Volunteer Area Footpath Officer - East Sussex

What will you be doing?

The Ramblers works to help everyone enjoy the pleasures and benefits of walking, and to enhance and protect the places where people walk. We are committed to encouraging and supporting walking, protecting and expanding public rights of way and access land, and protecting the beauty of the countryside and other areas. Rights of way are vital to make sure that the countryside is kept open and accessible, helping people to enjoy walking in the natural environment. However, there are frequent applications to change or amend the routes of footpaths and the Ramblers is consulted on them. The Area Footpath Officer works together with a team of Local Footpath Wardens, ensuring that there is coordinated and consistent response, helping to protect rights of way across East Sussex. You will coordinate a team of Local Footpath Wardens in East Sussex and will be responsible for assessing proposals affecting paths and for developing Ramblers' response to and comments on those proposals. You will work closely with other Ramblers officers, such as the East Sussex Countryside Officer and West Sussex Footpaths Officer, and where necessary will seek advice and guidance from Ramblers' Central Office. Other main contacts include the Local Authorities, Parish/Town Councils and the Local Access Forum. The position reports to the Area Executive Committee. You will represent Ramblers' Sussex Area on rights of way issues with the local authority and at meetings and public events. To undertake the role you will need to keep up to date with legal and policy information about paths and planning issues nationally as well as in your local area. The position is suitable for a mature professional individual who is highly reliable, organised, capable of taking initiative and with an ability to articulate issues clearly in written form. A desire and ability to work in a team environment is essential. You will also need to be comfortable using a computer and the internet, and managing information. The skills required for the role are to be confident but diplomatic; able to understand complex rights of way and legal issues; be friendly and personable with the ability to influence; and good at presenting arguments in writing and in person. The incumbent will ideally have not less than 3 years' experience in a role involving one or more of campaigning, public relations, public speaking, or volunteer management.  

What are we looking for?

Confident but diplomatic Able to understand complex rights of way and legal issues Friendly and personable with the ability to influence Highly reliable, organised, capable of taking initiative and with an ability to articulate arguments clearly in written form and in person Desire and ability to work in a team environment Comfortable using a computer and the internet, and managing information Not less than 3 years' experience in a role the activities associated with which include one or more of campaigning, public relations, public speaking or volunteer management.

What difference will you make?

The Ramblers help everyone, everywhere, enjoy walking and protect the places we all love to walk. By volunteering as an Area Footpaths Officer you will be paying a vital role in making sure we can achieve this by holding Local Authorities and landowners to account for the preservation and accessibility of the footpath network, and helping to ensure that our countryside and the places people walk, essential to health and wellbeing, are safeguarded.