Project Lead – Rural & Islands Parliament
Salary £31,800 pro rata
Pension 6% employer contribution
Hours 4 days per week (negotiable)
Leave entitlement 33 days pro rata inclusive of public holidays
Location Home-based with option for 1 day/week in a local work hub
Rural & Island Parliaments are participative democratic processes which aim to:
- amplify the diverse voices of rural and island communities in Scotland, in the UK and internationally;
- promote self-help, solidarity, exchange and cooperation between communities; and
- connect communities directly to decision makers to ensure that government policy is shaped by rural and island expertise.
They are designed on a 2-3 year cycle. The process is initiated at a large-scale assembly, bringing together hundreds of rural and island people in person and online to explore different thematics (policy areas) such as housing, transport, childcare, land management and culture. The outputs – from policy recommendations to practical projects and tools – are brought to life immediately following the assembly.
The Scottish Rural & Islands Parliament (SRIP) was launched in Oban in 2014, followed by assemblies in Brechin (2016), Stranraer (2018), virtually (2021) and Fort William (2023). The 2023 SRIP also saw the inaugural Scottish Rural & Islands Youth Parliament. The SRIP is connected through the European Rural Parliament to a network of rural organisations covering 42 countries.
We are currently taking forward the outputs of the 2023 SRIP, including through planning a national roadshow. We are also beginning to set in motion the 2025 SRIP and the 2025 European Rural Parliament. As Project Lead, you will work in collaboration with SRA’s Board and wider staff team, as well as with our partners and host communities, to support delivery of these activities.
The role is exciting and diverse and would suit someone with excellent project management and communications skills who sees the strengths and potential in rural and island places, and who believes in the transformative power of community participation and collective action. If this might be you, we would love to hear from you!
