Location
Flexible / hybrid, with ‘home’ office based at either Plymouth or Falmouth. Some UK travel as required (expenses covered).

Hours
Full-time (37 hours per week), normally 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday with occasional weekend working required.

Salary
£27,000 per annum (pro rata for nine month fixed-term contract).

About the Role
The Rock Pool Project is a UK-wide environmental charity connecting people with marine nature through citizen science, community engagement, and education. We work with families, volunteers, and communities across the UK to explore intertidal rocky shore habitats, contribute to biodiversity monitoring, and inspire long-term care for the marine environment. A core part of our work is delivered through the Big Rock Pool Challenge, a National Lottery Heritage Fund–supported programme enabling people from diverse backgrounds to engage with marine heritage, develop skills, and contribute to nationally valuable environmental data.

We are seeking a Community & Engagement Manager to play a central role in delivering the Big Rock Pool Challenge and supporting our growing network of volunteer-led community hubs. This hands-on role focuses on supporting volunteers and participants, coordinating local activity, and ensuring community engagement is delivered safely, inclusively, and consistently across the UK.

Working closely with the Deputy CEO & Head of Community Delivery, you will help mobilise hubs during wide scale campaigns such as the Community BioBlitz Festival, strengthen existing community activity, and support engagement in new areas. This role contributes directly to heritage outcomes including increased public engagement with marine heritage, skills development, and participation in biodiversity monitoring.

Key responsibilities include:
- Acting as the primary staff contact for volunteer-led hubs supported through the Big Rock Pool Challenge
- Providing day-to-day support to hub leaders and volunteers, responding to queries and troubleshooting issues
- Supporting the planning and delivery of local community activity, including optional hub-led events and meet-ups
- Playing a key role in delivering national participation campaigns, including the annual National BioBlitz
- Supporting onboarding and practical setup of new hubs to extend engagement to new communities
- Assisting with volunteer recruitment and developing inclusive participation opportunities
- Supporting delivery of training and development of guidance and resources for volunteers and participants
- Applying safeguarding, health and safety, and delivery standards in line with organisational and funder requirements
- Collaborating with colleagues across communications and digital development
- Contributing to monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and learning required by the Big Rock Pool Challenge

Experience
- Experience of community engagement, volunteer coordination, or participation-led programmes
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond flexibly during busy delivery periods
- Good organisational skills and attention to detail
- Commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, and safe working practices
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

About you
- Bachelor's degree in environmental science, marine biology, conservation biology, or equivalent relevant experience (Master's degree preferred)
- Desirable: experience, knowledge, and a love of UK intertidal rocky shore ecosystems
- Desirable: experience in social media communication
- Desirable: experience of leading large-scale engagement initiatives
- Desirable: experience of leading training or capacity-building activity
- Desirable: familiarity with digital citizen science tools (e.g. iNaturalist)