National Trails Volunteer and Project Coordinator

Job Introduction

About Us

The Thames Path and Ridgeway National Trails are part of a family of sixteen National Trails. National Trails are managed to provide the public with high-quality long-distance walking, cycling, and horse-riding experiences. We are a small but friendly team looking after the trails with the aid of our fantastic volunteers. We maintain and install signage, gates, and small bridges, as well as carrying out extensive summer mowing. We also engage with local communities and explore new and exciting ways to promote and enhance the trails and the environments they traverse.

About the Role

A rare opportunity has arisen, and we are looking to appoint an energetic, personable, and resourceful person with experience in working with and supervising volunteers carrying out practical countryside work. The postholder will be responsible for managing our Volunteer Scheme to ensure that the two National Trails meet Trail Quality Standards and that volunteers feel safe, motivated, and adequately trained and equipped.

The role involves working in scenic farmed countryside along the rural Thames Path, from the source in the Cotswolds to the edge of London, as well as along The Ridgeway in the chalk hills of the Chilterns and North Wessex Downs National Landscapes. The postholder will have access to their own work truck and manage a workshop space and equipment dedicated to the Volunteer Scheme. The role includes attracting and retaining volunteers to promote, maintain, and enhance the Trails. Tasks include conducting surveys, making signs, clearing vegetation, installing gates, mowing, and carrying out surface patch repairs. There will also be opportunities to develop new initiatives and contacts, such as attracting different types of people to volunteer with us.

About You

If you have come through a countryside apprenticeship scheme or gained plenty of practical experience working with volunteers in the countryside, then this is the role for you. With your strong people skills and high level of organisation, you will find a satisfying and rewarding job working alongside hardworking volunteers.

 Rewards and benefits

• Culture of flexible working 
• Technology to support agile working where role permits
• 28 days annual leave p.a. plus bank holidays (this can increase to 31 as your length of service increases)
• Option to ‘buy’ additional holiday
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
• Membership of the Local Government contributary pension scheme, with an employers contribution of up to 19.9%
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development

Our commitment to:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:
Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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If you encounter any technical issues with the application system, please contact us at: careers@oxfordshire.gov.uk