HORTICULTURE AND WELLBEING LEAD

Full time 37 hours

Fixed term contract until July 2023 (with extension subject to funding)

Based in Navigation House, Hillsborough Road, Lisburn

Stepping Stones NI is about to embark on an exciting new project based at the recently renovated Navigation House, Hillsborough Road, Lisburn.  With Stepping Stones NI as the lead tenant this exciting new venture will launch a new horticultural social enterprise and programme of activities that focus on horticultural skills development, learning and a well-being programme for people with learning difficulties and Autism on this historical site.

Navigation House is situated on the outskirts of Lisburn City, surrounded by greenery and sitting directly on the Lagan Towpath. The tranquil surroundings will allow Stepping Stones NI to deliver its initiatives that will complement the importance of the Lagan Navigation and the waterways to the surrounding community and to maximise further opportunities on the site that will create new social business opportunities and lead to the creation of new jobs.

Our mission:

“To nurture the potential of people with a disability to thrive in a socially inclusive society”.

If you share a commitment to our vision, mission and our values and believe in the work we do, we want to hear from you. 

The Role:

The Navigation House Horticulture and Wellbeing Lead is a unique opportunity for the postholder to oversee the project at Navigation House in the start-up of a new horticulture social enterprise working to provide learning and skills development for people with learning disabilities, learning difficulties and Autism. They will create this new horticultural and wellbeing project maximizing the space and resources available at Navigation House to create social impact and increased wellbeing for people with a disability.  In conjunction with the practical aspects of growing produce for use in Stepping Stones NI catering sites the postholder will develop and deliver accredited training in horticulture. 

This new postholder will have a positive and creative persona and be passionate of mission and values of Stepping Stones NI. They should be a self-starter and be self-motivated to start up and develop a horticultural social enterprise and wellbeing initiative. The successful person will have:

Essential Criteria:

• At least two years’ experience working in a horticultural environment
• Experience of delivering horticulture training to a wide variety of groups and abilities     
• Experience of managing trainees/volunteers and practical work on site.
• Ability to work and drive a team and effectively with partners
• Proven ability to meet targets and KPIs
• IT literate with a good working knowledge of Microsoft Windows and Office packages
• To have the ability to plan and manage workload effectively with the ability to manage competing priorities

Desirable Criteria:

• A horticulture qualification or a qualification that is deemed to be relevant to the work of the post
• Training qualification
• Experience of managing projects

For further information, a full job description is available to download.

Salary: £27,514 to £30,984 per annum, depending on experience

Pension: 7% employer contribution

Holiday entitlement: 25 Days plus 11 Statutory Days

To apply please download the application form and job description. Please note CV’s will not be considered.  Closing date for applications 2nd July 2022.

This post is funded by The Platinum Jubilee Fund through The National Lottery Community Fund

Stepping Stones NI are registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland - NIC100727.

Stepping Stones NI is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Stepping Stones NI reserve the right to enhance the above criteria in the event of an unprecedented response.