We are seeking a visionary Chief Executive Officer with exceptional leadership qualities to spearhead our charity, Concrete Garden, though a new and exciting period of growth and transformational change. The ideal candidate will be bold and brave and embody a passion for community empowerment and sustainability, driving forward our community’s ambition and charity mission with dedicated commitment and innovative thinking.

This role presents a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact, leading our community and team towards a brighter future for all those we serve.

Overview of the Position:

The Chief Executive Officer will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of Concrete Garden, working closely with the Board of Trustees to ensure the organisation's long-term success and impact.

And leading on the recruitment for a number of new posts to build capacity in leadership and drive forward community growth and regeneration. This position demands a dynamic individual with a proven track record in fundraising, asset management, financial management, strategic planning, and team leadership.

Start Date: Immediate or must be able to start by 27th May for a one-month handover with the incumbent CEO.

Reporting to: The Board of Trustees

About Us:

The Cairngorms National Park (CNP) is the largest national park in the UK, covering 4500km2. It is also a place of sheer abundance, having more high mountain ground than anywhere else in the UK, the largest Caledonian forest, some of Scotland’s purest rivers and finest livestock rearing farmland. It is home to 25 percent of the UK’s rare and endangered species. It is a truly unique place to work, with our dedicated and passionate Communications team who are committed to providing the highest quality information experience for our varied audiences, every day. Furthermore, there is access to some of the most beautiful countryside straight from our Headquarters office door.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority is a fantastic place to work and offers great opportunities to grow your career. The Park Authority is listed in the UK’s top 100 best not- for-profit companies to work for. We’re dedicated to both this incredible place and our employees.

We now have an exciting opportunity for a Media and Publications Manager to make a lasting and positive impact to the work of the Park Authority and to the future of this incredible National Park.

Equalities:

CNPA is an inclusive organisation and we welcome applications from everyone irrespective of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion and belief, pregnancy and maternity, relationship status, disability, age and social class. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, disabled and LGBTQ+ communities, as they are under-represented in the environment sector.

We are Disability Confident committed employer, if you are an applicant with disabilities who meets the essential requirements of the post, we will interview you. In all circumstances CNPA appoints on merit-based evidence the applicant supplies in meeting the essential criteria for the post.

The Role:

As the Media and Publications Manager you will provide strategic leadership on corporate communications and media relations for the Park Authority. You will help position the organisation – and the wider Cairngorms National Park – as a leader in tackling the nature and climate crisis, as well as a champion for local communities and for a range of key stakeholders.

You will work closely with senior management, the board and with senior Communications colleagues, you will develop and implement key messages that resonate with our target audiences, underpinned by the five-year National Park Partnership Plan. You will foster positive working relationships with members of the media (local, national and international), and will seek to proactively share the National Park’s story with audiences both here in the Cairngorms and further afield.

The Media and Publications Manager reports to the Head of Communications and Engagement, you will lead the Park Authority’s press office function and will line manage staff members looking after corporate publications / interpretation, and nature / land management comms. You will ensure a consistency of approach in all areas and a seamless connection with the Park Authority’s digital outputs, working closely with the Digital Communications Manager.

So, if you are keen to be the Media and Publications Manager and you can display the skills and experience listed here, this is the role you’ve been waiting for.

CNPA Benefits:

• Civil service pension scheme – some of the benefits include:
  • member contribution rates among the lowest in the public sector
  • tax relief on your contributions
  • generous employer contributions
  • a secure, inflation-proof pension for life, with no investment uncertainty
  • the option of tax-free lump sum on retirement
  • potential access to ill health and injury benefits if you become too ill to work
  • life assurance cover
  • benefits for loved ones and dependants
  • options to increase your pension
  • keeping all your pensions in one place by transferring in a pension you have built up elsewhere
  • support from our trusted charity partners
• 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service, plus Public Holidays
• Professional development
• Flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme
• Use of pool cars

About You:

To be considered as our Media and Publications Manager, you’ll need:

• Experience of the media, gained in a press office environment or as a journalist or broadcaster, and a good understanding of this type of environment.
• Experience of delivering marketing and public relations campaigns to engage with identified target audiences.
• Proofreading and copyediting experience, ideally working on publications and / or interpretation projects.
• Excellent communication skills, both presentation and written, with the ability to persuade others to support Park Authority public relations activities and campaigns.
• Ability to interact confidently with different audiences and work in partnership with individuals from other organisations.
• Good proactive networker outside and inside the organisation.
• Initiative, vision and drive to develop the role and work of the team.
• Permission to work in the UK

It’s a very exciting time to join the Ramblers. We have been instrumental in helping Britain experience the great outdoors for almost 90 years. But we are looking to the future, not the past.

We know not everyone has the same access to the outdoors, so we’re continue to fight for change. We campaign, protect paths and lead walks so no matter who you are, you can enjoy the benefits of getting out into the fresh air and wide-open spaces.

We need your drive, knowledge, skills, and creativity to help us raise awareness of the Ramblers and what we stand for, helping the charity grow its supporter base and meet our brand goals. Ultimately, you will help open up the joys and wellbeing benefits of walking to many more people.

About us

You might know us for our group walks, thousands of which take place every week across England, Scotland and Wales.

But there’s a lot more to the Ramblers. Since 1935, we’ve been fighting for the public’s right to enjoy Britain’s landscapes. We do it through campaigning for changes in legislation, opening up green routes in cities, maintaining paths and signposts, saving lost paths … and so much more.

Purpose of Role

We are looking for someone to help us shape public policy in Scotland in a way that ensures everyone can enjoy access to the outdoors. We want your help to make sure that those who currently have the least access are enabled to overcome the barriers they face, because they have the most to gain. You will help us engage with formal policy making processes, but also with the broader networks through which public policy is informed and shaped. You will become a key member of the small team that drives our public campaigning in Scotland.

The role

Key Responsibilities:

• Become the leading expert on access to the outdoors in Scotland and use your expertise to help make access more equitable.
• Create Ramblers Scotland policy and engage with formal opportunities to shape public policy.
• Develop and maintain high level professional relationships on behalf of the organisation to influence key stakeholders.
• Help Ramblers position itself in the Scottish public policy space and shape our campaign priorities.
• Develop and support a network of campaign volunteers and build their capacity.

The person

Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

• Good knowledge of policy issues relating to walking and the walking environment in Scotland or related policy areas.
• Proven ability to use your knowledge of Scottish political systems and structures to conduct effective advocacy.
• Line management of staff and/or volunteers or leading project teams.
• Ability to develop strong, collaborative relationships with stakeholder

Desirable:

• Ability to travel throughout Scotland and occasionally across Britain, full driver’s license and access to a car
• An active and demonstrable interest in walking and engaging people with the outdoors

The Ramblers promote diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Values and Behaviours

Our values are the core principles that guide us daily in our work and our membership of the Ramblers. We all share the passion that walking is for everyone and by living our shared values we can ensure the Ramblers is an organisation to be proud of. Our values will earn trust for the Ramblers brand which will allow us to open up a world of walking opportunities for even more people.

Inclusive– We make everyone feel welcome and part of the Ramblers community. We make sure we all feel respected and accepted and know our contributions make a difference in achieving our mission.

Inspiring– We strive to inspire people through the way we act and the things we say. We channel our passion and ambition so others are moved to help us achieve our mission.

Empowering– We empower and encourage each other to make a positive contribution to our teams and the Ramblers. We do all we can to make sure everyone has the ability, and feels confident, to take action.

Responsible– We take responsibility for ourselves and those around us seriously, by always acting in a safe and supportive way. We care about the environment and make sure we do what we say we will do.