Location
Based in Melrose and working across the Scottish Borders, Scotland

Hours
Part-time, 0.5 FTE (2.5 days per week)

Salary
£31,200 pro-rated to 2.5 days/week (£15,600 per annum)

About the Role
The Community Engagement Officer will work with community groups, schools, individuals, and households across the Scottish Borders to increase connection to nature, focusing on red squirrels, their ecology, and conservation. This role supports the Red Squirrel Recovery Network (RSRN), a partnership project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, aiming to coordinate conservation efforts across Northern England and Southern Scotland. The officer will engage diverse and underrepresented communities, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, to raise awareness and motivate positive conservation action. Responsibilities include planning and delivering engagement activities and events, supporting local squirrel groups to recruit volunteers, providing training and skill-sharing opportunities, collaborating with project partners, managing monitoring data, supporting advocacy and communications, and championing equality and inclusion. The role also involves risk assessments, resource management, reporting, and contributing to project governance and evaluation. This fixed-term contract runs until March 2030.

Experience
- Experience working in community settings and with diverse groups, delivering activities to engage and train varied audiences
- Experience planning and delivering community events including promotion, risk assessment, team organisation, equipment ordering, and venue booking
- Experience delivering nature engagement activities, community coordination, and supporting people to create change
- Experience working with volunteers and adapting activities to suit different groups and individuals

About you
- Excellent people and communication skills, able to work effectively with diverse audiences and perspectives
- Innovative, creative, and an excellent team player
- Self-motivated, well-organised, and skilled at delivering within agreed timescales
- Positive, solution-focused attitude
- Ability to occasionally travel within the RSRN project area

Qualifications
- Full current driving licence and use of a car (essential)
- Knowledge of and commitment to good practice in working with diverse communities, young people, and volunteers
- Understanding of barriers to engagement in socioeconomically deprived or marginalised groups and how to overcome them
- Knowledge of pathways to nature connectedness and importance of increasing connection to nature for all
- Good communication skills including report writing, presentations, and grant applications
- Good working knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and database software
- Understanding of red squirrel conservation principles and safeguarding procedures
- Desirable: knowledge of target community areas, red squirrel conservation in the UK, experience with digital engagement tools and social media, previous project and financial reporting, line management or mentoring experience, and relevant training such as community organising, Forest School, or environmental education
- Willingness to undertake safeguarding training if not already completed