AONB Funding and Communications Officer
We’re looking for an experienced individual with strong financial management and fundraising skills, excellent knowledge of communications and lots of creativity, enthusiasm and energy to join our team.
You’ll be a champion for Arnside & Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), helping to generate funding to conserve and enhance the area’s countryside and working to inspire and engage people with nature and landscape.
The Arnside & Silverdale AONB Partnership is dedicated to conserving and enhancing this nationally designated landscape. We are a small friendly multidisciplinary team based in Arnside. The AONB Partnership is hosted by Lancaster City Council and involves many other organisations so you’ll be part of this wider community too.
Recognised as one of the country’s finest landscapes, Arnside & Silverdale AONB is especially celebrated for its wealth of plants, birds and butterflies and extraordinary range of diverse habitats.
You’ll play a key role in helping to deliver an outstanding landscape rich in wildlife and cultural heritage and enabling people to access, enjoy, understand and connect with the landscape.
You’ll be instrumental in managing the AONB Partnership’s budgets and ensuring long-term funding and resourcing of AONB activities. You’ll deliver a range of inspiring communications, events and activities to raise awareness of and inspire people about this very special area. You’ll work with a wide range of people including volunteers, farmers/landowners, schools, contractors, local councils, partner organisations, businesses and local communities. You'll be the go-to person within the team for funding and finance, communications and events.
We are a committed, hardworking and friendly team, knowledgeable and passionate about conserving and enhancing the area’s landscape, biodiversity, heritage and culture and we are looking for like-minded people to join us.
You’ll need to have:
- Strong financial management experience and skills - a love of a finance spreadsheet and a real eye for detail
- Fundraising experience including preparation of funding bids
- Great ability to communicate in a range of formats in order to inspire, engage and involve others
- Excellent understanding and experience of organising events and workshops
- Excellent organisational and office/ICT skills and experience of project development and management
- Enthusiasm, energy, self-motivation and a willingness to learn and develop
The role will require occasional weekend, bank holiday and evening working and some lone working.
A full current UK driving licence is essential, as the post holder will be required to travel to sites across the AONB and wider area, including countryside sites. Reasonable adjustments can be made for those who are unable to drive due to a disability.
The hours of work for this position are 37 per week, normally working Monday to Friday. Job share applicants are welcomed. You will be required to undertake out of hours work by arrangement. This post is fixed term for a period of 12 months initially and issubject to confirmation of external funding.
The Council currently operates an excellent Flexible Working Hours Scheme which applies to this post. Subject to the needs of this business, this may allow employees to work between the hours of 6:00am-10:30pm.
Early last year Lancaster City Council unanimously declared a climate emergency and will therefore work towards reducing carbon emissions to net-zero by 2030. As part of this role, you will be expected to participate and work towards reducing carbon emissions.
Excellent benefits include: A Local Government Pension Scheme (the Council makes a 15.5% contribution). Discounted gym membership and discount on days out, activities and retail.
Interview date: 19th/20th January 2021
