Engagement Coordinator

Job Title: Engagement Coordinator (Restoring the Soar) Temporary March 2025 - June 2026

Advertised Salary: £29,000

Working Hours: 37 Hours, Monday - Friday, some evenings and weekends are required for this role.

Location: The Old Mill, 9 Soar Lane, LE3 5DE/Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust office. 3 days per week expected to work from location or office base.

Canal & River Trust is recruiting an Engagement Co-ordinator with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund (Heritage Fund) to work on the Restoring the Soar partnership project together with Leicester City Council and Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust - for a detailed description of the Restoring the Soar project and to apply for this vacancy please follow the link to our jobs page to see attached RtS additional job description document.

The key purpose of the Restoring the Soar – Engagement Coordinator post is to work closely with the Restoring the Soar partners, local communities and stakeholders and run ‘test & trial’ pilot activities to inform the creation of the wider delivery bid. The role serves as a catalyst and facilitator, empowering local individuals and organisations to lead community development and place-making efforts, fostering inclusion, capacity, and resilience through active listening.

This role will specifically work with communities and stakeholders adjacent to the Grand Union Canal and the River Soar between Frog Island and Watermead Country Park in Leicester with focus on waterway users including boaters, non-powered craft users, towpath users (dog walkers, cyclists, active travel) and the local communities that live and work within 1km of the canal and river.
The ideal candidate for this role will be an expert in building relationships across Leicester’s diverse communities and experienced in inclusive community engagement and communication techniques, with a passion for designing new approaches.

Location and coverage
The role will be based working from home with an expectation of working 3 days per week expected to work from location or office base.

This role is recruited as a part-time or full-time fixed-term contract (minimum 0.5 FTE) of 15 months with the opportunity of extension of the contract at the end of this term depending on funding. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. As Canal & River Trust do not have an office in Leicester, a shared workspace at Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust will be available. Much of the work will take place in local community settings.

Skills, knowledge & experience – for a detailed experiences & skills required for this role please also read to the RtS additional role description information document.

Work experience:
• Experience of working within a community setting
• Experience of delivering community and volunteering projects with a heritage, environment, health & wellbeing and/or arts focus.
• Proven ability to be able to build strong relationships and collaborate with partner organisations, communities and key stakeholders to delivery mutual benefits and co-designed projects and programmes
• Experience of sourcing and coordinating social action/volunteer projects
• Experience of project management, delivery, reporting and evaluation
• Comprehensive working knowledge of issues relating to working with young people or vulnerable people including safeguarding
• Experience of working within the Third Sector/Voluntary organisations is desirable

Skills:
• Ability to work or experience of working effectively with a diverse group of people, including minority or marginalised or underrepresented communities
• Excellent project management skills including budget management and control
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• High levels of energy and commitment
• Ability and willingness to work evenings / weekends as required
• Ability to work well under pressure, be motivated and self-managed.

For a detailed description of the Restoring the Soar project and to apply for this vacancy please follow the link to our jobs page to see attached RtS additional job description document.