Project and Volunteer Engagement Officer (Rugby River Champions) - School of Geography, Earth a[...] in London

Position Details

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £33,002 to £35,608 with potential progression once in post to £39,906

Grade: 6

Part Time (22.5 hours per week)

Fixed Term contract up to 2 years from start date (expected March-April 2026)

Closing date: 14th January 2026

UK travel may be required for this role

Role Summary

The successful candidate will play a key role in establishing and delivering the new Rugby River Champions citizen science initiative – a community‐based project focused on river health monitoring. They will support volunteer networks, provide training and resources, develop communications, and glean community feedback to enhance participation and impact. The volunteer engagement officer will be expected to display strong organisational skills to plan, prioritise, and deliver activities, while also representing the project within the University of Birmingham and Rugby Borough Council. The position will be expected to work in the Rugby area, although flexibility will be required and some time will also be spent on university campus, particularly during the earlier stages of the role.

Main Duties

• Volunteer Engagement and Support

• Identifying and connecting with potential volunteer networks across the Rugby area.
• Once established, deliver training on ecological and water chemistry citizen science techniques related to river health monitoring.
• Supporting volunteers in their monitoring activities via field supervision and email communications.
• Communicate project developments and volunteer achievements via different social media platforms.
• Gathering volunteer perceptions and feedback via basic social science research.

• Determine short term priorities for own work, ensuring you maximise quality, efficiency and continuity.
• Supporting the analysis of citizen science outputs and research by preparing spreadsheets and calculating basic statistics.
• Preparing progress reports for project leads or other meetings.
• Disseminating project updates to volunteers via newsletters and community events.
• Where relevant, act as main point of contact for, and facilitate the processing of, project related procurement, contracts and invoicing.

• Monitor progress on volunteer numbers and fulfilment, identifying potential issues, and where required recommending improvements to processes.
• Support budgetary monitoring and management, including reporting.
• Assessing and escalating issues and risks with project managers as appropriate.

• Assist with stakeholder management, developing and maintaining regular contact with internal and external stakeholders to understand requirements.
• Support the University's sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
• Promote equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications). Where no equivalent qualification is held, significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a similar role will be required.
• Significant practical experience in a project management and/or administrative role(s).
• Experience working with community groups, volunteers, or citizen science initiatives.
• Experience in project coordination, including administration, scheduling, and resource management.
• Experience producing newsletters, reports, or outreach materials.
• Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly, and to produce and analyse information and data.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with ability to engage and motivate volunteers.
• Experience with budgetary management.
• Highly proficient IT skills, including the wider MS Office suite of programmes including Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience in social media communication (e.g., Instagram and/or Facebook updates reaching community groups, LinkedIn posts).
• Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with a range of stakeholders (community, academic, local government).
• Willingness to work outdoors in varying conditions when supporting volunteer field activities.
• Flexible and adaptable approach to work, including occasional evening or weekend commitments for community events.
• Familiarity with social science research methods (desirable).
• Understanding of freshwater ecology, water quality monitoring, or related environmental issues (desirable).
• A full UK driving licence (desirable).
• A high degree of initiative, personal judgement, resourcefulness, flexibility, and a self‐motivating approach.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day‐to‐day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.