Nature Recovery Officer (Fixed-Term)

RSPB Scotland are collaborating with Recovery Services in Dundee on exploring how supporting nature can help us meet daily challenges.

This is a homebased role with the primary project site located at The Friary in Lochee, Dundee. The position requires frequent travel within Dundee to visit partner sites and engage with local communities.

This is a dynamic and exciting role, requiring a passionate, driven, and experienced individual who is committed to promoting nature-based recovery and supporting community involvement in and support for nature.

What's the role about?

The Nature Recovery Officer is crucial in supporting the development and growth of our exciting Nature Recovery Project in Dundee. This position focuses on building relationships with recovery services and partners to facilitate nature-based activities and the establishment of a Nature Recovery garden at The Friary. You will work closely with stakeholders to design and deliver a programme of events, workshops, and training opportunities that engage recovery services, service users, and the wider public with the positive impact nature has on recovery journeys. Main responsibilities include:

• Garden development: Supporting the establishment of a Nature Recovery garden at The Friary, including co-designing spaces with local recovery services and managing activities related to the garden's creation, such as coordinating the sourcing of materials and bringing specialists in to support.
• Community engagement: Building strong relationships with local communities, particularly recovery services, to engage them in nature-based activities at The Friary. This includes creating and delivering workshops and events that promote the health and well-being benefits of nature.
• Volunteer programme: Developing and managing a volunteer programme to involve local residents in the ongoing development of the garden, gardening activities, and community events. This will include recruitment, training, and coordination of volunteers.
• Stakeholder communications: Maintaining regular communications with key stakeholders, including recovery services, community organisations, and local partners, to ensure the success of the Nature Recovery project. You will also be responsible for reporting to the Project Manager on project progress, challenges, and successes.

You will lead on all agreed project outcomes and drive the Nature Recovery project forward in a professional and enthusiastic manner. Therefore, you will have:

• Experience of working with the public and partners to deliver events/activities that engage a wide range of people.
• Ability to motivate diverse groups face to face.
• Proven time management and organisational skills to manage multiple tasks effectively.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in both written and verbal forms.
• Ability to work creatively and under own initiative.
• Experience in developing partnerships and working collaboratively with others.
• Experience with recruiting, supporting and managing volunteers.
• Competent IT skills (e.g. Microsoft Office).
• Knowledge of basic Health and Safety procedures including risk assessment for workshops and events.

• Knowledge of and/or experience with Dundee and the recovery landscape, or ability to prove transferable knowledge and skills.

This is a Fixed-Term role, funded by NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation, for 37.5 hours per week until April 2027. The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We will conduct interviews for this position from week commencing 10 March 2025, with a view to the successful candidate starting from week commencing 14 April 2025. For further information please contact hope.busak@rspb.org.uk.

Hope will deliver a 30 minute online presentation about the Nature Recovery project on Thursday 13 February at 10am. This will give you the opportunity to ask questions and find out more about the wider work in Dundee. This session will be recorded, and available on request after 13 February. Contact Hope at hope.busak@rspb.org.uk to get the link.

As part of this application, you will be asked to complete an application form detailing how you meet the criteria set out above.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and will require completion of a PVG in addition to the standard pre-employment checks.

The RSPB is committed to developing an inclusive and diverse environment, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.

Seniority level

• Entry level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Other
• Industries
• Non-profit Organizations