Events Assistant (Race for Nature Kickstarter)

Institution of Environmental Sciences
£10.85/hour
Homebased temporarily - Shoreditch Office when safe
30 December 2021

NB: We can only accept applications from candidates who have been referred to us by their local job centre or Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). 

About Race for Nature’s Recovery

This role is a placement created through Race for Nature’s Recovery. Race for Nature’s Recovery is a new project coordinated by Action for Conservation, Generation Success, Students Organising for Sustainability and Voyage Youth, and supported by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Synchronicity Earth and the Department for Work and Pensions. The project aims to place 125 young people aged 16-24 and from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the environmental sector into meaningful Living Wage work placements at over 40 leading environmental and sustainability organisations across the UK, including the Institution of Environmental Sciences. 

This unique opportunity will enable young people from backgrounds currently underrepresented within the sector to gain meaningful employment in the environmental sector and shape a more inclusive movement at this pivotal point in time. Successful applicants will join a training cohort of other young people in the programme and will undertake formal training alongside their placement focused on sector-specific skills and knowledge and general employability skills. Young people will also receive 1:1 mentoring aimed at progressing key personal and professional development aims throughout their placement, in addition to access to tailored networking and employment support.  

In order to be eligible for a placement, you must be: 

  • 16-24 years old 

  • Currently on universal credit 

In order to encourage diversity and inclusivity within the environmental sector in line with the project’s aims, we particularly welcome applications from young people who meet at least one of the following:  

  • Young people living in economically deprived areas of the UK* 

  • Non-graduates 

*Note – to check whether or not you live in an economically deprived area, you can enter your postcode here to get an index of multiple deprivation figure (1 = low, 10 = high): http://imd-by-postcode.opendatacommunities.org/imd/2019 

The Institution of Environmental Sciences 
The Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) is a charitable organisation which has been promoting and raising public awareness of environmental science since 1971. We activate our global network of leading education institutions, researchers, professionals, and policy makers to stand up for science, scientists and the natural world. You can learn more about us by exploring our 
website. 

In 2020, we ran 22 events, 33 webinars and 26 workshops. 2021 will be just as busy, with conferences, webinars and events in the lead up to COP26, events focused on our Communities and hopefully the return to physical events. This is an exciting time to join this small and rapidly growing charity to pick up valuable experience on all aspects of events work, from idea conception to planning and preparation, operations and logistics, marketing and promotion, to on-the-day running and post-event reviews.  

Main Purpose of the Post 
We are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic kickstarter to help our Events and Marketing Lead in delivering our busy events calendar. You will support all aspects of our events from conception to completion, supporting event attendees with any questions they may have, and creating hype through engaging social media. You will be a bright and confident individual, excited to get stuck in from day one and ready to learn.  

You will report directly to the Events and Marketing Officer, but we work collaboratively on some projects that you may also be involved in. This role will provide you with skills and experience in events support and an insight into events management. You will gain skills in creative content production, how to vary your communication style depending on the audience, and knowledge of a variety of different event types.Shape 


 Job Role

Events 

  • Maintaining ways to interact with, and learn from, staff, committees, communities and members  

  • Supporting the Events and Marketing Officer in delivering innovative virtual and physical events 

  • Supporting with event administration, including updating the events calendar, responding to event attendee enquires by phone and email, and maintaining spreadsheets 

  • Researching new event suppliers and exhibitors 

  • Working with other staff to ensure that they are aware of and engaged with upcoming events, and that appropriate links are maintained between your work and the publications, policy, education and training functions  

  • Onsite support with logistics and operations at events to ensure they run smoothly, including virtual events 

Marketing & communications 

  • Supporting the delivery of the events marketing strategy, including using innovative marketing channels to target new audiences (both within and outside our membership) and devising appropriate mediums and messages to reach them 

  • Generating content ideas for use on social media 

  • Building a social media calendar of posts and activities 

  • Horizon scanning by using social media and current, relevant news to keep up to date with the sector, and using this knowledge to guide social media posts 

Other 

  • Support with ad hoc collaborative projects 

  • Ad hoc office tasks as determined by the CEO 

Person Specification 
As with many roles at the IES, this role covers many aspects of work and we recognise that no candidate is likely to have all the desirable skills. Please note for this role you also do not need to have any formal environmental experience.  

Essential (general) 

Desirable (general) 

  • Demonstrable ability to quickly pick up new tasks and communicate concepts effectively 

  • Flexible approach with the ability to use own initiative and rapidly respond to varying needs 

  • Comfortable working within a small team as well as on your own 

  • Recognition of the importance of diversity and inclusion 

  • Interest in the environment, sustainability and/or science 

  • Motivation to work hard remotely with reduced supervision  

  • English GCSE grade: A*-C or 9 – 4 

  • Experience in the environmental or NGO/charity sector 

  • Understanding of current environmental topics e.g. sustainability and climate change 

 

 

Essential (role-specific) 

Desirable (role-specific) 

  • Lived experience of attending events and being able to evaluate what you liked and what you didn’t like about them 

  • Lived experience of using social media, understanding that different audiences use different platforms, and experience with a variety of content including videos, photos, articles, polls, questions and statements 

  • Experience with Gmail 

  • Experience with Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel 

  • A keen eye for detail 

  • Clear and confident verbal and written communicator 

  • Lived experience of having to solve problems 

  • Strong time management 

  • Enthusiasm and passion to make a difference 

  • A hard work ethic and team player 

  • An awareness of working safely and being able to spot possible risks or hazards 

  • A sensitive approach to partner and member needs 

  • Previous work experience in events 

  • Previous experience of setting up and managing strong performing social media channels 

  • Experience using graphic design software (e.g. photoshop) 

Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 
As the representative body for environmental science, it is essential that we proactively seek to enhance diversity and inclusion across the sector, act as agents for change, and lead by example for the betterment of our society, economy and environment. We aim to ensure our membership is diverse and inclusive, our events are accessible and representative, and our operations support equity across the sector. You can read more about how we are supporting diversity and inclusion through our EDI Plan

About the Role
The position is full time. The role will remain open as part of the kickstarter scheme until a suitable candidate has applied. We would look for the successful candidate to start the role as soon as possible after successful interview and will discuss this during the interview process.

How to Apply
You will need to apply via your job centre work coach who will have details on the application process. Direct applications can only be accepted if we have received a referral for you from your local job centre. Applicants are encouraged to complete our Diversity Monitoring Form, to help ensure we are reaching a wider range of audiences for our job posts.

Why work for us?
At the IES, we know that the secret of a successful professional body is the quality of the people behind the membership services.

Our small, inclusive team work collaboratively with one another, as well as our fantastic trustees, members and partner organisations, to fulfill our mission of advocating for science and the environment.

With a good list of employee benefits and a social calendar connected to the office, we are sure you will enjoy the culture of working at the IES. We care about nurturing your career development with individualised professional development plans and a separate budget that you can spend on your learning.

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