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Project Officer - 12 month fixed term contract
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Project Officer Job Description and Person Specification
Reports to: Operations Manager
Contract type: Fixed Term Contract (12 months) with possibility of extension.
Hours of work: 25 hours a week – Please see below for break-down.
Salary: £22,000 - £24,000 pro rata depending on experience
Based in: London borough of Barnet (a centre in North Finchley, various venue locations and some home working also possible.
Purpose of the role
Do you want to make a difference to people experiencing homelessness in Barnet? Together in Barnet is looking for an enthusiastic candidate to fill the role of Project Officer. You will be reporting directly to the Operations Manager to help deliver projects that support people experiencing homelessness. Duties will change as various projects develop and respond to the current pandemic.
About Together in Barnet
Together in Barnet run the only night shelter provision in Barnet offering emergency accommodation to men and women experiencing homelessness in the borough. We work directly with Homeless Action in Barnet, a day centre offering a variety of services including case workers, showers, washing facilities and more. The rolling night shelter is volunteer run and includes more than 32 inter-faith communities across Barnet. We are a secular charity but rely on the buildings and people-power that religious communities have to offer.
Unfortunately, the pandemic forced the shelter to close in March 2020. Since then we have responded to support clients in alternative ways with new projects. These have included:
- Weekly food parcel deliveries to people in temporary accommodation
- A 24/7 hotel project offering safety and support to 16 rough sleepers a night.
- We are also in the process of setting up a new Mentoring and Befriending project.
For more information, please see our website - www.togetherinbarnet.org
Key roles and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
This is an exciting time for the charity as we continue to reinvent ourselves as a result of the pandemic. As we move forward, we are looking for someone who has energy and initiative and who can help us build and adapt our services to continue supporting those who need us. The successful candidate will be one of two paid members of staff and we expect people to be highly flexible in their roles, with a “can do” attitude, and be willing and capable to adapt to the needs of the projects as they present themselves.
As this role is part-time, some flexibility can be accommodated as long as key roles and responsibilities are met. The requirements needed for the role include time needed during the normal working day (9am-5pm) and physical presence at the shelter in the evenings at least 3 days a week from 6pm-8pm. Whilst the shelter is not running, any allocated evening hours would be completed during the day.
We strive to be a supportive working environment and acknowledge that you may have other working/voluntary or personal commitments during the week. We are therefore prepared to structure the working hours to accommodate these commitments for the right person, as long as they are also in the best interest of the charity and the people we support.
This will be discussed further during the interview stage but an example of a suggested working schedule for the successful candidate would be:
Monday: 2 hours to keep on top of emails and/or urgent tasks that need completing.
Tuesday: 10am – 3pm and 6pm-8pm – 7 hours
Wednesday: 10am – 3pm and 6pm-8pm – 7 hours
Thursday: 2 hours to keep on top of emails and/or urgent tasks that need completing.
Friday: 10am – 3pm and 6pm-8pm – 7 hours
Total: 25 hours a week.
As the normal shelter and hotel projects are 7 days a week, work on weekends may be required on occasion. Any over-time is taken off as Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) at a time agreed with the Operations Manager.
This role description therefore provides only a summary of the main duties and other tasks may be required.
Day-to-day operations
Working with the Operations Manager to implement the day-to-day operations of TiB including exciting new projects. This includes:
Coordinating and recruiting volunteers for our weekly food deliveries
Taking an active role in facilitating the hotel project and rolling night shelter once we are able to resume our normal working practices. This includes working directly with our ‘guests’, volunteer communities and ensuring the smooth running of the accommodation projects.
Mentoring and Befriending Project
- Take responsibility for developing this project which is still in the design phase. This project would be yours to ‘make your own’ whilst receiving ongoing support and direction from the Operations Manager.
- Following the completion of a pilot scheme, we would expect the person appointed to this role to lead in developing and expanding the project, imbedding this new service into the community in Barnet which will have a long lasting and positive impact in the borough.
Volunteers
- Recruiting, managing and training teams of volunteers with support.
- Respond to and process new volunteer applications.
Fundraising, website and social media
- Identifying potential sources of funding and working with the Operations Manager on bid writing.
- Developing and keeping the website up to date (training will be given).
- Take responsibility for Increasing Together in Barnet’s online presence and improving its brand awareness using social media (Facebook, Twitter).
DBS and references
Appointment will be subject to the receipt of satisfactory references and an Enhanced DBS check.
Closing date for applications:
Please submit your application by 5pm Wednesday 6th October. We will invite suitable candidates for interview as soon as their applications are received.
To apply:
Please send your CV and a supporting statement telling us why you are interested in the role and how you meet the person specification. Send your completed application by email to: amanda@togetherinbarnet.org
Interview and start dates:
Suitable candidates will be invited for interview via Zoom. We will appoint to the role as soon as possible and hope for the successful candidate to start as soon as possible.