Community Education Officer - London and the South East

Community Education Officer (Fixed-Term Contract) 
Home-based (to cover London and the South East) 
£28,894.64 per annum Plus Car Scheme, Homeworkers Allowance & Excellent Benefits 
Fixed-term contract of up to 2 years, 35 hours per week 

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity. We now help around 190,000 cats and kittens through our network of over 250 volunteer-run branches and 34 adoption centres and homing centres. 

The role of our Community Education Officer is to implement Cats Protection’s Education strategy within a defined region of the UK, in this case London and the South East, ensuring that Cats Protection’s messages are delivered effectively to existing and new audiences. The job holder will also be expected to gather management information on numbers of people reached with education activities, such as workshops and talks, including demographic data and responses to calls for action. The person in this role will be expected to engage in education and awareness activities with audiences such as Community Youth groups, Education Authorities, Local Authorities, Social Work and Social Housing departments. 

Responsibilities are varied and include the following: 

- Through the implementation and delivery of a programme of education activities such as workshops and talks, raise the profile, increase the presence and public understanding of Cats Protection (CP) within your region. Represent and promote the charity externally. 

- Recruit, lead and manage volunteers into a regional team that can deliver education activities to a wide range of audiences including community youth groups, local and education authorities.

- Create and develop links with local community groups. 

- Implement the use of evaluation and effectiveness measurement tools, regularly reporting to the Education and Information Manager. 

- Actively seek out new audiences, new methods of communicating and new creative cat welfare messages. 

- Generate enthusiasm for the strategy amongst existing and new volunteers, ensuring a consistent quality of service is provided, and CP’s volunteering policies are followed. 

- Be aware of changing legislation / economic and regional trends and respond accordingly to update messages and methods used by the national team. 

- Arrange talks and events with local statutory bodies and wider community groups to help them develop their own thinking and policies on cat welfare. 

- Work with CP Operations and any other key stakeholder as appropriate. 

- Plan and attend exhibitions and events promoting the work and objectives of CP. 

- Be a proactive member of the Communications team, providing feedback, ideas and recommendations in order to increase the effectiveness of the department’s work. 

- To attend team and CP meetings and events, as required. 

- To undertake induction and ongoing training and to keep skills and knowledge up to date as required by CP. 

In common with all posts, ensure compliance with Cats Protection’s policies and procedures, statutory obligations and best practice, and to undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required by the Chief Executive. This job description may be subject to review in the light of the developing organisation and in consultation with the post holder. 

We are looking for the following CRITICAL skills and experience: 

- A degree or other relevant equivalent qualification or substantial relevant experience 
- Experience of engaging with multiple audiences 
- A confident and engaging presentation style 
- Experience in liaising with key decision makers and statuary bodies 
- Experience of working in a volunteering environment 
- Proven ability to multi-task, and to work unsupervised both confidently and competently to a high standard 
- Excellent communication skills 
- Ability to build strong relationships 
- Organisational skills, flexibility and adaptability 
- Ability to lead, engage and motivate volunteers over a wide geographical area 
- An understanding of volunteer worker issues 
- Ability to lead a team and work as a team member 
- A positive attitude and an ability deal with complex or difficult interpersonal situations 
- Ability to travel and occasional overnight stays. 
- Current full driving licence 

In addition, the following skills and experience are desirable: 

- Community outreach work 
- Experience of working with multicultural communities 
- A charity background in animal welfare 
- Knowledge of London and the South East 
- Empathy towards cats 

The role would suit someone with strong creativity and innovation, who will proactively explore opportunities for the organisation. 

This is a home-based job, with plenty of travel, and you will be eligible to join the Company Car Scheme. To reward you, we have a pay scheme which provides the opportunity to progress within your pay band, subject to satisfactory performance. We also offer a range of benefits which include a generous holiday entitlement, a competitive pension offering, a private medical scheme, and a death in service scheme. 

Cats Protection is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. 

Closing date: 18th October 2017 
Interviews: 27th October 2017 
Job reference: CF189 

To apply for the role of Community Education Officer (Fixed-Term Contract), please apply via the button shown. 

This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit. The services advertised by Webrecruit are those of an Employment Agency. 

Additional Keywords: Community Education Officer, Fixed-Term Contract, Community Engagement Officer, Community Liaison Officer, Volunteer Supervisor, Community Outreach Officer, Volunteer Co-ordinator.