Jobs & Volunteer Positions

Engagement Officer

Salary: £27,029 to £29,159 (pro rata), with an 8% pension contribution

Contract: Fixed Term to 31 May 2025, possible extension. 0.5FTE (17.5 hours per week)

Location: Office in Guildhall, remote working, and outreach work

Responsible to: Thames Programme Manager

What does Thames21 do?

 Thames21 is one of London’s leading environmental charities and its work on rivers and landscapes across London and the Thames Basin builds climate resilience, biodiversity and connected communities. It supports the relationship between communities and their rivers while aiming to deliver powerful social impacts like improved wellbeing, community cohesion, and greater equality of access to good quality green-blue spaces.

Job Description

Purpose of the job

We are seeking a skilled engagement officer to work on our projects in London and the Thames Basin. This role offers an opportunity for the post holder to make a difference to diverse areas of London, with differing challenges and an array of ambitions.

The key skill for this role is being able to connect with and bring people together. The project relies on creating strong networks of local institutions, such as schools and local authorities; grassroots organisations and groups; community leaders and representatives from the public and private sectors, including councillors and politicians.

The key value for this role is curiosity. Being able to ask questions, listen and encourage people to get involved in whatever way they are able, will help you succeed.

You’ll thrive in this role if you are able to see the strengths and assets of communities and individuals and find space for them to flourish. By working together with local people in diverse communities beside waterways you will establish a new and positive ongoing relationship between Londoners and their blue spaces.

A typical day is likely to involve keeping on track with what’s happening across each area, meeting with key partners, being alert to upcoming network meetings, or delivering community events or activities. You might be working from home, or out of our offices in Bow or Guildhall, or working with a community group or local organisation or institution, including schools, co-producing an engagement event.

You might be posting on social media or updating the web page. You may be working on strategic long-term plans on how to share the learnings from the project. You’ll be thinking both big and small on any given day!

Diversity

We primarily serve a London community, and we would love our organisation to better reflect the diversity of this great city. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Being a diverse and inclusive organisation is very important to us. We actively encourage applications from candidates of diverse cultures, perspectives and lived experiences. This role is primarily about community engagement. For that reason, while an interest in environmental issues is a bonus, it is not required for the role.

Main duties and responsibilities 

  1. Plan, support and deliver a range of activities to engage local communities and build connections between them and blue spaces. Raise awareness and respect for the river and water environment, including Thames riverbank and foreshore, adhering to Thames21’s health and safety policies.
  2. Compile area profiles, identifying key stakeholders from public, private and third sectors. Work with stakeholders, including schools, to ensure understanding of the programme and the opportunities available.
  3. Work with local community organisations and representatives to open dialogue with residents about local perceptions, connections and interest in the river and co-produce an engagement programme that will lead to a better understanding of the environmental issues that affect blue spaces; improve community wellbeing and explore cultural connections to rivers.
  4. Carry out robust monitoring processes, including gathering feedback from partners and participants and regularly evaluate the effectiveness of projects. Collaborate with colleagues to inform a relevant programme of activities that will engage a wider diversity of Londoners with the Thames.
  5. Work with Thames21’s Comms Team to promote projects, celebrating achievements and learnings; and collate and contribute content for the webpage.
  6. Contribute to internal quarterly reports and annual reports to funders.
  7. Represent Thames21 at community events, activities and partnership meetings.
  8. Maintain clear records of progress, ensure all administration and statistical information is kept, and regularly upload information onto the Thames21 database.
  9. Attend Thames21 Team Meetings and liaise with Thames21 staff.

This job description cannot cover every issue or task that may arise within the post at various times. The post-holder will be expected to carry out other reasonable duties from time to time which are broadly consistent with other Thames21 activities and with those in this document.

Person Specification  

It is essential that in your application you give evidence or examples of your proven experience in each of the following criteria.

Experience:

  • Experience of working with a broad range of community groups, volunteers and private and public sector organisations.
  • Experience of organising safe and successful events and activities with community groups and grassroots organisations from conception through to delivery and evaluation.

Ability:

  • Excellent communication skills, using good listening skills, curiosity, empathy, and tact to build positive, trusted relationships with individuals, grassroots groups and community organisations.
  • Ability to be resilient and manage a demanding workload with enthusiasm and self-motivation.
  • Ability to work alongside residents to “work with”, not “do to”, following the principles of co-design or co-production of services.
  • Current driving licence and willingness to drive a van to and from various sites across London, if required

Knowledge:

  • A strong interest in the environment and an understanding of environmental issues.
  • Knowledge of community engagement methodologies as a means to build social connections, confidence and local pride.
  • Knowledge of using monitoring and evaluation techniques and methods in practice.

Ethos:

  • Commitment to, and understanding of, diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and when providing a service to the public.
  • Commitment to the values of Thames21 as set out in our five-year plan

https://www.thames21.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Thames21_5_Year_Plan.pdf

Additional Information

  • The post holder must be willing to occasionally work in the evening and at weekends.
  • 25 days paid annual leave are available pro rata plus public holidays. In addition, the

Thames21 office is closed between Christmas and New Year.

  • Thames21 operate a flexitime system of working.
  • Thames21 have an ‘Auto Enrol’ Workplace Pension Scheme with NEST.
  • 24/7 access to our employee assistance programme.
  • Laptop & Mobile phone for company use.

For more information on Thames21, please visit our website at www.thames21.org.uk.

To apply for this position, please email a copy of your CV and a short covering letter outlining as to why you feel you are suitable for the position to recruitment@thames21.org.uk

 Closing date: 5pm on 14 August

  • Interviews: 22 August

We appreciate the time you will have taken to apply to this role, and we do appreciate that it is disconcerting when you don’t hear back from a role you have applied for. However, due to the high number of applications we expect to receive, we are unable respond to or give feedback on individual applications, but we do want to be able manage expectations. Therefore, if you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

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Assistant Head of Improving Rivers 

Salary: £43,000 to £48,000 1.0 FTE, part time applicants will be considered.

Contract length: 2 years, with potential for extension

Location: Thames21’s main office at the Guildhall, City of London; but we also offer hybrid working

Responsible to: Head of Improving Rivers

Responsible for: Improving Rivers Programme Managers

About Thames21

Thames21 is a leading environmental charity, working across London and the Thames Basin to deliver high-impact nature-based solutions to the climate and biodiversity crisis through restoring rivers, whilst also connecting communities to their local green-blue spaces and inspiring long-term stewardship of them.

About the team
The Improving Rivers team is a dynamic and driven team which seeks to deliver effective and long-term restoration of river and catchment ecosystems. We work in cross sectoral partnership across the Thames Basin. The team takes a nature-based solutions approach and explores innovations as well as effectively deliver standard impactful approaches which drive the restoration of river ecosystems.

Diversity at Thames21
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Thames21 is key to our success and as such we employ staff from a diverse range of backgrounds, this we feel is key in ensuring that everybody has an equal opportunity and is not treated differently or discriminated against because of their characteristics. We value the voices of our individual employees, and we strive to work in a collaborative, innovative balanced way. The postholder must actively support this.

Purpose of the role
The postholder will support the strategic development of the Improving Rivers portfolio in collaboration with the Head of Improving Rivers and Improving Rivers Managers. The postholder will be responsible for implementing the strategic development of the team in partnership with the Improving Rivers Managers, whilst oversee and supporting the Improving Rivers Managers to implement Thames21 projects and programmes that achieve our 5 year plan goals. The Improving Rivers team covers a diverse portfolio including teams focused on River Restoration, Environmental Evidence, Catchment Partnerships and Rural Solutions. These programmes including cross sectoral work including public, private, academic and community partners, as well as using mechanisms such as Environmental Markets and implementing (and challenging) government policy. These outcomes are integrated into the work on Thames21’s Engagement and Learning Team that develops and delivers a wide range of practical volunteering activities and targeted recruitment and awareness raising to ensure project better reflect the communities we work in and improve health and wellbeing outcomes.

Thames21 is looking for a skilled leader and with strategic vision who must have a genuine passion for and understanding of our mission and a love of rivers.

Main duties and responsibilities:
1) Strategic Direction
Support the strategic development of the Thames21 Improving Rivers Portfolio of work, in liaison with the Head of Improving Rivers and the Chief Executive.
o Support development of operational targets that directly contribute to achieving the organisations mission and priority area of Thames21’s 5 year plan 2023-2028.
o Support development of strategies and oversee the implementation of action plans to achieve targets and organisation mission.
o Ensure that effective Monitoring and Evaluation procedures are embedded across the organisation’s projects and programmes.
o Ensure E&L projects and programmes integrate and complement Thames21’s other work, whilst maintaining good relationships with the senior management team.

2) Leadership and Management
Managing the Improving Rivers Team, support and directing managers, programme and budget oversight to achieve the objectives of Thames21’s strategy plan.
o Support and develop Improving Rivers Managers to achieve their targets and objectives including the development of their teams/areas of work
o Guide, support the Improving Rivers Team in the delivery of the portfolio of work, ensuring their well-being, performance at work and professional development.
o Enable cross team collaborations and development for multi-benefits.

3) Business and organisation development
Support and enable delivery of Thames21’s wider strategy.
o Support development that will enhance the organisations performance and be responsible for seeing them through to implementation
o Support oversight of and lead on bids and project development for funds/programmes which are assessed on their technical competencies related to the Improving Rivers portfolio
o Support development of Strategic Environmental Markets and support/lead development of large/strategically important government bids/funding for Improving Rivers in partnership with other areas
o Support the creation of systems that build the skills of the team so they can develop more strategic and impactful projects and programmes independently and ensure they are implemented.
o Development and support strategic partnerships to achieve the organisation goals.

4) Work with the Head of Improving Rivers and Senior Management Team to ensure the organisation is performing effectively and that its systems and processes support the successful implementation of the Five-Year Plan.
o Ensure the organisation is financially sustainable and carry out accurate financial management, auditing invoicing, reporting and planning.
o Support development of organisational policies, practices and structures and ensure they are applied across the organisation.
o Ensure resources are applied proportionally across the organisation.
o Establish and maintain practices of data collection for portfolio measurement indices, ensuring the data is entered into Thames21’s data collection platforms.
o Oversee the application of Health and Safety throughout the team

Other Duties
This job description cannot cover every issue or task that may arise within Thames21. At various times the post-holder will be directed to carry out other reasonable duties in support of other Thames21 activities that are consistent with those in this Job Description.

For more information and how to apply, please see the link to the attached job description. AIH0724

Closing date: 5pm 29th July 2024 interviews will be held on a rolling basis. 

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Evidence Programme Manager

Job Description

Salary: £40,000 to £45,000 per annum

Contract length: Permanent

Location: Thames21’s main office at the Guildhall, City of London; but we also offer hybrid working

Responsible to: Assistant Head of Improving Rivers / Head of Improving Rivers

About Thames21

Thames21 is a leading environmental charity, working across London and the Thames Basin to deliver high-impact nature-based solutions to the climate and biodiversity crisis through restoring rivers, whilst also connecting communities to their local green-blue spaces and inspiring long-term stewardship of them.

Diversity at Thames21
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Thames21 is key to our success and as such we employ staff from a diverse range of backgrounds, this we feel is key in ensuring that everybody has an equal opportunity and is not treated differently or discriminated against because of their characteristics. We value the voices of our individual employees, and we strive to work in a collaborative, innovative balanced way. The postholder must actively support this.

Purpose of the job
Your role is to develop and deliver all aspects of the Evidence Programme – from supervision of the Evidence Team to development and funding of projects and expanding the scope of the Evidence Program in line with Thames21’s 5-year plan.

Projects are centered on all forms of evidence – from technical and specialist (real time probes and development of models) to citizen science (biological, chemical and geomorphological data) – to inform and drive catchment decision making, including installation of nature-based treatment systems to mitigate pollution. Projects vary from local and national scale to international collaborations. Work is based in London, the Thames Basin and occasionally more widely in the UK and internationally.

Additional requirements may include supporting other Thames21 projects and funding applications, as the need arises.

Main Duties and Responsibilities
You will oversee and manage delivery of diverse Evidence Team projects. You will also develop your team’s scope, strategy and action plan in order to grow the team to deliver 5-year plan targets work closely with expert (e.g. statutory bodies, authorities, NGOs and academics) and non-expert (e.g. community groups and volunteers) stakeholders to develop, fund and deliver projects within the Evidence Programme and oversee their management. You will also work closely with the Assistant Head of Improving Rivers and other members of the Thames21 team to develop funding applications and steer the direction of the Evidence Programme.

Tasks will include:
• Development and delivery of projects through the Evidence Programme on the themes of water quality, quantity, identification of suitable nature-based treatment solutions and their functioning after installation, landscape recovery and climate resilience.
• Managing project and programme budgets
• Management and Development of the Evidence Team – deadlines, appraisals, personal development, recruitment etc
• Working with specialist equipment (sondes, models and software both commercially available and in the research phase), lab samples and citizen science techniques and methods to generate evidence around issues and solutions.
• Working with the Assistant Head of Improving Rivers, other Thames21 teams and external partners to expand and develop the Evidence Programme in line with the 5-year plan through funding applications and networking.
• Work outside in a riverside environment in a variety of weathers – alone, with team members, volunteers and professionals.

Other Duties
This job description cannot cover every issue or task that may arise within Thames21. At various times the post-holder will be directed to carry out other reasonable duties in support of other Thames21 activities that are consistent with those in this Job Description.

For more information and how to apply,  please see the link to the attached job description.  EPM0724

Closing date: 5pm 29th July 2024 

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Event Support Contractor: (Non-salaried & casual position)

Thames21 could not do all the work that we do without the help of our Event Support Contractors (ESC’s). ESC’s are employed by us on a temporary & casual basis – as and when needed for the events we run throughout the year.

Salary: £16.70 an hour

Location: Mostly within Greater London at any of our varied events.

Liaison with: Primarily the Corporate Volunteering Team, but also the River Restoration Team, as well as the Engagement & Learning Team.

Main duties and responsibilities: To provide ‘event support’ to Thames21 staff running a wide range of events, ranging from active river restoration, to community engagement events.

Requirements: Having completed a ‘Leading Action for Healthy Rivers‘ training, signing an agreement and having completed a trial shift.

For more information about the role, please read the following two pages:
Event Support Team – Thames21
Event Supporter Contractor (ESC) Spotlight on Samantha Dhedhi – Thames21

To join a Leading Action for Healthy Rivers training to qualify yourself for this role, please contact:
training@thames21.org.uk