Overview
Masterplan Delivery Manager
Location: Tongue (Hybrid working potential)
Hours: 30 hours per week
Duration: Fixed Term – 2 years.
Salary: £22 per hour on a self-employed basis increasing to £23 for year 2.
About UpNorth!
UpNorth! is the community development trust for the area and exists to prevent population drift, bring people and employment to the area and improve the quality of life for everyone living in the area. This project fits these aims as it will enable the inward movement of working families and create a valuable recreational facility that improves health and well-being.
In 2020 UpNorth! set up a Community Leaders Forum, inviting key stakeholders in the community to meet on a quarterly basis, exchange ideas and expertise and provide updates on their various activities. Regular attendees include community council, local landowners, community transport, community hub, school, church, sports association, nursery, care home, Geopark, Flow Country World Heritage Site, business, agencies and Scottish Land Commission.
The meetings are well attended and facilitate a productive discussion between organisations and businesses with very different priorities. These discussions have resulted in organisations and businesses working together for the benefit of the community.
The successful applicant will have an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to a fragile rural area. The post will cover the community council area of Tongue, Melness and Skerray which consists largely of scattered crofting townships, has a very low population density and an aging population. Despite this, the area has a very strong voluntary sector, as demonstrated by the range and number of organisations represented at the CLF. The area is also currently seeing unprecedented investment through, for example, the proposed Sutherland Spaceport (although work on this is currently paused) and the development of tourist facilities following the success of the NC500. In common with many areas in the Highlands, there is an acute shortage of housing for working families, a lack of affordable childcare, little in the way of public transport services and few amenities for leisure and recreation. This stifles development, leaving posts unfilled and prevents our young people from remaining in or returning to the area, and new people from moving to the area.
This project will enable the community to capitalise on this investment, ensuring maximum benefit and sustainability for the future.
Key Roles & Responsibilities.
Housing:
· To support work being done in the area regarding housing to identify possible housing sites
· To work on behalf of the Communities Housing Trust to redevelop the site they own in Borgie
· To work on behalf of Melness Crofters Estate to develop the housing site they own along with the Communities Housing Trust
· To work on behalf of UpNorth! to purchase the 2 houses which, with the assistance of Rural Housing Scotland, they are buying from Wildland Ltd. (Phase 1)
Child care
· To support existing organisations operating in the area to progress solutions to the provision of affordable child care – for example, in identifying a possible facility
· To be aware of and provide updates on dual registration and how/if this would help resolve issues in this area
Transport
To address the gaps in provision in the area specifically transport for young people and transport to employment taking into account services currently provided by Transport for Tongue and work being carried out in the wider area by the Farr North Development Trust and the Sutherland Community Partnership Transport Group
MUGA
· To work with UpNorth! and Tongue and Farr Sports Association, taking forward the lease agreement with the Church of Scotland, assist with coordinating fundraising and overseeing development.
· Ensuring ongoing maintenance plan is in place.
Networking
- Make and maintain contact with the network of NW2045, NW2045 Rural Land Use Partnership, North Coast Re-design, Flows Partnership, Scottish Land
Commission and other partners, mainly through the CLF but also through regular online catch-up meetings.
Reporting
- Report to the Operational Support team monthly
- Monitor and evaluate progress on the objectives of the project and how these fit in with the Masterplan and report on this to the Community Leaders Forum at quarterly meetings
Income generating
Identify funding opportunities which, if accessed, would continue to support the implementation of the Masterplan, which is a living document, beyond this two-year project.
Administrative Support
Provide note-taking support to collate reports submitted to CLF quarterly meetings, ensuring that decisions made at meetings are recorded, actions are enacted, and momentum is maintained.
Promotion of the area
- Promotion of the area as a place to re-locate to work and live
- Promotion of innovative work being done in the area on housing, childcare, recreation etc
- Marketing – Flow Country, Space Hub Sutherland
Skills Criteria for the post
Essentials Skills
- IT Skills: Microsoft applications e.g. excel, word, PowerPoint
- Housing/planning knowledge and experience
- Demonstratable experience in housing development
- Strong communication skills (both written and oral) to build and maintain good
relationships
- The ability to demonstrate a high degree of flexibility and be able to prioritise competing demands
- The ability to work as a team and independently
Desirable Skills
- Knowledge of planning legislation
- Knowledge of housing legislation
- Knowledge of childcare legislation
- Knowledge of community transport legislation
- Experience of community engagement
Additional Information
- Requires driving licence and access to own vehicle
- Office space provided
- Flexibility to work remotely at times
The successful candidate will be responsible to and report to The Community Leaders Forum (CLF).
Operational Support and day-to-day line management will be through local CLF representatives, principally Frances Gunn, and in her absence, Marion Milligan.
For further information about the post please contact: – Frances Gunn 01847 611323 or Marion Milligan 07720 255464
To apply, please submit your CV and Cover Letter to francesegunn@hotmail.com
