Community Engagement Officer (Part-Time)

Alness Source: WhatJobs

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Community Engagement Officer (Part-Time)

This position is for an initial 6 month fixed-term contract.

The Community Engagement Officer will connect ILM Highland with communities across the Highlands through the Rescued and Ready project, building strong relationships with residents, community groups, and partners. The role will promote a culture of repair, reuse, and sustainability, helping people feel more connected, supported, and empowered within their communities.

The primary focus of this role is the design, operational management, and delivery of the Rescued and Ready project, ensuring it meets agreed objectives, targets, and outcomes. The postholder will take ownership of shaping and developing the project, ensuring it delivers meaningful impact across the communities we serve.

The Community Engagement Officer plays a key role in delivering ILM Highland’s strategic objectives through the design, coordination, and delivery of the Rescued and Ready project across the Highlands. The role operates across a wide geographical area, engaging with diverse communities, partners, and stakeholders to maximise reach and impact.

The breadth of the role includes project planning and operational delivery, community engagement, workshop facilitation, partnership development, and promotion of ILM Highland’s wider services. The postholder is responsible for delivering a programme of workshops in collaboration with the Electrical Technician, ensuring activities are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to community needs.

The role carries responsibility for ensuring the successful delivery of the Rescued & Ready project outcomes, including meeting agreed targets, managing engagement activity, and workshop uptake. The postholder is also accountable for monitoring performance, collecting data, and producing quarterly reports to demonstrate outputs, outcomes, and impact to internal stakeholders and funders.

The role has a direct organisational impact by increasing community engagement, strengthening ILM Highland’s profile, and supporting the growth of reuse, repair, and circular economy initiatives. Through effective delivery and promotion, the postholder contributes to reducing waste, supporting households, and enhancing ILM Highland’s overall reach and sustainability.

People Responsibility
No formal line management responsibility.

Financial & Resource Responsibility
No direct budget accountability. Works within agreed service funding parameters and demonstrates awareness of cost considerations.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership & Delivery (Rescued and Ready – Core Priority)

Lead the design, coordination, and delivery of the Rescued and Ready project
Ensure the project meets agreed objectives, targets, and outcomes
Contribute to the ongoing development and growth of the project

Community Engagement & Outreach

Build and maintain strong relationships with local communities, schools, partner organisations, and stakeholders
Actively engage with a broad and diverse demographic, including underrepresented groups
Promote ILM Highland’s services and circular economy message across the Highlands
Attend and represent ILM Highland at local events to strengthen community presence and profile
Signpost individuals to appropriate ILM Highland services, ensuring access to the right support

Workshop Planning & Delivery

Develop and deliver a programme of community workshops focused on repair, reuse, and upcycling of small household electrical items
Organise and facilitate hands‑on learning sessions in collaboration with the Electrical Technician
Support participants to safely learn practical repair and reuse skills
Ensure all workshops are accessible, inclusive, safe, and engaging
Adapt delivery to suit different audiences and community needs

Communication, Promotion & Brand Awareness

Actively communicate and promote the full range of ILM Highland services
Raise awareness of reuse, repair, and sustainability initiatives
Assist with the marketing and promotion of workshops and community activities
Share success stories, outcomes, and community impact to strengthen ILM Highland’s profile
Work closely with the Business Development Manager to support partnership development and engagement opportunities

Monitoring, Reporting & Impact

Monitor and track progress against agreed objectives, KPIs, and targets
Gather feedback from participants and communities to inform service improvement
Maintain accurate records of engagement activity, workshop delivery, and outcomes
Produce quarterly reports demonstrating outputs, outcomes, and impact
Contribute to reporting requirements for funders, including Highland Council

Strategic Contribution

Understand and contribute to ILM Highland’s organisational strategy
Align day‑to‑day activities with strategic priorities and project objectives
Identify opportunities to increase engagement, impact, and efficiency
Contribute to the growth of a culture of repair, reuse, and sustainability across the Highlands

Planning and Organising

The postholder will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and delivering a programme of community engagement activities and workshops as part of the Rescued and Ready project.

This includes:

Developing and managing a schedule of workshops delivered from the Alness site, aligned to project objectives and targets
Organising resources, equipment, and logistics required for effective workshop delivery, working in collaboration with the Electrical Technician
Coordinating attendance and participation, ensuring workshops are well promoted and accessible to a wide range of community members
Prioritising workload to balance project delivery, community engagement, and promotional activity
Planning and attending outreach activities and events across the Highlands to engage communities and encourage participation in workshops
Adapting plans in response to demand, feedback, and participation levels to maximise impact
Coordinating with internal teams and external partners to ensure efficient and joined‑up delivery
Ensuring all activities are delivered within agreed timelines and contribute to achieving project outcomes and reporting requirements

The role requires the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and respond flexibly to a dynamic working environment.

Decision-Making/Use of Judgement

The postholder will be required to exercise sound judgement and make day‑to‑day decisions to support the effective delivery of the Rescued and Ready project and associated engagement activities.

This includes:

Planning and prioritising workload to ensure delivery of workshops, outreach activity, and project objectives
Making decisions on how best to engage different communities and adapt approaches to maximise participation and impact
Assessing participant needs and signposting individuals to appropriate ILM Highland services
Adjusting workshop content and delivery style to suit varying levels of ability, confidence, and group dynamics
Responding to challenges in delivery, including attendance levels, resource availability, and logistical issues
Identifying opportunities to improve engagement, increase participation, and enhance project outcomes
Using initiative to resolve issues independently, escalating more complex matters where appropriate

The role requires the ability to work independently, use initiative, and apply practical judgement in a community-facing environment, while ensuring alignment with organisational policies, procedures, and strategic priorities.

Problem Solving and Complexity

The postholder will be required to address a range of practical and operational challenges associated with delivering the Rescued and Ready project and engaging communities across the Highlands.

This includes:

Managing varying levels of participation and identifying ways to increase engagement and attendance at workshops
Adapting workshop delivery to meet the needs of individuals with different skills, confidence levels, and learning styles
Responding to logistical challenges, including scheduling, resource availability, and coordination with internal teams and partners
Overcoming barriers to engagement, particularly for underrepresented or harder‑to‑reach groups
Identifying and resolving issues that may impact the successful delivery of project activities and outcomes
Balancing competing priorities, including project delivery, outreach activity, and promotional work
Using feedback and data to identify areas for improvement and implement changes to enhance impact

The role requires a practical, solution-focused approach, with the ability to assess situations, use initiative, and adapt quickly to changing circumstances. More complex or strategic issues should be escalated appropriately, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and project objectives.

Special Features/Working Conditions

The role will be primarily based at the ILM Highland site in Alness, where all workshops will be delivered.
The postholder will be required to engage with communities across the Highlands, which may involve travel to attend events and build relationships. A driver’s licence may be required.
Where appropriate, online engagement and attendance at virtual events may be used to maximise efficiency and effective use of working time.
The role involves regular interaction with members of the public, including individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and with varying levels of need and confidence.
The postholder will support the delivery of practical, hands‑on workshops involving small electrical items, requiring awareness of health and safety procedures and safe working practices.
The role may require occasional evening or weekend working to support community events, workshops, or engagement activities.
The postholder will work both independently and collaboratively, including close working with the Electrical Technician and Business Development Manager.
The role requires flexibility to respond to changing priorities, community demand, and project requirements.
The postholder will act as an ambassador for ILM Highland, maintaining a professional and positive approach when representing the organisation in the community.

All roles at ILM Highland contribute to the delivery of our organisational strategy. Staff are expected to understand how their role supports our strategic priorities and reflect this in their day‑to‑day work and decision‑making.