Local Group Leader

**RSPB South East Essex Local Group

Group Leader.**

The RSPB is the UK's largest nature conservation charity and works in the UK and around the world. They carry out conservation work to protect habitats, save species, and help to end the nature and climate emergency. The RSPB Local Groups are all volunteers who run a range of activities from outdoor walks and indoor talks to fun fundraising events, alongside campaigning to help inspire, educate, and mobilise more people to connect to and save nature in the UK.

Since the RSPB South East Essex Local Group’s inception in September 1983 there have been six Group Leaders. The present Group Leader is stepping down after 18 years due to ill health, so an energetic and enthusiastic person is now required to fill this role.

A new LG (local group) Group Leader does not necessarily need an in-depth wildlife knowledge but does need to be able to navigate queries from the public to the correct expert.

**As Group Leader you will need: ** To ensure that the group has a minimum of three committee meetings each year with set agendas and be responsible for chairing those meetings. To lead the LG committee and ensure each committee member has clearly defined roles and responsibilities; provide support and encouragement as required; manage any situations where a committee member must resign at short notice. To ensure that a completed Local Group annual report and annual financial return is sent to RSPB HQ each year. To maintain two-way communication with your Area/Country Office and HQ to enable any important news updates and messages to be passed to the committee and LG membership. To seek guidance/advice where needed. To ensure that RSPB regional office is notified of any changes to the committee so that the RSPB online platform, Assemble, is kept up to date.

**The skills you need: ** A commitment to the work of the RSPB and be eager to inspire people to care about what the RSPB is trying to achieve. To be confident in chairing effective meetings and ensuring that participation is encouraged, and decisions are made collaboratively and recorded clearly, To be able to work with a wide range of people from different backgrounds and of different ages. To be friendly and approachable with the ability to delegate and the enthusiasm to motivate others, with impartiality, diplomacy, and reassurance in all circumstances. Have good communication skills, be computer literate with internet and email access, and a willingness to engage with internet-based methods of communication, including video calling and social media.

**What's in it for you: ** This is a fantastic opportunity to be at the forefront of solutions to conservation issues in your community and make a valuable contribution to the work of the RSPB. The Group Leader’s role is certainly very rewarding and satisfying, you will get to meet a wide diversity of conservation and wildlife friendly people and have the satisfaction of knowing that you are really making a difference in inspiring others to help conserve nature.

The lucky person will have the full support of the previous leader and the LG members.