Community Environmental Project Facilitator

Posted: 28 June 2010
Job Code: TIS Braintree
Closing Date for Applications: 21 July 2010
Interviews: 27,28,29 July in London

Job Description

Annual Salary: Approximately £20,000 depending on experience (pro rata)
Benefits: Flexible hours and twenty-seven per year days paid holiday (pro rata)
Contract: Fulltime, fixed term 2 August 2010 to 4 March 2016
Office: Greenfields Community housing, Charter Way, Braintree, Essex, CM77 8FG
Responsible to: Tap into Savings Programme Manager, Waterwise, London

Waterwise, the not-for-profit, non-governemntal organisation that helps people in the UK reduce the waste of water, is launching ‘Tap into Savings’ in Braintree in partnership with Global Action Plan, Anglian Water, Greenfields Community Housing and Braintree District Council. During the nine month long project, 5000 homes in the Braintree area will be visited to install simple water saving devices and provide advice, and 250 people will be supported through an EcoTeams programme, saving water, saving energy and reducing waste.

This Braintree project is part of the national Tap into Savings programme that will visit 7600 homes, support 380 EcoTeamers and engage with thousands more people in the project areas. The aim is to achieve water savings and support people in making their lifestyles greener through technological and behavioural changes, in a manner that seeks to enable people to take action individually and as a community. The programme is being funded by Defra’s Greener Living Fund. For more information visit http://www.tapintosavings.org

The main function of the Project Facilitator will be to support delivery of the water efficiency home visits and EcoTeams, primarily through promoting the proejct to residents and signing people up for offers.

The Facilitator’s main duties and responsibilities will be to:

• Recruit residents through telephoning, door knocking and community outreach (for example, speaking to existing community groups and displaying at local events);

• Generate local interest and promote the project through community-based social maketing techniques;

• Serve as the local port-of-call for the project, listening to people’s experiences, concerns and ideas;

• Monitor activities on the ground by, for example, making sure complaints are resolved quickly;

• Liaise with project partners and stakeholders to make sure everything is on track; and to;

• Support project evaluation activities including surveys and interviews

The Facilitator will be expected to attend all partner meetings and comment on project plans and materials. Some evening and weekend work will be required as well as occasional days in London and Coventry (travel expenses will be covered). The Facilitator will be supported approximately one day per week by a Global Action Plan Ambassador.

Person Specification

Essential

• Experience working at the community level (for example, door knocking, campaigning with a local environmental group, leading a community group or recruiting volunteers)

• Creative, enthusiastic and sociable with demonstrated involvement in your community

• Good oral and written communication skills, and negotiating/influencing skills

• Ability to work with people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities

• Committed to the environment and sustainable living

• Ability to work within a team, working consistently to agreed goals, but also the ability to work on your own inititative and without direct supervision (you must be self-motivated)

• Highly organised, focused and results driven

• Full driving licence and access to a vehicle

Desirable

• Knowledge of the Braintree area and communities

• Knowledge of water efficiency and other environmental issues, for example, energy efficiency and recycling

• Willingness to present formally at meetings and engage with local media