Community Engagement & Organising Officer in Maidstone

Company: Kent Wildlife Trust

Salary: Up to £26,227 per annum (pro rata for part-time hours)

We are flexible on working hours and are open to full-time, part-time and job-share applications. We expect to appoint one or more Community Organising Officers depending on skills, experience and availability of successful candidates. We are particularly interested in hearing from people who live in, work in, or already have strong connections to the communities in Medway, Herne Bay and/or Dover.

Based within the communities you support across Medway, Herne Bay and/or Dover, with regular attendance at Tyland Barn, Maidstone (typically weekly) for team meetings, planning and collaboration. Travel across project locations will be required.

About us: Kent Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading conservation charity, driving innovation to fight the climate and nature crises. We have over 31,000 members and volunteers, manage over 9,000 acres of land and influence much more. Together with our partners, supporters and grazing animals, we transform habitats, restore and protect species and bring ecosystems back to life across the county and beyond, to benefit wildlife and people.

Wilder Streets, Wilder Lives is a community-led nature recovery programme helping people transform the places where they live, learn and work into spaces that are better for both wildlife and people. Working across Kent and Medway, the programme supports local communities to take practical action for nature, develop new skills, strengthen connections and create lasting environmental change.

This is a rare opportunity to help shape a new £475,000 programme funded by The National Lottery Community Fund that puts communities at the heart of nature recovery and environmental action across Kent and Medway. We are looking for a passionate and people-focused Community Organising Officer to help communities create lasting positive change for nature, climate and local wellbeing.

What you'll be doing:

• This exciting role sits within our Wilder Streets, Wilder Lives programme, which works alongside communities facing barriers to accessing nature and environmental opportunities. Using a community organising approach, you will help local people identify priorities, build connections, develop leadership skills and take action to improve their neighbourhoods for both people and wildlife.
• Working closely with residents, community groups, local authorities and project partners, you will support the co-design and delivery of a wide range of initiatives, including community greening projects, volunteering opportunities, sustainable living workshops, environmental training, BioBlitzes and community events.
• At the heart of this role is relationship building. You will spend time listening to communities, understanding local needs and strengths, and helping people turn ideas into meaningful action. Through your work, you will empower individuals and groups to become confident leaders and champions for nature in their own neighbourhoods.
• You will also have the opportunity to develop your own skills through specialist training in Community Organising and Climate Literacy, alongside learning from experienced partners and colleagues.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Community Organising and Engagement – Building trusted relationships with residents, developing local leaders, facilitating community conversations and supporting communities to identify priorities and take collective action.
• Partnership Working – Collaborating with local authorities, grassroots organisations and project partners to deliver a coordinated, place-based approach to community engagement and environmental improvement.
• Project Development and Support – Helping communities develop ideas into viable projects, supporting small grants and seed funding opportunities, and enabling local groups to access resources and support.
• Events, Training and Volunteering – Supporting and delivering workshops, volunteering activities, environmental training sessions and community events that bring people together and build long-term capacity for change.
• Monitoring and Learning – Gathering insights, maintaining records and contributing to project evaluation, reporting and shared learning across the programme.

What we need you to bring:

You are an enthusiastic, approachable and highly organised individual who is passionate about empowering people and supporting communities to create positive change. You understand that lasting environmental change happens when local people are at the centre of decision-making, and you are motivated by helping communities develop the confidence, skills and connections needed to make a difference.

You will thrive in this role if you:

• Enjoy building relationships and are skilled at connecting with people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
• Are a confident listener and communicator who can build trust, facilitate conversations and bring people together around shared goals.
• Have experience in community engagement, community organising, development work or similar people-centred roles.
• Are passionate about social justice, environmental action and creating opportunities for everyone to engage with and benefit from nature.
• Have experience working alongside diverse communities, particularly those facing barriers to participation or who have traditionally been underrepresented in the environmental sector.
• Can support people to develop ideas, solve problems and turn ambitions into practical action.
• Are comfortable working collaboratively with partners, community groups, volunteers and stakeholders.
• Have strong organisational skills, can manage competing priorities and maintain accurate records.
• Are adaptable, resilient and able to work flexibly in response to community needs.
• Are committed to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging and actively champion these values in your work.

We recognise that local knowledge, lived experience and trusted relationships are invaluable, and we welcome applications from people who already have strong connections to the communities involved in the project. If you are passionate about helping communities lead change for nature and creating a fairer, greener future for everyone, we would love to hear from you.

Please read the job description for the full person specification. A DBS check will be required for this role.

What we will offer in return:

We offer exceptional enhanced benefits. Recognising the wellbeing pressures related to the climate and nature crises we face as a society, we provide flexible work options, wellbeing initiatives, and professional development opportunities. Whatever stage of your career you’re at, our comprehensive benefits package at Kent Wildlife Trust can be a key factor in your choice to join us.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a remote/face-to-face interview. We will let unsuccessful candidates know if they have not been shortlisted.

We are unable to recruit anyone who does not have a legal right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we cannot provide visa sponsorship.

Kent Wildlife Trust believes that everyone has a responsibility to safeguard children, young people, and adults at risk; we are committed to ensuring their safety and wellbeing is at the heart of our engagement with people. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to references, Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks as appropriate to the role.

The Kent Wildlife Trust Group is Wild About Inclusion. To us, this means inspiring, empowering and engaging people from all backgrounds, cultures, identities and abilities, to change the natural world for the better. It also means cultivating inclusive workspaces that are free from discrimination, where differences are celebrated, everyone can be themselves and flourish.