Gardens Community Engagement Officer – Powell-Cotton Museum

Job Title: Gardens Community Engagement Officer
Salary: £28,000
Hours: Full time
Term: Fixed Term contract until 31 January 2025
Location: Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House and Gardens, Quex Park, Birchington, Kent CT7 0BH
Closing date: 12:00 am 27 November 2023

We are looking for an experienced, pro-active, highly skilled and enthusiastic community engagement officer to work in our historic gardens developing and delivering activities, and / or volunteering opportunities for vulnerable, disadvantaged or disabled people. This is a unique opportunity to work with social horticultural therapists, artist practitioners and service providers to test and develop engagement activities that increase levels of social connections for participants.

You will be a creative thinker with good communication skills, energy and the ability to engage others.  You will have strong planning and organisational skills, and the ability to manage your own workload and prioritise effectively to meet deadlines.  You will be experienced in working to develop partnerships and relationships with community organisations and stakeholders.

The postholder will be supported in their role by the Gardens team, and colleagues from the museum.  This is a fixed term post funded by AIM Connected Communities. AIM Connected Communities is funded by the DCMS Know Your Neighbourhood Fund through Arts Council England.

The Sunshine Project

The Sunshine Project focuses on making the historic gardens an inclusive space for all to engage within.  The project builds upon our current practice in the delivery of volunteering opportunities for adults with learning disabilities, mental health issues, and SEND students.  The Sunshine Project will widen the use of the garden for social and therapeutic horticulture offering engagement beyond our usual gardening activities.  It will consolidate existing partnerships with service level providers as well as developing a model of partnership working to increase our capacity to meet the needs and expectations of additional volunteers who are socially isolated in our community providing them with meaningful and engaging volunteer opportunities. 

Training: A Professional Development Plan will be agreed with the Head Gardener. 

Start/end date: This post is a fixed term contract ending on 31 January 2025. A three-month probationary review period applies for all contract staff.

Closing Date for Application: Monday 27 November 2023

Interview Date: Friday 8 December 2023

Interview type: Interviews will be in person where possible. We offer reasonable adjustments as required.

The interview will include a traditional question style, a presentation by you, and a walk and talk where you will meet other colleagues, and volunteers.

Reasonable interview expenses will be paid.

If you are selected for interview the questions, and your presentation theme will be sent out in advance.

How to Apply: Download a job pack from https://powell-cottonmuseum.org/support-us/work-with-us/ CV’s will not be accepted.

Please return the completed application form to [email protected] or post to Director, Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex Park, Birchington-on-Sea, Kent, CT7 0BH

For an informal discussion concerning this post contact Sue Harris, Head Gardener.  Email: sue.harris@powell-cottonmuseum or tel 07582718658