Community Horticultural Project Coordinator in Coventry

We're recruiting for a project co‑ordinator to lead a new project to discover and share unknown but thriving heritage crops in the Midlands, along with the stories of the people behind them, and the cultivation and seed saving skills required to safeguard them.

Location: Garden Organic, Coventry, CV8 3LG

Key Requirements:

This role is to manage the National Lottery Heritage Fund project ’Sowing your seeds – heritage crops for a resilient future’. We are therefore looking for a skilled and motivated individual with a proven track record in managing community projects within a charity framework. You will be equally skilled at public delivery as well as the administrative management of community projects. You will have relevant horticultural knowledge, be skilled at building networks within the community, and be able to design and deliver workshops and presentations, alongside the basic skills of project management.

Hours: Part Time (14 hours per week) with current 21 hours per week job‑share.

Duration: Fixed Term contract until 17th June 2027.

Salary: £12,000 per annum (£30,000 full time equivalent)

Responsibilities:

• Social media, publicity and engagement activities for a Midlands seed search.
• Collaborate with key contacts and community organisations to design and deliver events such as workshops, interviews and other knowledge‑gathering and sharing activities.
• Develop, deliver and process the seed search & coordinate assessment trials.
• Develop materials, including seed saving resources and presentations.
• Responsible for the operational management of the National Lottery Heritage Fund project.
• Develop, nurture and manage relationships with new and existing partner organisations, including close working relationships with committed project partners.
• Develop and deliver the seed search processes for the project.
• Assist with the development of resources, including seed production guidelines.
• Manage the effective delivery of activities in line with set targets, objectives and milestones outlined in the project plan.
• Responsible for budgetary management of the grant funding.
• Develop an effective programme and project collaborations with external organisations to reach the widest possible audience.
• Maximise PR associated with the project.
• Ensure effective communication with line manager, wider HSL team and project partners regarding progress of the project.
• Produce operational reports and updates for the project as per the reporting timetable.
• Liaise with Garden Organic wider support teams such as HR, Finance and IT as required.
• Ensure safeguarding requirements are met for all staff and volunteers involved with this project.
• Ensure that Garden Organic’s Equal Opportunities policy is adhered to, and its principles promoted.
• Contribute as required to Garden Organic’s policy development work.
• Lead as spokesperson for the project and represent it at appropriate events.
• Ensure that Garden Organic’s vision, mission and values are upheld.
• All other duties as required by the organisation and commensurate with the post.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Managing community programmes including budget management.
• Partnership working across a range of sectors.
• Facilitating events and workshops.
• Experience/understanding of working in the charity sector.
• Degree or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of the voluntary, horticultural and seed saving sector.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to work under minimal supervision, to make decisions and act on own initiative.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and handle changing priorities.
• Ability to prioritise workloads and deal effectively with competing demands.
• High level of written communication skills.
• Excellent IT skills and the ability to work effectively within the MS365 ecosystem.
• Prepared to undertake out of hours work.
• An appreciation of and commitment to Health and Safety, Safeguarding and Data Protection issues in the workplace.
• A commitment to Equal Opportunities in all workplaces.
• Access to reliable transportation is required as this role requires some travel within the Midlands area.

Benefits:

• Salary: £12,000 per annum.
• 25 days Holiday plus bank holidays and additional leave at Christmas (pro‑rata).
• Additional long service holiday.
• Group Pension Scheme with 8% employer contribution.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Salary Extras benefits platform (Instant discount scheme and health, wellbeing and financial support).
• We Care benefits platform (with access to virtual GP consultations, nutritionist support, get‑fit programmes, smoking cessation and further health and wellbeing support).
• TOIL for additional hours worked.
• Life Assurance.

Equal Opportunities:

We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and take pride in ensuring that everyone feels welcome, respected and empowered. Garden Organic is also a Disability Confident Employer and aims to create opportunities wherever possible. Some roles require travel and attendance at events where accessibility arrangements will vary.

Legal Information:

Please note that we only accept applications from individuals with the right to work in the UK. We are unable to sponsor working visa applications.