Location
Barnfield Park, Bury New Road, Prestwich, Bury, M25 0BD with occasional work at City of Trees’ operational base in Trafford Park, Manchester.

Hours
Full time, 36 hours per week

Salary
£29,244 per annum

About the Role
City of Trees is seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Engagement Officer to develop and manage volunteer experience and community consultation at its new tree nursery, the first stage of a new site and future National Urban Forestry Centre. This brand-new role will help create an outreach programme and activity plan to engage local communities and stakeholders, shaping this ambitious project from the outset. The postholder will work closely with the Nursery Manager, Engagement Coordinator, and wider team to develop volunteer and learner activities, contributing to City of Trees’ wider engagement and green skills programmes.

The role involves delivering pilot community engagement activities, recruiting core volunteers, and conducting community and stakeholder consultation to gather support and guide project development. It requires stakeholder mapping and outreach at local and Greater Manchester levels to build partnerships and identify volunteers. The Engagement Officer will also assist with training volunteers and learners, ensure compliance with health and safety and biosecurity procedures, record volunteer impacts and data in line with GDPR, and support Citizen Forester events.

This role includes practical outdoor activities in all weather conditions and requires flexibility, including occasional evening and weekend work. The postholder will represent City of Trees professionally at events and contribute to communications by capturing content and documenting evidence for funding and reporting purposes.

City of Trees is a registered charity and the Community Forest for Greater Manchester, dedicated to planting and caring for trees to improve health, wellbeing, green skills, and the environment across the region.

Experience
- Proven experience in community engagement and outreach
- Successful partnership working and relationship building with partners and stakeholders
- Knowledge and practical application of community consultation principles, including facilitation and consultation events
- Experience working with diverse community and volunteering groups
- Ability to tailor information and activities to different volunteer groups and communicate tasks clearly
- Experience working collaboratively within a team environment

About you
- Passion for working outdoors in all weather conditions
- Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Practical problem-solving skills
- Highly organised with a creative approach and ability to generate new ideas
- Skilled communicator able to motivate and engage people
- Positive, proactive, flexible attitude and willingness to learn new skills
- Good IT skills
- Full clean driving licence

Qualifications
- While horticultural growing experience is desirable, it is not essential as training will be provided.
- Volunteer coordination experience in an outdoor or environmental setting is desirable
- Experience leading engagement activities for people with additional needs is desirable