Community Engagement Manager

Job Title: Community Engagement Manager

Based at: Flexible – hybrid working. London based (or other ramblers’ office location) 

Contract: Permanent 

Hours: 35 hours per week (open to flexible or part-time working) 

Salary: Band 5 (£44,346 - £49,754)

Department: Operations & Advocacy

It’s a very exciting time to join the Ramblers. We have been instrumental in helping Britain experience the great outdoors for almost 90 years. But we are looking to the future, not the past.

We know not everyone has the same access to the outdoors, so we’re continue to fight for change. We campaign, protect paths and lead walks so no matter who you are, you can enjoy the benefits of getting out into the fresh air and wide-open spaces.

We need your drive, knowledge, skills, and creativity to help us raise awareness of the Ramblers and what we stand for, helping the charity grow its supporter base and meet our brand goals. Ultimately, you will help open up the joys and wellbeing benefits of walking to many more people.

About us

You might know us for our group walks, thousands of which take place every week across England, Scotland and Wales.

But there’s a lot more to the Ramblers. Since 1935, we’ve been fighting for the public’s right to enjoy Britain’s landscapes. We do it through campaigning for changes in legislation, opening up green routes in cities, maintaining paths and signposts, saving lost paths … and so much more.

Purpose of Role

The Community Engagement Manager is a pivotal new role in the delivery of our refreshed strategy. Too many of the people who would benefit most from walking outdoors face significant barriers – they are under-represented in the Ramblers and the outdoors community. Ramblers has several projects at different stages of development and delivery to begin to address this, but we are aware there is a considerable body of theory and practice in public and charity sectors on outreach to excluded communities that could help us achieve our goals. 

We are looking for a professional with considerable experience in this area who can help us create a common approach to our outreach and engagement work that builds on our existing experience and incorporates wider best practice.

The role

1. To bring into the Ramblers expertise and best practice on approaches to community outreach and engagement from across the voluntary and public sectors.
2. To establish and deepen relationships with excluded communities, particularly lower IMD communities in existing and future pilot areas.
3. To support and advise project leaders within the Ramblers across GB who are engaging a range of excluded groups and audiences including refugees and asylum seekers, global majority communities, lower IMD communities, LGBTQI communities and people who are neurodivergent or have disabilities.
4. To collaborate with other project leads working with excluded communities within the Ramblers, to build consensus about a common approach or toolkit and to help develop, document, and implement this approach.
5. To help initiate and support partnerships with other national organisations working with excluded groups, including lower IMD communities – particularly those organisations looking to boost physical activity, involvement in the outdoors or the appreciation of nature.
6. To support funder relationships by contributing to bid development and reporting, including for Sport England and the National Lottery Community Fund.
7. To support efforts to build wider awareness across staff and volunteers at the Ramblers about what successful outreach and engagement with excluded groups looks like.
8. To help raise the Ramblers profile as an organisation that is supporting those who face the greatest barriers to getting outdoors.
9. To undertake such other duties as may reasonably be required of the postholder by the Ramblers.

The person 

Knowledge and Experience 

• Good knowledge of the theoretical underpinnings of outreach/engagement with excluded communities.
• Experience of best practice in the delivery of community outreach/engagement, ideally in a variety of settings including lower IMD neighbourhoods.

• Experience of delivering public health, sport and physical activity, or nature-connectedness programmes in partnership with local communities and organisations.
• Experience of working with the voluntary sector, volunteers and ideally membership organisations.
• Experience of assessing and managing risk in relation to physical activities, or a willingness to learn.
•  

Skills and Leadership 

• Experience of working with others in a leadership or co-ordination role to develop and implement new ways of working.
• Strong facilitation and training skills.
• Ability to lead group walks in a way that is enjoyable, engaging and safe for all participants.

Qualification [desirable]

• Walk Leadership qualification (e.g. Lowland Leader or Hill and Moorland Leader) – or ability to work towards one.
• Outdoor first aid qualification – or ability to work towards one.

Personal Attributes

• The ability to develop strong, collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, to identify and deliver shared goals.
• The ability to engage people and partners regardless of background.

• Commitment to the principles of inclusion and enabling everyone to feel welcome in the outdoors.
• Ability to travel within England (including initially Plymouth, West Midlands and Liverpool) regularly, and to Wales or Scotland as required.
• An active and demonstrable interest in walking and engaging people with the outdoors would be a significant advantage.

The Ramblers promote diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Values and Behaviours 

Our values are the core principles that guide us daily in our work and our membership of the Ramblers. We all share the passion that walking is for everyone and by living our shared values we can ensure the Ramblers is an organisation to be proud of. Our values will earn trust for the Ramblers brand which will allow us to open up a world of walking opportunities for even more people. 

 Inclusive – We make everyone feel welcome and part of the Ramblers community. We make sure we all feel respected and accepted and know our contributions make a difference in achieving our mission.   

  Inspiring – We strive to inspire people through the way we act and the things we say. We channel our passion and ambition so others are moved to help us achieve our mission.   

  Empowering – We empower and encourage each other to make a positive contribution to our teams and the Ramblers. We do all we can to make sure everyone has the ability, and feels confident, to take action.    

  Responsible – We take responsibility for ourselves and those around us seriously, by always acting in a safe and supportive way. We care about the environment and make sure we do what we say we will do.