Environmental Initiatives Officer

Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom

8/7/2025

Main Purpose of the Role

Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job, it's about being part of something meaningful. It's about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch.

We Currently Have The Following Opportunity

Environmental Initiatives Officer - PKC12937

£33,261 - £36,508

Pullar House, Perth

Are you passionate about improving the quality of your local open greenspaces and working with communities - then this is the role for you.

A permanent post has become available, with the opportunity to join Community Greenspace based in the picturesque area of Perth and Kinross.

The team is responsible for all local authority parks, woodlands, cemeteries and other greenspaces within this large geographical area. The Communities section has an essential role working in partnership with our communities developing environmental initiatives, such as, award winning Bloom Groups, Friends of Cemeteries, Paths Groups and Friends of Parks groups.This role will focus on the work with the Bloom and Cemeteries groups.

As the Council works towards more sustainable grounds maintenance through the Grow Wild Initiative the team has a key role in bringing communities and the groups we work with on that journey.

Your Main Accountabilities Will Be To

• Co-ordinate and maintain high levels of community volunteering activity in all the Community Engagement programmes, and specifically with the Take a Pride in Perthshire Campaign and its Association.
• Support volunteer innovation and new ways of partnership working with community groups and organisations to assist the Council reach budgetary targets.
• good practical knowledge of grounds maintenance and/or horticulture are required and understanding of the importance of managing activities safely are essential.
• Liaise and work in partnership with other Council Services, external agencies, businesses and volunteer community groups to promote best practice in care of the environment and environmental enhancement and improvement. Support and encourage local volunteer community entries to reach local and national competition standards and maintain levels of success as an aid to encouraging tourism.
• Effectively cross team work to achieve the best outcomes for Community Greenspace
• Assist with developing opportunities in greenspace for communities to work with groups of all abilities and possibly requiring specialist help.
• Assist with developing opportunities in greenspace for communities to embrace programmes and schemes to aid social inclusion and personal development.
• Assist with developing arrangements to work with other Council Services to aid budget efficiencies e.g. Community Payback; Economic Development, Civil Contingencies
• Maintain, where identified, customer surveys and feedback
• knowledge of greenspace responsibilities and opportunities for volunteering are essential and experience of maximising external funding an advantage.
• Provide information, as required, for internal and external publicity and promotional material, including web sites and social media.
• Undertake presentations, provide oral or written progress reports, team plans and attend meetings as required.
  
  

Skills & Experience Required

Monitor and report on budgets.

• Provide advice, information and guidance to all Council Services, external organisations, Councillors and the public as required.
• Respond to MSP, MP and Councillor queries and public service requests and complaints as required.
• Represent Community Greenspace at meetings with other services, outside bodies and community representatives as required.
• Endeavour to meet targets identified in the Team and other Plans are met.
• Contribute to the effective and efficient running of the team, encourage good team morale and create a positive working attitude amongst staff.
• Deputise for the Greenspace Coordinator (Communities) in his/her absence.
• Occasional weekend and evening working are a requirement of the role to effectively support our community partnerships, and a flexible approach is essential.
  
  

Minimum HND or equivalent for responsibilities to be undertaken or at least 3 years equivalent experience in work related discipline.

Experience of working for a minimum of 3 years within a local authority or background in the areas relevant to the post

Proven experience working in partnership with community groups to achieve shared goals.

Enthusiastic and be an effective communicator with excellent interpersonal and written skills with a proven track record of partnership working to deliver volunteer participation in greenspaces.

Knowledge and understanding of working with the voluntary sector and successfully delivering environmental improvement projects/schemes

Proven ability to deal with a wide cross section of the public in relation to customer requests and expectations

Experience in organising involvement in National competitions and Campaigns

Experience in innovative delivery to achieve results

Proven knowledge of financial administration and budgeting

Understanding of database management & customer survey systems.

A strong skill base of using Microsoft Office is essential.

Must be flexible to service demands, customer expectations and have a flexible approach to working hours and location and to varying duties of the post.

Ensure that all work is carried out to an agreed standard within timescales

Must ensure community projects reach agreed standards and quality identified across Community Greenspace

Must ensure community participation provides participant satisfaction

Ability to work both independently and as part of a team and have the ability to work co-operatively with others to tight deadlines with a positive and enthusiastic approach.

Ability to resolve problems independently and/or refer up if necessary. Must also be able to think quickly and respond to circumstances as they arise.

Must hold a full driving licence to travel to a variety of locations across Perth and Kinross to attend site visits and community meetings, therefore a driving licence and reasonable level of fitness are required.

Ability to cope with the physical and emotional demands of the post and attend on a regular basis.

Working at Perth & Kinross Council

Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities . In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours . Find out more about Perth & Kinross Council and you could soon be joining our team!

Here's What We Can Offer You

• A generous annual leave package
• 6 days public holiday and an additional discretionary day
• Eligibility to join our pension scheme
• Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working , Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave , time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework
• Flexi time
• Access to a range of benefits
  
  

We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. A healthy work life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

For purposes of connection and collaboration with colleagues and with the community we serve, our full-time employees work on site for a minimum of 2 days per week with the arrangements for part time employees being agreed on a basis which will ensure that they benefit to an equivalent degree. Our FAQs on hybrid working can be found here Hybrid working FAQs . We are committed to being a more inclusive employer - to ensure we can consider any reasonable adjustments, please either contact the recruiting manager to discuss any individual circumstances, discuss at interview or, if you prefer, after any conditional offer is made.

Next Steps

We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Susan Whyte, Greenspace Team Leader on her email address: to find out more.

Click "APPLY NOW"

External candidates are required to provide contact details 2 references, including email addresses. One of these must be your current or most recent employer.

We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or to discuss any reasonable adjustments. Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process.

Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.

To comply with Baseline Personnel Security Standard, you will be required to complete a Disclosure Scotland check.

If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check.

A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.

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