Site Development Worker

3 days per week (Tuesday, and two of Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) 
plus occasional weekend work and some additional unpaid coop responsibilities.
Salary: £21,567 pro rata
Post will be a fixed term 12 month contract, with role review commencing after nine months.
Extension is dependent on role review, project financing and income generated. 
Location: Hawkwood Community Plant Nursery, Chingford, London E4 7UH
Responsible to: Organiclea workers’ cooperative
Start date: as soon as possible

Job Outline
As Organiclea’s production, distribution, training and volunteering work at our 12-acre Hawkwood Community Plant Nursery & Market Garden develops and evolves, so do the needs and possibilities of the “infrastructure” – the building (warehouse, classroom, toilets, tool shed, offices, workshop, pack house, winery); glasshouse; hard and soft landscape; and biodiversity areas.
We are looking for someone with a diverse range of skills, who will relish a job that is varied, and involves working closely with machines, people and nature!
The Site Development Worker will manage the maintenance of our “soft landscape” of lawns, grassland, leys and meadows; the extensive biodiversity areas, the hard landscape and future planned building developments. They will develop creative training and volunteering opportunities, with an initial focus on young people, in pursuit of these objectives. They will also explore possibilities for enterprise development and/or other income streams such as grants, that might support their work in the longer term.
They will work closely with the Infrastructure Worker, coordinating the overall Infrastructure Work Plan and budget, and supporting infrastructure maintenance work as required.
In summary, we are looking for a “handy” person who is passionate about local food production, sustainable building and working with people. They should have some experience of both management and delivery of building projects, and take a delight in outdoor land-based work.

How to apply
Deadline for applications is 5pm Monday 22nd July. 
To apply, please send a CV and covering letter, outlining how you meet the Person Specification, to Huf Lowman: huf@organiclea.org.uk (or by post to Hawkwood Nursery, 115 Hawkwood Crescent, Chingford E4 7UH).
Potential applicants interested in visiting us to find out more about our site and our work are warmly encouraged to attend the Volunteer Induction session, on Friday 19th July, 11am – 1 pm. Please advise us in advance if you will be attending.
Interviews will take place on Thursday 1st August.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities specific to this post
•	Coordinate the design and implementation of building refurbishments at Hawkwood Community Plant Nursery in line with needs of the co-op, working closely with the Infrastructure Worker
•	Develop the Hard Landscape, Soft Landscape and Biodiversity Management Plans for Hawkwood, and coordinate their implementation, to agreed budget and schedule
•	Manage the firewood storage system, and develop an income generating enterprise based on the sale of firewood and ancillary products
•	Explore other income generating opportunities associated with the work, such as grants or crowd fundraising for environmental stewardship and ecological building
•	Develop and deliver creative training and volunteering opportunities, for diverse beneficiaries including young people, in the areas of building development, landscape management and firewood enterprise
•	Support the Infrastructure Worker in infrastructure maintenance work (buildings, glasshouse, irrigation, workshop organisation), as appropriate
•	Coordinate the Infrastructure Work Plan, working closely with the Infrastructure Worker
•	Manage the Infrastructure budget, working closely with the Infrastructure Worker
•	Maintain and update the operation manual “Hawkwood Handbook” 
•	Be on call to solve any arising problems, by phone and reasonable attendance

Responsibilities associated with the Hawkwood site team and Organiclea cooperative
•	Participate fully in the management and running of the Hawkwood site, including carrying out essential cover or organisational tasks necessary to ensure its smooth running
•	All workers are required to monitor and mitigate financial, health and safety and other risks within their area of responsibility
•	Maintain the Hawkwood site in line with agreed site design and planting plans
•	Participate in necessary meetings that support short-medium term work for colleagues and project planning
•	Contribute to annual evaluation days
•	Participate in the development of Organiclea as a workers’ cooperative organisation
•	Participate in the running of Organiclea workers’ cooperative, which will include contributing to the development of other related projects within the cooperative

Person specification

The successful candidate will have the following knowledge and experience:

•	Experience of building works, including carpentry skills
•	Experience of managing/participating in, the delivery of  building refurbishment projects
•	A good knowledge of local food issues
•	Experience of working with volunteers 
•	Experience of managing a multi-use public space
•	Basic knowledge of lawn mower use and maintenance
•	Basic knowledge of hard landscape maintenance
•	Experience of project administration and budget management, especially as it relates to capital expenditure for building and maintenance purposes
•	Experience of setting up and ongoing management of basic administrative systems 
•	Chainsaw licence, or willingness to obtain one

Skills and abilities:

•	Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
•	Ability to deliver creative training opportunities that appeal to and support a range of participants
•	Ability to enthuse and educate volunteers and visitors about the Hawkwood Nursery and its approach to local food and sustainable technology issues
•	Computer literacy
•	Strong organisational skills
•	An interest in working with young people

Commitment:

•	Commitment to cooperative principles
•	Commitment to community empowerment especially in diverse urban communities
•	Willingness to abide by Organiclea’s Equal Opportunities Policy

The following experience and skills would also be desirable:

•	Experience of working in a workers’ cooperative structure or environment
•	Knowledge of local community (Waltham Forest and surrounding areas)
•	Experience of working with diverse communities 
•	Experience of working with young people
•	Ability to cycle with a trailer or willingness to learn
•	Driving licence with experience of van driving, or willingness to learn 
•	At least one year’s experience of organic food growing in a community setting
•	Understanding or practical experience of permaculture principles
•	Arboricultural or conservation management qualification or experience
•	Experience of applying for grants, and delivering grant funded projects