knowledge and experience of working within/applying health & safety, procurement and other relevant green space asset management. In accordance with legislation, statutory procedures and regulatory requirements.
About the Company:
Bedford Borough is located within the East of England between Milton Keynes and Cambridge. It benefits from fast rail links to and from London and is well placed for access from both the M1 and A1. The local authority is a unitary council and currently has a population of 168,751 with 72,900 households. The Borough itself is largely centred on the town of Bedford, which sits along both sides of the River Ouse, but it also encompasses a large rural area to the north of Bedford which borders the County of Northampton.
Change Agents UK:
Change Agents UK Trading Ltd works as a non-profit sustainability employment business and agency and is wholly owned by Change Agents UK Charity. Change Agents UK have worked in Sustainability education and employment for 25 years, supporting our partners to create superb opportunities in sustainability, delivering real impact and change and providing training and skills support for our Change Agents on placement.
- Annual Leave: 26 days per annum pro rata
- Pension Information: When you ask to join, the minimum amount you will put into the scheme will be 5% of your earnings (effective since April 2019). Change Agents UK will also contribute 3% to the pension on your behalf.
- Benefits: Flexi-time working arrangements
If you wish to apply for this role, please submit a CV and short Covering Letter explaining your motivation for applying and briefly addressing the essential criteria for the role (up to 500 words)