Vacancy - Project Officer (Community Land) 

Job Title: Project Officer (Community Land)

Employer: Portree and Braes Community Trust

Hours: 17.5 hours per week (part-time)

Contract: Fixed term until end of March 2021

Based: Portree and Braes Community Trust Office, Jans, Portree.

Salary: £26,500 pro rota (equivalent of  £13,250 per annum)

Reports to: Development Officer and Board of Trustees

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Application deadline: Thursday the 5th of March 2020 at 5pm.

About Us

In May 2016 the Portree Area Community Trust (PACT) reconstituted as the Portree and Braes Community Trust (PBCT) and now exist to stimulate and coordinate the economic, cultural and environmental regeneration of the area, in response to community identified priorities.  In recent years the PBCT has worked closely with public and voluntary sector organisations to improve community facilities and preserve the local environment and have, for example, installed a new public convenience facility in the area, purchased mobile skate ramp equipment, carried out regular community clean ups and worked with local groups to deliver community events. PBCT also work to secure land, buildings and facilities for community use and has recently received their second major award from the Scottish Land Fund. The trust currently employ one full-time development officer to oversee all projects and one part-time project officer who specifically provides organisational and communications support to the community representatives involved in the implementation of the Sir Lewis Ritchie recommendations for out of hours health care across North Skye. There are currently 16 trustees who take an active role in delivering projects.  More information about trust projects can be found here www.portreeandbraes.org/projects

The Project

The PBCT recently received an award from the Scottish Land Fund that will enable them to purchase two pieces of amenity land centrally located in Portree – by the waterfront at Bayfield and at the Lump, the iconic site of the annual Isle of Skye Highland Games.  Ownership will provide opportunities to develop physical infrastructure at public green spaces and generate a sustainable income for the community. As a result of extensive consultation a business plan has been developed which can be viewed at www.portreeandbraes.org/community-land. The trust is now looking for a suitable candidate to conclude land purchases and progress the communities vision for these sites. Proposals for the land include, for example, a linked walk around the village, a community woodland development, on ongoing programme of maintenance and development and associated activities and events. Specifically, the project officer (community land) will be required to work closely with trustees, the local development officer, consultants, contractors, relevant agencies and the wider community to:

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• Oversee land transfers

• Develop land management / lease agreements as required

• Finalise proposals in consultation with the community

• Create detailed, fully costed, project plans

• Secure grant funding

• Encourage and coordinate volunteer involvement

• Monitor and evaluate progress against project objectives

• Produce project reports

• Oversee physical works as required

The Candidate

We are looking for a driven and capable individual who has experience in project development and of the voluntary sector. The successful candidate will be able to build and sustain good working relationships with stakeholders, have excellent writing skills - ideally with experience of writing community-led funding bids -  and be comfortable with a range of project management responsibilities. The role is on a fixed-term contract until March 2021 and has no line management responsibilities.

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 Essential  Criteria                            

Qualifications and Training 

• A good standard of education to Higher Level or equivalent

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Work Experience 

• A track record working in the voluntary and/or community sector

• Experience in community engagement

• A least 2 years’ experience in a project development role

• Experience of managing and working to a budget

• Experience of evaluating project progress and success

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Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

• Excellent interpersonal skills

• Excellent organisational skills

• Very good written skills

• Good presentation skills

• Ability to prioritise work and work to tight deadlines

• An open and inclusive attitude

• Familiarity of community development processes

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Technical Skills 

• Good general computer competence (Word, Excel, Web, Email, PowerPoint)

• Comfortable with remote working communications and technologies

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Job Circumstances and Other Attributes 

• Ability to work at the PBCT office

• Ability to attend occasional meetings or learning opportunities elsewhere in Scotland

• Ability to work some evenings and weekends

• Friendly personality and ability to work well as a part of a team

• Strong motivation and enthusiasm for the role

• Interest in the natural and cultural heritage of the area

 Desirable Criteria                            

​Qualifications and Training

• Degree / vocational equivalent in a community development, community engagement or management related subject

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Work Experience

• Experience of developing business plans

• Experience of working with and managing consultants

• Experience of writing funding bids

• Experience of facilitating discussions and workshops

• Experience of overseeing community land purchases

• Experience of community woodland conservation and development

• Experience of managing a team

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Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of project funding sources and application processes

• Practical experience of the realities of community life in the Highlands and Islands

• Knowledge of the structure and roles of public agencies engaged in community development in the highlands and islands

• Knowledge of the legal processes surrounding the purchase and management of land and buildings by community groups

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Technical Skills

• Familiarity with using social media for professional purposes

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Job Circumstances and Other Attributes

• Current driving licence and access to car

• Ability to start on the 1st of April 2020

Please submit your C.V and cover letter to info@portreeandbraes.org or Portree and Braes Community Trust, Jans, 6 Broom Place,Portree, Isle of Skye, IV51 9HL by 5pm on Thursday the 5th of March. For more information contact Fiona Thomson, Development Officer on info@portreeandbraes.org or 07570652953.