Company Limited by Guarantee No. 296 8284 Registered Charity No. 1041901

West Somerset Railway Association

The Railway Station, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton, TA4 3BX T: 01823 433856 E: manager@wsra.org.uk

www.wsra.org.uk

West Somerset Railway

WSR Community Engagement Officer

The WSR Community Engagement Project is a 2 year funded project to enhance community cohesion and enable the railway to increase its engagement with local communities, individuals, organisations and agencies and to extend its reach to a wider, more diverse community base. A range of activities will be developed including volunteering opportunities, training and work experience all of which are designed to facilitate personal well-being, community cohesion and the training and upskilling of people to help the economic stability of West Somerset and the wider areas surrounding the HPC build.

Job Title: WSR Community Engagement Officer

Job Purpose: To enhance and increase the railway’s engagement and interaction with local communities

Hours: 25 hours per week, achieved flexibly across 7 days.

Location: Based on the West Somerset Railway.

This role is key to the effective delivery of the project and the person engaged must possess the skills and experience necessary to interact, negotiate and deliver at all levels.

The role is offered on a 2 year fixed term employment contract. It is part-time, based on 25 hours per week, but will need to be flexible to operate across 7 days per week as the function and remit of the Project dictates. Therefore full flexibility and the ability to work unsocial hours on occasions will be necessary. Remuneration will be about £12.82 per hour according to experience. Community Engagement Manager Job Description

1. Identify and exploit opportunities for the wider community, its partners and the WSR as a whole to interact and develop closer and sustainable relationships.

2. Present/pitch the project at all levels. 3. Develop, coach, mentor and manage change through to all levels of paid and volunteer staff. 4. Influence stakeholders internally and externally. 5. Understand and exploit motivators and drivers for the Community and Volunteers 6. Work within HR, Child Protection and other legal requirements. 7. Develop and hold a relationship with all levels of local education. This will require someone with

the gravitas and authority to engage up to Academy Trust CEO Level. 8. Manage own workload and keep accurate reporting records to ensure KPIs are achieved. 9. Manage multiple reporting lines i.e.: A solid line report into the WSRA, dotted line reporting into

the WSR PLC & dotted line reporting into the funder.

Company Limited by Guarantee No. 296 8284 Registered Charity No. 1041901

WSR Community Engagement Manager Job Functions:

1. To work with the Community toward Community Cohesion at all levels. 2. To manage the Project. 3. To devise and deliver the Project activities. 4. To manage the Project budget. 5. To achieve the Project KPI’s. 6. To inspire internal and external parties/partners and engage them to act. 7. To present the project to external parties/local groups and the Community generally. 8. To work with Somerset Community Foundation & EDF in order to build longer term

relationships. 9. To engage with all levels of the Community, Educators, LEP’s etc to gain commitment and buy

in for the longer term. 10. To have a deep and clear understanding of the objectives of all stakeholders and partners in

this project and to develop/adapt plans which focus on achieving those differing objectives for each partner.

11. To encourage the WSR to remain focused on the communities’ and partners’ objectives in addition to its own.

12. To act as an internal cultural change mentor to help the WSR and its staff understand why this project is in place and help drive the necessary change through the organisation.

13. To support the WSRA and WSR PLC in their volunteer recruitment and retention, but not take responsibility for the processes. To influence change and to act as an additional resource.

14. To support the WSR in improving its volunteer culture within the time scale of this project, so that it continues beyond the time limit and funding of this project.

To apply please send in (by email or post) your up to date CV and a covering letter of no more than 500 words, explaining why you would be the best person to deliver this project for the community and the railway. Shortlisting will be achieved using the CV and covering letter. Interviews will focus on communication and interpersonal skills and final decisions will be made using a combination of the job description and person specification, focussed on ensuring the success of the project. We will be looking to appoint somebody with a balance of skills, tenacity and ability to complete the project successfully and this is best identified through strong and personal interview techniques. Closing Date for applications is 9:00am on Monday 7th January 2019. Applications by email to manager@wsra.org.uk (preferred) or by mail to the General Manager, West Somerset Railway Association, The Railway Station, Bishops Lydeard, TAUNTON, TA4 3BX.