Landshare Manager - part-time, 18 hrs p/w

This vacancy is being advertised on behalf of Jealott's Hill Community Landshare

Our Project:

Jealott’s Hill Community Landshare is a successful and well-established, award-winning community project based in Warfield, Bracknell Forest, our focus is on peoples’ wellbeing, gardening and the outdoor environment.

We are brilliantly supported by a dedicated and passionate team of volunteers who, led by the Landshare Manager, utilise their gardening and other practical creative skills to plant and maintain our 6-acre site. Sharing their knowledge, they grow vegetables, fruit and flowers, tend our large orchard, help run events and grow plants to sell, alongside creating items for our pop-up shop.

Working together we provide support and empowerment for a diverse group of members from the community in East Berkshire including those with autism, learning and physical disabilities and those seeking to improve their mental and physical health by connecting with nature. Our beneficiaries include individuals in addiction recovery, with dementia and offenders on community service. Our volunteers and beneficiaries come to us for many reasons including loneliness and isolation and find that by working and sharing together community engagement is enhanced, gardening and other skills learnt and lives transformed.

We are now ready to develop the project further to provide a range of services to a wider group including commissioned services, children’s activities and corporate working parties.

For further information about the work and aims of JHCL CIC see: www.jealottshilllandshare.org.uk

The Role:

• Reporting to the Directors you will be responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day operational management of the Landshare, including the cultivation, maintenance and use of the therapeutic gardens including a variety of facilities and tools.
• Working together with the Directors you will ensure that the Landshare presents a safe, welcoming opportunity for all visitors, members and volunteers.
• With the Directors you will lead on liaising with the local community, recruiting and supporting volunteers, marketing our services and managing our staff and volunteers.

This role is a brilliant opportunity for a confident, experienced manager with an interest in both gardens and people to make a meaningful impact, by fostering well-being through gardening and other outdoor activities.

Main Duties:

• To take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Landshare, its staff team and the volunteers; working to maintain an attractive, welcoming, therapeutic and safe environment for staff, volunteers, users and visitors.
• To work to maximise the use of the Landshare by varied groups and individual users on an ad-hoc and sessional basis, negotiating contracts and funding for such.
• To work closely with the Directors on day-to-day and strategic matters.
• To manage the Horticultural Assistant and any other part time staff, working together with them to recruit and support volunteer members.
• To act as an ambassador for the Landshare with external organisations and at events.
• To manage the necessary financial and administrative tasks associated with the day to day running of the Landshare, including record keeping and local fund-raising.
• To contribute to making a positive and up to date social media profile for the Landshare.
• To be the Landshare’s primary contact with the Landowner Syngenta.
• To provide practical guidance and hands on support, when required, to get tasks done.
• To cover for the Horticultural Assistant in their absence.

Preferred Person Specification:

It is hoped that candidates will be able to demonstrate some skill and ability in the majority of these areas, which may have been gained in a voluntary or work capacity.

• Experience of community project management and development
• Experience of managing staff and volunteers with the ability to motivate and encourage others
• Experience of working with people with vulnerabilities and disabilities.
• Patience, understanding, empathy and the ability to work with a wide range of people in a collaborative way. The ability to treat everyone with respect and maintain confidentiality.
• Strong communication, organisational, and leadership skills.
• Proficiency in administrative tasks, IT tools, social media and basic book-keeping.
• Coaching and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of the health and social care system and experience of collaboration with health and social care professionals.
• Some experience and knowledge of horticulture and cultivation, with at least basic DIY skills.
• Understanding of health and safety and legislative requirements.
• Common sense, pragmatism and a willingness to use your initiative and work independently.
• Creativity and the ability to ‘think outside the box’.
• Experience of working flexibly - multi-tasking
• Comfortable with working out of doors in all weathers
• First Aid trained (or willing to undergo training)
• Be willing to undertake an enhanced disclosure check

Terms and Conditions:

• Part-time, 18 hours per week
• Flexible hours to meet the project’s requirements but including at least one Saturday per month. Some hours may be undertaken from home.
• Salary - £ 19.18 per hour
• Benefits will include 20 days annual leave and a stakeholder pension or pension contribution
• Free on-site parking
• PPE provided

Interviews:

Interviews will be held on Monday 17th February 2025.

If you have any questions regarding the role please contact Claire Wallen - Director on 07484 679215