Blog

Date posted: Tue 1 Dec 2020
Closing date: 9am, Wed 6 Jan 2021

This new role at CAfS will be responsible for strategic financial management, working alongside our Trustees and CEO – an important member of our new senior management team. You’ll also oversee day-to-day resources management with the help of the CAfS administration and finance team, which you’ll manage, working alongside specialist HR and IT contractors. As an experienced business and finance manager, you’ll set and monitor budgets and oversee day-to-day financial management. Your advice, guidance and financial reports will inform the development and delivery of our strategy and business plan. You’ll also help CAfS to fulfil its legal and regulatory requirements.

You’ll join us at an exciting time. The climate crisis has led to ever-increasing demand for our skills and experience and we are restructuring to accommodate our rapid growth. Our staff team will soon have doubled in size since June 2020, and we are preparing to deliver the biggest climate change programme in the country with the support of a £2.5 million National Lottery grant. You’ll be central to future-proofing our financial health and ensuring the conditions in which we work are the best they can be, so that we can play our full part in delivering a zero-carbon Cumbria to the best of our abilities.

Application & Interview Process

Please apply by completing the application form below. We do not accept CVs. Guidance for submitting your application is included in the form.

Application Form – Finance & Resources Manager

Closing date for return of applications is 9am on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

Candidates shortlisted for interview will be informed by Thursday 7 January 2021.

Interviews will be held via Zoom on Thursday 14 January 2021.

Job description

If you prefer to download the job description and person specification, please use the link below:

CAfS Job Description – Finance & Resources Manager

EMPLOYER:  Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS).

LOCATION: Eden Rural Foyer, Old London Road, Penrith, CA11 8ET when Covid-19 restrictions allow. Homeworking beyond Covid-19 may be possible by agreement.

REPORTS TO: Chief Executive Officer.

HOURS: 22.5 hours a week (3 days).

SALARY RANGE:£29,000 – £33,000 pro rata per annum (full-time equivalent), depending on skills and experience.

DURATION: Start date February 2021. Permanent contract.

ABOUT CAFS:

Our vision is a zero-carbon Cumbria and we strive to bring about a better way of life, in balance with our environment.

Our mission is to empower and enable people, communities and businesses to live and work more sustainably by sharing our knowledge, practice, skills, networks and practical experience. We manage and deliver events, advice, training and practical projects across the county as well as providing specialist consultancy services to enable individuals, communities, businesses and local authorities to drive a shift towards a zero-carbon Cumbria.

CAfS is an award-winning charity with a team of seventeen highly skilled staff, working with a pool of specialist contractors and volunteers to deliver around 20 major, transformational low-carbon projects each year. CAfS is the leading organisation in Cumbria showcasing low-carbon living, energy-efficiency improvements, renewable technology and reduced use of fossil fuels, both on a domestic scale and in the community. Now in our 22nd year, CAfS is the first point of reference in the county for information on sustainability. CAfS is a dynamic, pro-active and responsive organisation, continually striving to deliver effective projects that make an impact and drive real change towards a low-carbon future. As such, we continually initiate, scrutinise, refine and launch new projects, accessing funding from a variety of sources or earning income from delivering specialist services.

MAIN PURPOSE OF ROLE

To work with Trustees and the CEO to ensure efficient and effective financial management, including setting and monitoring budgets, overseeing day-to-day financial management, and providing advice and guidance and financial reports, to inform the development and delivery of our strategy and business plan.

To work with Trustees and staff to ensure CAfS fulfils its legal and regulatory requirements, including coordinating the implementation of health and safety, GDPR and other policies and procedures, and to lead on human resources support and oversee office management and IT. (Note that specialist HR advice and support and IT are provided to CAfS by external contractors.)

The role manages the administration and finance team, and sits within the Senior Management Team.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Ensuring the day-to-day financial and accounting operations are delivered.
• Taking responsibility for budget planning, monitoring and review and year-end accounts process.
• Supporting the development of CAfS’ strategy and business plan’ including providing financial projections and conducting risk analysis.
• Ensuring effective day-to-day management of HR, IT, H&S and data protection.
• Ensuring financial, HR and data protection policies and procedures comply with relevant legislation/regulations, reflect best practice and are applied throughout CAfS.
• Ensuring that the office and home workspaces, IT, telephone and internet provision are fit for purpose.

MAIN TASKS

Finance

• Responsible for annual budget setting and 6-monthly review and cashflow forecasting.
• Prepare quarterly reports to Board, yearly or six-monthly projections and analysis, and ad hoc reports as necessary.
• Preparation of year-end accounts.
• Manage the internal finance and accounting systems and databases.
• Oversee delivery of payroll.
• Ensure appropriate levels of financial authorisation are in place and followed.
• Ensure compliance with HMRC, including monitoring VAT threshold, tax and gift aid, and undertake necessary returns.
• Ensure compliance with State Aid rules.
• Commission specialist VAT and other financial advice as required.
• Support the Trustees and CEO with financial forecasting/planning, and allocation and funding of staff and other resources.
• Support staff with preparing and managing project budgets with the aim of ensuring full-cost recovery.

HR

• Develop appropriate staff, trustee and volunteer recruitment, induction and retention policies and processes, including performance management.
• Support and encourage staff, trustee and volunteer training.
• Ensure all staff have up-to-date contracts and other HR documentation.
• Regular (minimum annually) review of staff handbook.
• Development and implementation of employee satisfaction survey.
• Manage specialist HR contract and commission additional advice as required.
• Support CEO to deliver their responsibility to ensure staff wellbeing.

Effective Organisational Administration

• Oversee policy and procedure development and implementation, including safeguarding, data protection, H&S, complaints, etc.
• Conduct horizon scanning and recommend opportunities to revise policies and procedures to ensure legal/regulatory compliance and/or in line with best practice.
• Review, improve and ensure implementation of project management processes.
• Ensure appropriate equipment and infrastructure resources are in place for staff, volunteers and Trustees.
• Ensure insurance is in place for all activity.
• Continually improve and manage IT, phone and internet contracts.
• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure optimal use of the CAfS customer relationship management system (CRM).

Other

• To work with the Trustees, CEO and staff to develop and implement the strategy and business plan.
• Provide support for effective governance.
• Take part in Senior Management Team meetings.
• Line manage the Administration & Finance Officer.
• Deputise for CEO when needed.
• To work with the rest of the staff team to carry out any other task or project required from time to time, as directed by the CEO or Trustees.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential skills and attributes

• Experience of management accounting, including analysis and commentary.
• Experience of audits, invoices, bank reconciliations, accounts payable and accounts receivable and budget preparation.
• Experience of working with and co-ordinating expenditure across multi-project budgets.
• Knowledge of financial regulations, including VAT, and accounting processes.
• Ability to manage payroll.
• Knowledge of health and safety legislation and employment law.
• Experience of recruiting and managing staff.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage time-sensitive tasks.
• Ability to work flexibly and occasionally out of hours.

Desirable criteria

• Fully or part-qualified ACCA, CIMA, ACA or CIPFA.
• Use of payroll software.
• Working knowledge of using QuickBooks.
• Experience of charity sector accounting/finance.
• Experience or understanding of project management.
• Understanding of and commitment to the aims and objectives of CAfS.
• Experience of developing and delivering HR, IT, H&S, and data protection policy and procedures.
• HR training or qualification.
• Understanding of VAT.
• Understanding of State Aid.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Karen Mitchell: [email protected].

Date posted: Wed 25 Nov 2020
Closing date: 9am, Tue 5 Jan 2021

We are looking for a highly skilled and experienced communications professional to lead and deliver communications to support the five-year Zero Carbon Cumbria project, funded by the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund. This forms part of the most extensive programme of action on climate change ever seen in the county, led by the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership.

You’ll work at a highly strategic level, setting the communications strategy for the programme, advising and influencing people from the 70 diverse organisations that are part of the Partnership, and coordinating their communications activities. You’ll be equally skilled at a tactical level, producing communications collateral tailored to specific audiences and uses, as well as creative communications activities. You’ll draw on all your communications talents to engage Cumbrians in achieving the goal of a zero-carbon county, inspiring and motivating them to play their full part.

Application & Interview Process

Please apply by completing the application form below. We do not accept CVs. Guidance for submitting your application is included in the form.

Application Form – Communications Manager ZCCP

Closing date for return of applications is 9am on Tuesday 5 January 2021.

Candidates shortlisted for interview will be informed by 5pm on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

Interviews will be held via Zoom on Wednesday 13 January 2021.

Job description

If you prefer to download the job description and person specification, please use the link below:

CAfS Job Description – Communications Manager Zero Carbon Cumbria

EMPLOYER:  Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS).

LOCATION: Eden Rural Foyer, Old London Road, Penrith, CA11 8ET with travel to meetings and events in other Cumbria locations, when Covid-19 restrictions allow. Homeworking beyond Covid-19 is possible by agreement.

REPORTS TO: Project Manager Zero Carbon Cumbria.

HOURS: 22.5 hours a week (3 days) for first 4 years, reducing to 15 hours a week (2 days) for year 5, with potential to extend or increase hours subject to additional funding. Flexible working hours.

SALARY RANGE: £24,000 – £29,000 per annum full-time equivalent depending on skills and experience.

DURATION: Fixed-term contract starting as soon as possible, to end of December 2025.

ABOUT CAFS:

Our vision is a zero-carbon Cumbria and we strive to bring about a better way of life, in balance with our environment.

Our mission is to empower and enable people, communities and businesses to live and work more sustainably by sharing our knowledge, practice, skills, networks and practical experience. We manage and deliver events, advice, training and practical projects across the county as well as providing specialist consultancy services to enable individuals, communities, businesses and local authorities to drive a shift towards a zero-carbon Cumbria.

CAfS is an award-winning charity with a team of seventeen highly skilled staff, working with a pool of specialist contractors and volunteers to deliver around 20 major, transformational low-carbon projects each year. CAfS is the leading organisation in Cumbria showcasing low-carbon living, energy-efficiency improvements, renewable technology and reduced use of fossil fuels, both on a domestic scale and in the community. Now in our 22nd year, CAfS is the first point of reference in the county for information on sustainability. CAfS is a dynamic, pro-active and responsive organisation, continually striving to deliver effective projects that make an impact and drive real change towards a low-carbon future. As such, we continually initiate, scrutinise, refine and launch new projects, accessing funding from a variety of sources or earning income from delivering specialist services.

BACKGROUND TO THE ZERO CARBON CUMBRIA PROJECT:

Cumbria Action for Sustainability is co-chair of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership (ZCCP), which involves nearly 70 organisations spanning the public, private and third sectors with the aim of delivering a coordinated partnership emission reduction programme to bring about a zero-carbon Cumbria.

CAfS has been awarded £2.5 million from the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund, on behalf of the wider partnership, for the five-year Zero Carbon Cumbria project. Eleven of the organisations in the ZCCP will be involved in directly delivering elements of the Lottery-funded project and the whole partnership will be involved in wider decarbonisation programmes in order to reach the county’s zero-carbon goal. People who live, work and study in Cumbria will be able to take advantage of a whole range of opportunities to cut their own carbon footprint and that of their communities, playing their part in global actions to stop climate change.

The project, which sits within the wider Zero Carbon Cumbria programme, will tackle some of the main sources of carbon emissions in Cumbria, with a particular focus on food, energy generation and the goods we buy. The sub projects have been devised by a range of community organisations and chosen because of their wide benefits to local communities. More information about the project is available here: https://cafs.org.uk/our-projects/zero-carbon-cumbria-programme.

MAIN PURPOSE OF ROLE:

The postholder will be responsible for developing, leading and delivering the communications strategy for the Zero Carbon Cumbria programme, and managing communications for the projects that CAfS will deliver as part of the programme. The postholder will work at a strategic level, advising and influencing senior decision-makers and representatives from the diverse organisations in the Partnership, to gain buy-in for and participation in effective communications approaches. The postholder will also work at a tactical level, planning and delivering communications activities and collateral, working closely with the Zero Carbon Cumbria staff team based across several organisations.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

• Develop and implement the communications strategy to support the delivery of the Zero Carbon Cumbria programme. Ensure this complements the CAfS organisational and communications strategies, factoring in the continued legacy of these communications beyond the five years of the programme.
• Deliver communications that engage, inspire and motivate people and organisations from all walks of life in Cumbria to play their full part in achieving the vision of a zero-carbon county, using communications to drive action, participation and behaviour change.
• Develop and manage a brand for Zero Carbon Cumbria.
• Manage the programme communications budget.
• Advise the Partnership (including delivery partners) on best practice across the full range of communications disciplines – from media relations and social media to advertising, branding and planning. Disseminate good practice by partners throughout the Partnership.
• Develop and implement communications strategies to support the delivery of projects run by CAfS as part of the Zero Carbon Cumbria programme.
• Support the 11 delivery partners who are undertaking projects as part of the Zero Carbon Cumbria programme to develop effective marketing plans that align with the communications strategies for the programme and their own organisation, ensuring compatibility and consistency throughout all programme communications.
• Support community sustainability groups to develop communications skills.
• Ensure that communications across the Zero Carbon Cumbria programme as a whole increase reach, broaden and deepen engagement, communicate learning and maximise impact, ensuring that project communications add up to more than the sum of their parts and helping to create a lasting legacy for the programme.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of effective internal communications mechanisms between partners, working alongside other members of the ZCC staff team.
• Develop and maximise impact from offers of in-kind support from comms teams within partner organisations.
• Establish strong working relationships with key media partners and influencers to secure positive coverage of the Partnership’s work towards a zero-carbon Cumbria.
• Contribute to building effective working relationships within the new project staff team, who are based across several organisations, including the Partnership Manager, Zero Carbon Cumbria Project Manager , Local Authority Climate Officer and Carbon Monitoring Officer, in order to support delivery of the communications strategy.
• Monitor and evaluate communications impacts and outcomes, reporting quarterly to the Zero Carbon Cumbria Project Manager, including periodic reviews of programme communications by delivery partners, and actively use learning outcomes to continuously improve communications.
• Ensure all communications are compliant with relevant regulations such as GDPR and other data protection and security rules, media law and advertising regulations.

MAIN TASKS:

• Develop a creative and engaging communications strategy to support the delivery of the five-year Zero Carbon Cumbria programme, in consultation with key partners.
• Work in partnership with the CAfS Marketing & Communications Manager to ensure the Zero Carbon Cumbria communications strategy complements the CAfS communications strategy.
• Carry out audience research as needed to inform the overall communications strategy for the programme as well as individual action plans within it.
• Develop a Zero Carbon Cumbria brand, working with graphic designers and others as needed. Create brand guidelines for others to follow and a suite of associated resources such as logos and other text and graphical elements to be used by the partners, ensuring it is understood and consistently applied in programme communications by all partners.
• Ensure that use of partner branding complies with their guidelines.
• Ensure all communications associated with the aspects of the Zero Carbon Cumbria programme that are funded by the National Lottery Climate Action Fund are in line with the Lottery’s guidelines for acknowledgement of funding.
• Agree and implement with partners an effective process for sign-off of communications approaches and materials.
• Profile and manage the communications budgets across the five years of the programme, including communications budgets for individual projects by CAfS.
• Create and implement communications strategies and action plans for individual projects by CAfS as part of the Zero Carbon Cumbria programme, liaising with project managers.
• Build an effective communications network within the Partnership, identifying communications leads for each organisation, and expand communications capacity and resources by seeking support from comms teams within partner organisations.
• Coordinate communications on the overall Zero Carbon Cumbria programme by Partnership members, including creating and providing messaging and collateral for their use when needed.
• Develop a social media plan as part of the overall Zero Carbon Cumbria communications strategy and manage social media channels for the programme. Liaise with the CAfS Marketing & Communications Manager to ensure content on the ZCC and CAfS channels are complementary. Provide content to partners for use on their social media channels.
• Create and manage new communications mechanisms and channels as needed.
• Attend project meetings to provide communications advice, updates and guidance.
• Write, produce, source and distribute content for media use and digital channels, including press releases, case studies and photography.
• Manage requests for media interviews, coordinating with interviewees from partner organisations.
• Respond to National Lottery media and communications requests relating to Climate Action Fund projects.
• Develop and manage a website or other suitable online presence(s) for the Zero Carbon Cumbria programme and the wider work of the Partnership.
• Produce and supply content tailored for the websites and newsletters of partners and other organisations.
• Create communications collateral as needed for online, print and in-person use, liaising with designers or other contractors as required, such as written content, presentations, promotional flyers, ads, posters, fact sheets, case studies, display materials, graphics, video and audio resources. Ensure all communications materials meet relevant accessibility standards.
• Arrange and manage advertising across online and print channels.
• Assist in the organisation, administration, promotion and delivery of events and other engagement activities, both online and in person.
• Establish mechanisms for regularly evaluating the success and impact of communications activities and the communications strategy overall, in conjunction with partners, using this information to improve communications in an ongoing way. Collate data and other evidence required to achieve this.
• Keep up to date with developments in communication best practice, and in particular trends in climate change communication, sharing this learning and using it to continually improve communications by Partnership members.
• Work with the whole staff team to carry out any other task or project required from time to time, as directed by the manager, CEO or trustees.
• As an employee of CAfS, participate with colleagues in the wider operation of the organisation.

Person Specification

Essential skills and attributes:

• Experience of developing and implementing effective communications strategies to support the delivery of multi-partner programmes, including budget management.
• Proven ability to advise and influence senior staff in diverse organisations on communications approaches.
• Experience of managing public relations, with the ability to plan for, create and react to media opportunities and attract free and influential coverage.
• Proven ability to develop and implement a new brand.
• Experience of social media management, including tools for monitoring channels, scheduling posts and analysing performance data.
• Experience of managing online and print advertisement.
• Strong analysis and evaluation skills including and experience of evaluating and monitoring communications, carrying out audience research and applying the lessons learnt.
• Experience of managing website development, production of online content, monitoring and analytics. Working knowledge of laws and regulations relating to communications, including GDPR, data protection/security, advertising and media law.
• Experience of producing a wide range of communications collateral for diverse uses and audiences, with a proven ability to develop effective content tailored to specific audiences and communicate complex technical information in a clear, engaging way.
• High standard of written and verbal communication, grammar, spelling, proofreading and attention to detail.
• Basic knowledge of sustainability issues and an interest in the objectives that CAfS seeks to deliver.
• Ability to work independently and manage delivery of own workload, working cooperatively as part of a remote team.

Desirable criteria

The following attributes are desirable but not essential:

• Experience of working on climate change or carbon reduction communications.
• Experience of developing and implementing behaviour change communications strategies.
• Experience of sharing learning and building communications skills in others.
• Experience of running online and in-person events and activities, including the use of video conferencing/meeting/webinar tools such as Zoom.
• Experience of using WordPress and the Microsoft Office 365 environment, including Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams and Sharepoint.
• Experience of working with a diverse range of organisations – from community and youth groups to local authorities.
• Knowledge of Cumbrian / North of England geography.
• Experience of basic video editing.
• An active network of Cumbria or national media contacts.

If you would like more information about the role, please email: [email protected].

Date posted: Thurs 24th September 2020
Closing date: 9am, Mon 19 October 2020

Join our active team and take overall responsibility for our new Community Carbon Literacy Project. This project will develop, recruit and train a brand-new network of twenty community trainers, to run a widespread programme of events on climate science and solutions, including open home events and carbon literacy training courses across Cumbria.  The role includes the responsibility of recruiting and training the volunteers and supporting them to deliver the project in their communities and driving forward carbon literacy in the county.

 

Application & Interview Process

Please apply by completing the application form below. We do not accept CVs. Guidance for submitting your application is included in the form.

Application Form – Community Carbon Literacy Coordinator

The closing date for return of applications is 9am on 19th October 2020. Candidates shortlisted for interview will be informed by Wednesday 21 October 2020. Interviews will be held on Thursday 5th November 2020 via Zoom.

Job description

If you prefer to download the job description and person specification, please use the link below:

Job Description – Community Carbon Literacy Coordinator

EMPLOYER:  Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS).

LOCATION: Principally home working, with meetings and training events required in various locations in Cumbria and at our office in Penrith when Covid-19 restrictions allow (Rural Eden Foyer, Old London Road, Penrith, CA11 8ET).

REPORTS TO: Zero Carbon Development Manager.

HOURS: 0.4 FTE or 2 days a week = 15hrs per week.

SALARY RANGE: £21,000 – £24,000 per annum full-time equivalent (£8,400 – £9,600 for the 15-hour week), depending on skills and experience.

DURATION: Fixed-term contract, starting immediately, to end September 2021 (with potential to extend or opportunity for extra hours subject to additional funding).

ABOUT CAFS:

Our vision is a zero carbon Cumbria and we strive to bring about a better way of life, in balance with our environment.

Our mission is to empower and enable people, communities and businesses to live and work more sustainably by sharing our knowledge, practice, skills, networks and practical experience. We manage and deliver events, advice, training and practical projects across the county as well as providing specialist consultancy services to enable individuals, communities, businesses and local authorities to drive a shift towards a Zero Carbon Cumbria.

CAfS is an award-winning charity with a team of seventeen highly skilled staff, working with a pool of specialist contractors and volunteers to deliver around 20 major, transformational low-carbon projects each year. CAfS is the leading organisation in Cumbria showcasing low-carbon living, energy-efficiency improvements, renewable technology and reduced use of fossil fuels, both on a domestic scale and in the community. Now in our 22nd year, CAfS is the first point of reference in the county for information on sustainability. CAfS is a dynamic, pro-active and responsive organisation, continually striving to deliver effective projects that make an impact and drive real change towards a low-carbon future. As such, we continually initiate, scrutinise, refine and launch new projects, accessing funding from a variety of sources or earning income from delivering specialist services.

BACKGROUND TO THE COMMUNITY CARBON LITERACY PROJECT

This project will develop, recruit and train a brand-new network of twenty community trainers, to run a widespread programme of events on climate science and solutions, including open home events and carbon literacy training courses across Cumbria.

A training package of information and interactive exercises will be developed, and the network of community trainers will be supported to deliver this training to those they wish to influence, including businesses, councils, schools, churches and other organisations. All community trainers will receive an induction, a full day of training as a group, one-to-one support, opportunities for additional training and learning and opportunities to socialise and support each other.

Individuals will also be supported to become open home hosts to showcase sustainable living, renewable energy and other solutions to support community knowledge sharing. The project is funded by a grant from the Emergence Foundation.

Project Outcomes

• 20 community trainers and 5 open home hosts will report improved quality of life, reduced feelings of helplessness about the climate crisis and increased sense of purpose, confidence, empowerment, and agency.
• 20 communities-of-interest report that their community has been enhanced through stronger networks, reduced feelings of isolation, increased opportunities to socialise, shared learning across groups and peer support.
• 400 individuals (trained by community trainers) report shift in consciousness, increased knowledge of climate science and solutions, and ability to make positive changes, increased agency, sense of purpose and responsibility.
• 400 people (trained by community trainers) make substantive pledges to benefit the environment through taking action to reduce emissions and tackle climate change in their own lives and in their workplace or community.

MAIN PURPOSES OF ROLE:

We are seeking a Community Carbon Literacy Training Coordinator to take overall responsibility for CAfS’ new Community Carbon Literacy Project. Specifically, to:

• Recruit and train 20 community volunteer trainers and coordinate and support them to deliver training in their communities.
• Coordinate volunteer open home hosts to deliver 5 open home events.

As a result of the Covid-19 crisis, all, or some, delivery may have to take place online to ensure the safety of staff, volunteers and attendees.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an individual to make a real impact in increasing awareness, confidence, agency and knowledge of climate science and solutions in Cumbria. Every opportunity should be taken to ensure this work is integrated into the other work that CAfS delivers so that benefits are maximised.

TASKS WILL INCLUDE:

Volunteer/community trainer coordination and support

• Ensure that 20 training events (these may be virtual) are run by community trainers and 400 people are trained by community trainers within one year.
• Recruit and induct 20 volunteer community trainers.
• Develop a clear offer for community trainers.
• Complete volunteer agreements with community trainers.
• Ensure all community trainers attend full day accredited carbon literacy training.
• Coordinate 3 or 4 focused one-hour training sessions for community trainers.
• Support community trainers to move on to join our pool of professional trainers if they wish, and if they show capability.
• Direct community trainers to further opportunities for learning and development.
• Coordinate opportunities for community trainers to socialise and support each other.
• Ensure that community trainers represent a diverse range of groups, reflective of Cumbria’s population.
• Manage enquiries about training courses and direct to community trainers.

Supporting development of, and leading delivery of (a small number of) training sessions directly:

• Mentor and support community trainers at the first session they deliver, if needed.
• Update and improve training materials as needed.
• Support community trainers with answers to queries.
• On occasion, deliver short one-hour sessions on climate science and solutions.

Open Homes event programme coordination

• Coordinate and attend five open home events (these may be virtual).
• Liaise with marketing team to promote open home events, manage bookings and donations.
• To recruit and liaise with event hosts.
• To attend and introduce events where needed.
• To be responsible for ensuring that a risk assessment is completed for every event.

Administration

• Administer trainer expenses claims, manage room bookings, refreshments etc.
• Negotiate partnerships and free venues and refreshments wherever possible.

Project Management

• Manage project budget.
• Develop monitoring and evaluation approach.
• Ensure that community trainers complete all required monitoring and evaluation.
• Liaise with and report to funder.

General

• Provide updates for CAfS Zero Carbon Development Manager as required.
• To be a conduit for information to individuals on wider CAfS projects.
• To contribute news articles, web content and other information about the project to the Marketing Team for publicity and CAfS profile raising.
• To contribute to the on-going work of CAfS generally including attending appropriate networking meetings, team meetings and training sessions and carry out other tasks or projects required from time to time, as directed by the manager or trustees.

Person Specification

Essential skills and attributes:

• Confident knowledge of climate science, sustainable living and low carbon solutions.
• Experience of volunteer coordination and support.
• Highly organised with experience of planning, scheduling and delivering projects and events.
• Ability to host and attend events and speak confidently in front of small groups, both online and in person.
• Experience of delivering training sessions or presentations.
• Ability to work flexibly including evening and weekend working.
• Highly motivated and independent worker requiring minimal supervision.
• Ability to work cooperatively as part of a small team.
• Good knowledge of Cumbrian geography and the ability to travel independently throughout rural Cumbria, although many elements of the role could be completed from home or the CAfS office.

The following are desirable but not essential:

• Experience of managing grant-funded projects.
• Experience of delivering meetings, events or training remotely using Zoom, MS Teams or other means.
• Knowledge of, and contacts across, Cumbria’s network of sustainability groups.
• Experience of managing budgets.

If you would like more information about the role, please email [email protected].