Location
Lewisham, London

Hours
0.8 FTE, 4 days per week

Salary
£35,000 pro rata

About the Role
We are seeking an experienced, proactive, and creative Community Engagement Coordinator to strengthen and deepen our relationships with communities in Lewisham. The role aims to advance community stewardship, raise awareness about the benefits of street trees, and increase tree canopy cover equitably. This is a minimum 1-year fixed term contract reporting to the Executive Director.

Key responsibilities include volunteer management such as recruiting, developing, and retaining volunteers; acting as the main support for Area Reps and Street Reps while developing a peer-to-peer network to share best practices; raising awareness around trees especially in areas with low canopy cover; and working closely with the tree care team to support volunteering and training opportunities including watering, formative tree care, and auditing.

The role involves building networks and meaningful relationships with community groups and individuals at a hyperlocal, neighbourhood level. You will spend time listening to groups, gathering feedback to understand emotional responses and perceptions of trees, and working with communities and partner charities to map formal and informal networks within local neighbourhoods.

Creative approaches to evaluation are essential, including collecting and analysing impact data through volunteer surveys, one-to-one conversations, and case studies to measure outcomes related to health and wellbeing. You will also focus on reaching new audiences by building relationships with diverse communities and co-designing tree planting schemes in the public realm in partnership with community groups.

Additional responsibilities include community stakeholder engagement with groups such as Parks groups, local charities, tenants and residents’ associations; organising in-person community engagement activities and training sessions including tree walks, citizen science sessions, workshops, networking opportunities, and resource sharing; integrating equality, diversity and inclusion principles into all aspects of work; and maximising communications impact by promoting our work, raising awareness, and increasing reach through regular communication with guardians and volunteers as well as creating content for social media, newsletters, and the website.

We are a small, supportive, and collaborative team committed to fostering an inclusive and flexible work environment. Due to the hyperlocal nature of the role, candidates with a connection to the London Borough of Lewisham are especially encouraged to apply.

About Street Trees for Living
Street Trees for Living is a community tree-planting charity rooted in the London Borough of Lewisham. We collaborate with local residents, schools, and community groups to plan, plant, and care for trees in urban neighbourhoods, aiming to increase climate resilience and improve health and wellbeing for all communities.

Experience
- Experience in the charity sector in community engagement or development
- Practical experience planning, coordinating, and delivering community-based events, workshops, and activities
- Experience engaging with communities in London
- Experience recruiting, training, supervising, and motivating volunteers
- Experience building and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders such as resident groups, schools, local authorities, and charities
- Experience using co-design principles to facilitate workshops with diverse communities
- Knowledge of the tree planting/environmental sector is desirable but not essential

About you
- Empathetic with strong listening skills
- Able to build and maintain meaningful relationships
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to adapt to different audiences
- Strong commitment to environmental and social justice
- Passionate about the cause and able to inspire others
- Understanding of lived experience and community needs
- Excellent time management and organisational skills
- Creative problem solver
- Flexible, with willingness to work some evenings and weekends (with notice)

Qualifications
No specific qualifications required. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of background. We welcome candidates interested in part-time and flexible working arrangements.