Role: Community Horticultural Project Coordinator
Location: Garden Organic, Coventry, CV8 3LG
Key Requirements: This role is to manage the National Lottery Heritage Fund project ’Sowing your seeds – heritage crops for a resilient future’. We are therefore looking for a skilled and motivated individual with a proven track record in managing community projects within a charity framework. You will be equally skilled at public delivery as well as the administrative management of community projects. You will have relevant horticultural knowledge, be skilled at building networks within the community, and be able to design and deliver workshops and presentations, alongside the basic skills of project management.
Hours: Full Time (35 hours per week)
Duration: Fixed Term contract for up to 24 months.
Salary: £28,000 to £30,000 per annum
Role subject to DBS Check: No
About us:
At Garden Organic we care about organic growing, composting, seed conservation, research, and citizen science. Our small but hugely knowledgeable and committed team is backed by a family of members and volunteers, all dedicated to growing food and flowers in harmony with nature. We are an established, experienced, and innovative membership charity, working in communities around the UK and campaigning for organic practice which protects and promotes life above and below the soil. Now in our seventh decade, we are also home to the vitally important Heritage Seed Library, a living collection of 800 rare vegetable varieties that otherwise would have died out.
Our mission is to show people how to be organic growers and in doing so, we strive to be a great place to work, volunteer or partner with. We care about what we do, how we do it, and the impact we make. We believe that our time is now – when people are actively seeking positive contributions that they can make in the face of biodiversity loss and climate change.
About the role:
Your role will be to lead a new project to discover and share unknown but thriving heritage crops in the Midlands, along with the stories of the people behind them, and the cultivation and seed saving skills required to safeguard them.
Delivery of the project will include:
* Social media, publicity, and engagement activities for a Midlands seed search.
* Collaborate with key contacts and community organisations to design and deliver events, such as workshops, interviews, and other knowledge gathering and sharing activities.
* Develop, deliver and process the seed search & coordinate assessment trials.
* Development of materials, including seed saving resources & presentations.
You will be reporting to our Head of HSL and your core responsibilities and main duties are as follows:
* Responsible for the operational management of the National Lottery Heritage Fund project.
* Develop, nurture and manage relationships with new and existing partner organisations, including close working relationships with committed project partners who will be supporting the project.
* Develop and deliver the seed search processes for the project.
* Assist with the development of resources, including seed production guidelines.
* Manage the effective delivery of activities in line with set targets, objectives, and milestones outlined in the project plan.
* Responsible for budgetary management of the grant funding.
* Develop an effective programme and project collaborations with external organisations, to ensure that our work can reach out to the widest possible audience.
* Maximise PR associated with the project.
* Ensure effective communication with line manager, wider HSL team, and project partners regarding the progress of the project.
* Produce operational reports and updates for the project as per the reporting timetable.
* Liaise with Garden Organic wider support teams as required such as HR, Finance, and IT.
* Ensure safeguarding requirements are met for all staff and volunteers involved with this project.
* Ensure that Garden Organic’s Equal Opportunities policy is adhered to, and its principles promoted.
* Contribute as required to Garden Organic’s policy development work.
* Lead as spokesperson for the project and represent it at appropriate events.
* Ensure that Garden Organic’s vision, mission, and values are upheld.
* All other duties as required by the organisation and commensurate with the post.
What we are looking for:
We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic and passionate, with a genuine interest in community projects and sustainable practices, particularly in organic horticulture and seed saving.
You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, crucial for proactively engaging and collaborating with individuals, community groups, and other organisations.
You will be organised, flexible, and efficient, with a solid track record in community projects, including planning, execution, and evaluation. Experience with the National Lottery Heritage Fund or similar funding bodies would be a plus.
What we can offer:
* Salary: £28,000 to £30,000 pro-rata depending on experience
* 25 days Holiday plus bank holidays and additional leave at Christmas (pro-rata)
* Additional long service holiday
* Group Pension Scheme with 8% employer contribution
* Employee Assistance Programme
* Salary Extras benefits platform (Instant discount scheme and health, wellbeing and financial support)
* We Care benefits platform (With access to virtual GP consultations, nutritionist support, get fit programmes, smoking cessation and further health and wellbeing support)
* TOIL for additional hours worked
* Life Assurance
* Garden Organic membership
How to Apply:
All applicants must complete a 'Garden Organic Application Form' along with a covering letter explaining why you think you would be a great fit for the role. We pay close attention to covering letters so please do send us one. Our application form can be downloaded via our website www.gardenorganic.org.uk
We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and we reserve the right to close the vacancy early depending on response levels.
As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion applications will be anonymised before being submitted to our recruitment panel.
Recruitment Timetable:
* Application Deadline: 12/2/25
* Interview Date: 26/2/25
* Interview Location: Ryton Organic Gardens, CV8 3LG
The interview will include:
* A panel interview
* A tour of the Heritage Seed Library
* A written task provided on the day
Equal Opportunities:
At Garden Organic we embrace diversity and recognise the value it brings to our organisation. As such, we match charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates and welcome candidates from various backgrounds irrespective of age, disability, gender, gender identity or reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief or sexual orientation. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and take pride in ensuring that everyone feels welcome, respected, and empowered.
Garden Organic is also a Disability Confident Employer and aims to create opportunities wherever possible. It should be noted that some of our roles require travel and attendance at events where accessibility arrangements will vary.
Safer Recruitment:
Garden Organic is also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects employees, associates, and volunteers to share this commitment. We may require some candidates to undertake a DBS check relevant to the requirements of the role.
Please note that we only accept applications from individuals with the right to work in the UK. We are unable to sponsor working visa applications.
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