NOTE: This recruitment post was originally posted in May – things have moved on somewhat since then and our main requirements for now have been filled (mainly finance, governance and Gaelic development), or are otherwise being advertised in a conventional way (see the vacancy page).
Could YOU be the next member of the Urras Thiriodh team?
Tiree Trust has an ambitious set of goals to achieve over the next few years, and needs more capacity to deliver them. Recruiting for very specific roles can be extra challenging in an island setting, and we understand that lots of people find the traditional job application process off-putting.
So we’ve decided to try something different.
We are issuing an open call for interest in working for us. We have a list of work areas that need covered. Rather than putting these into particular job profiles first, and then trying to find an exact fit, we are looking for expressions of interest from keen and suitable people. We would then see what we could make work for us and for you as a job role.
There is no big complex application form to fill in up front. Initial conversations would be informal and relaxed. Does the idea of working with an exciting, dynamic community development trust delivering substantial projects in a rural island community appeal to you? Do you think you’ve got the attitude and drive to get things done that we could use? This is the opportunity for you!
What does “suitable person” mean?
We’ve put together a brief general “person specification” that would apply to anyone we would look to have as part of the Trust Team. This is what we’d be looking for someone to demonstrate they can offer as a starting point:
- Communication skills and positive approach suited to working within a team
- Flexible approach to handling changing work demands as part of a team, including setting realistic expectations on what can be sustainably delivered by yourself and others
- A creative and enthusiastic approach to problem solving
- Experience of delivering a varied workload in an organised way
- Able to identify, organise and prioritise tasks in order to achieve set objectives, and meet deadlines
- Intermediate IT skills including MS Office
- Basic understanding of the unique pressures and challenges facing an island community
- Roles may require periodic attendance at evening meetings to accommodate volunteer board and working group members, and occasional weekend cover (time off in lieu will be given)
Most importantly of all – we’re looking for people who will bring passion and enthusiasm to delivering community benefit, working in close partnership with those who call Tiree home!
What might the jobs involve – what do we most need?
Right now we have several key staffing needs, as well as some areas we would really like covered. You absolutely don’t need to tick all of these boxes to get in touch – but the eventual set of job proposals will need to cover many of these. This set of roles will be covered between multiple people, perhaps on various levels of hours. We are putting together a bit of a jigsaw puzzle, and you could be a crucial piece!
We need:
Gaelic use and Gaelic development – We are really keen to make more use of Gaelic in our work setting, and we also have a specific, funded need for someone to take a lead on our Gaelic development work (which includes supporting children and adults with Gaelic use). We are being supported by Bòrd na Gàidhlig with funding towards a post including this element.
Governance administration – we need someone detail and accuracy oriented, highly organised, to help support and co-ordinate the many Boards and Working groups that operate across the Trust Group, as well as other local community groups.
Finance work – Our existing Finance Officer needs assistance with our significantly expanded (and still expanding) accounts and payment processing needs, delivering various community-run services, and to modernise our finance systems. This role really needs someone with the right kind of “head for numbers” and an analytical, accurate approach – training can be provided!
Comms and Marketing – We do a lot, and we are really busy, and often struggle in amongst all the doing of things to find the time to get as much information out about our work as we would like – we really need someone with solid skills in this area to take a lead on making sure it happens because it is really important for a community organisation like ours!
Project development and delivery – We have an ambitious Community Development Plan to deliver – we are looking to grow our Projects Team, and need people able to take a lead on moving projects forward, planning, working with both internal and external contacts, keep track of progress and keep things on schedule. You get to really see end results of your work in the form of things that people you live alongside benefit from!
Consultation / research skills – A really important part of our work is making sure we know what the community needs and wants, and what would work for them. This means surveys, focus groups, conversations in the Co-op – whatever works as long as it gives us good data to work with!
Fundraising skills – This is an increasingly important “nice to have” for us – we need to diversify our funding income. Are you good at selling an idea? Are you a good form filler? Or maybe you have a knack for blagging free stuff or a discount? Ran a charity funding appeal or two in your time? Come help us fund our work!
Taigheadas – We’ve identified the need for more affordable housing as the biggest priority for Tiree, and are actively working towards several approaches to meeting this need. Do you have relevant skills/experience in projects that are about either building, maintaining or running housing? Or relevant experience?
Bonus ‘nice to have’ areas might include: Tourism development experience/knowledge, childcare experience, climate change/adaptation knowledge, facilities management, web content skills.
We’re entirely open to folk suggesting other things that might be helpful to us alongside the above!
What’s in it for you?
Not familiar with Tiree yet? Well Tiree is a fantastic place to live. We’re a small, tight knit community where people look out for each other. Tiree is also one of the sunniest places in the UK, ringed by gorgeous beaches – a mecca for watersports and a home to regular running events. It isn’t all idyllic fantasy all year round of course – we do have some tough winters where it helps to be happy to take things easy and quieter for a while, cosy indoors. You’ll soon get used to ferry delays and planning a bit further ahead for your next pair of trainers! The pay off is clean air, loads of open space, and seeing a reward for hard work right where you live!
Within the Trust itself, you’d be part of a close knit team where we have a strong sense of what we are working to achieve and how valuable it is. Our work is about improving the lives of the people we live alongside. It can be challenging work, with tough times. Not everyone is happy with us all the time! But every so often we get really big wins, and it’s all worth it! We are also very keen on investing in our people, with a strong positive approach to Fair Working Practice and staff training and development. We’ll invest in you so that you can do your best work and be rewarded for it. We have a solid track record of ensuring pay rates keep pace with increasing cost of living, a highly flexible approach to working hours and delivery wherever we can, and aim for highly inclusive workplace practice.
Want to know more? Get in touch!
How to express interest:
First steps are simple, and you can choose what option works best for you. You could:
- email Phyl, our General Manager, to say you’d like to chat. Maybe say a bit about yourself and what work you might be interested in doing, we’ll go from there
- call the Trust Office for a chat on 01879 220074
- You can text chat with us, e.g. via our Facebook page initially, then via private message chat thereafter
- If you are in Tiree – we can arrange to meet in person for a chat – our office is at Island Centre in Crossapol
We obviously can’t guarantee to offer everyone who gets in touch a position – it has to be a good fit, for a job role that would work well, and we may need to take a balanced view on how different potential roles would fit together to meet the organisation and the community’s needs – but you’ve nothing to lose getting in touch to see what might be possible!
