Community Arts and Heritage Officer - Rhos Pasture Restoration Project

About the Project

Rhos pasture is a priority habitat often formed of a mosaic of vegetation types and is a frequent component of the landscape of Mid Wales, though it is undervalued for its species richness and ecosystem services potential. Focussed on the area surrounding Rhayader, this collaborative project aims to restore biodiversity and raise the cultural value of rhos pastures with both landowners and communities.

With support from staff, landowners, volunteers and contractors, the project plans to:

• Survey and monitor the restoration of rhos pasture.
• Improve the biodiversity, soil structure, carbon and water storage of rhos pastures.
• Survey and monitor the biodiversity and evaluate the management methods applied.
• Help sustain farm businesses by investigating markets for products and developing tourism facilities.
• Use arts and heritage activities to engage the public, create a positive identity for rhos pasture and provide educational, health and well-being benefits.
• Monitor and evaluate outcomes and use this information to inform others.

Your Role

The role of the Arts and Heritage Officeris to work with CARAD, Rhayader by Nature and other community organisations, tourism businesses and individuals to increase the cultural understanding of the value of rhos pastures, their wildlife, and their role in a resilient, farmed landscape.

You will be organised, have a keen interest in arts, heritage and wildlife and be great at communicating your passion for the countryside. You will enjoy working with people from a variety of backgrounds and have experience working in diverse communities, organising events and engaging and supporting volunteers.

Main Responsibilities

Project Delivery

• Work with the Project Manager, CARAD and other stakeholders to deliver the Rhos Pasture Restoration Project objectives and help ensure it meets targets.
• Work with the Project Manager and CARAD to plan arts and heritage activities and events across the remaining one year of the project and lead on organisation and delivery within the allocated budgets.
• Maintain excellent records and evidence to use in reporting achievements to funders.
• Follow RWT’s health and safety procedures, undertake risk assessments and follow best practice in delivery of activities and the safety of volunteers.
• Maintain a professional working relationship with other staff, partner organisations, stakeholders, volunteers and the wider community.

Working with Communities

• Work with CARAD and other partner organisations to deliver and promote a variety of community arts and heritage activities and events that create educational opportunities and a positive identity for rhos pastures, upland farming and wildlife.
• Recruit and work with volunteers across a range of activities including practical work days and arts and heritage activities.
• Give talks to community groups, create written and digital communication content and use social media to raise awareness of the project and its aims and achievements.
• Work with the RWT Digital Marketing Officer to promote the activities of the project via various public and Wildlife Trust press and publicity channels, website and media.
• Monitor the engagement of communities and individuals in the project, including people’s attendance, wellbeing and learning of new skills.
• Work with local schools to develop ideas and opportunities to integrate rhos pasture into learning.
• Coordinate an exhibition(s) to showcase the range of work and activities created during the project.

Working with consultants and contractors

• Support and manage the project’s Artist in Residence during research and development, creation of work and exhibitions and events.
• Work with contractors to develop and create a rhos pasture film.
• Work with artists and makers to develop a range of inspiring events and activities focused on rhos pasture for groups and individuals.
• Following the completion of the historical research study, identify the scope for further research and create opportunities to communicate these findings with our local communities.
• Following the completion of our tourism feasibility study, work to implement the recommendations from this study in the project area.
• Continue the development of interpretation information at several sites to reach a wide audience of different interests and abilities.
• Following the completion of the rhos products feasibility study work with the consultants to identify areas of development for rhos pasture products from farm to market.

Health and Safety

• Follow RWT’s health and safety procedures, undertake risk assessments and follow best practice in delivery of activities and the safety of volunteers.

Essential Experience

• Considerable experience of working with people in rural communities and organising community events for different groups of people.
• Experience of recruiting, engaging and working with volunteers, including writing risk assessments and taking responsibility for their health and safety.
• Experience of leading and facilitating activities for a range of groups, particularly in arts and heritage.
• Experience of creating publicity material in a variety of media and using social media and a range of other digital channels to promote the project.
• Experience of giving talks to groups.

For more information on the position, and for the application form, please see the links below:

Closing date: Monday 25thApril 2022

Interviews : Thursday 5thMay 2022, in person at CARAD

Please email your application form to Lucy Morton, Project Manager :

lucy@rwtwales.org