Outreach Specialist Job Description & Person Specification

Job Title: Employed by: Grade: Salary: Contract: Line-manager: Hours of work: Holidays: Pension: Outreach Officer Unlock Democracy C 29,170 per annum pro-rata (including London weighting) 2 year fixed term contract Local Works National Co-ordinator 21 hrs per week with some weekend and evening work expected 25 days (i.e. 15 days pro-rata) in addition to Christmas office closure 3% Job Description Local Works is a coalition of over 100 national organisations that successfully campaigned for the passing of the Sustainable Communities Act in 2007. We now promote the Act and campaign for its proper implementation. Local Works is a project of Unlock Democracy, which is the UKs leading campaign for democracy, rights and freedoms. A grassroots movement, we are owned and run by our members. We want to bring power closer to the people and create a culture of informed political interest and responsibility. We are recruiting an Outreach Specialist to encourage under-represented groups to get involved in the Sustainable Communities Act. The main focus of your role will be to organise meetings with underrepresented groups (e.g. BME groups, lower socio-economic groups, disabled people, young people, old people) and to inspire them to become involved in the Act. This will involve contacting organisations representing disadvantaged groups and arranging meetings and discussion groups with them around the country. The role will require you to be able to communicate the message of the Act to the target audience and to inspire them to become involved in the Acts processes. You will help them understand how the Act is relevant to their lives and their own experiences. You would also be expected, when not meeting with under-represented groups, to assist with the general activities of Local Works, including providing assistance in compiling a Best Practice Guide on involving under-represented groups in the Act and contributing to our ongoing campaigning and research work on the Act and undertaking any other tasks reasonably required by your line manager.

Person Specification
Unlock Democracy seeks an Outreach Specialist. The successful applicant should have: Essential: A proven track-record of outreach work (1 year minimum); Excellent oral communication skills; Excellent organisational skills, including an ability to organise own time and act on own initiative; A passion for the aims of and philosophy behind the Sustainable Communities Act and a clear working knowledge of the Act; Good working knowledge of politics and campaigning; Good IT skills including Word, Excel and the internet; Ability to work flexibly and as part of a team.

Desirable: Experience of working with disadvantaged groups; Existing links and networks with under-represented groups and community organisations; Experience of public speaking Experience and knowledge of the workings of local government; Experience of political campaigning; Research skills; Experience of producing effective campaign materials aimed at disadvantaged groups such as leaflets and videos; Skills in communicating via social media tools;

Closing date: Friday 17 August Interview date: Monday 27 August Please send your application to: daniel.flanagan@unlockdemocracy.org.uk or Daniel Flanagan, Unlock Democracy, 37 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8PQ. Please note that the number of responses we receive means that we are only able to reply to shortlisted candidates