Role title: Project Officer

Salary: £35,360 per annum FTE, pro rata (£14,144 actual)

Contract Type: Part time, 16 hours per week (0.4 FTE), Fixed term until August 2029

Location: Edinburgh (Hybrid)

Reports to: Forth Canoe Club Board of Trustees & Paddle Scotland Senior Development Manager

About the Opportunity

Paddle Scotland is seeking a dedicated and organised Project Officer to lead the strategic, administrative and funding phases of Forth Canoe Club's ambitious Access Project.

Forth Canoe Club, Scotland's oldest paddlesport club, plans to replace its dated boathouse with a modern, fully accessible clubhouse and community hub. The new facility will offer street-level access via a lift, accessible changing facilities and showers, and a venue for para-paddling, outreach programmes and wider community hire.

This key role will relieve pressure on the club's volunteers and bridge the gap between community sport and capital development. You will guide the club through planning, capital fundraising and long-term organisational sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

Project & Capital Funding Management

• Identify, target and submit major grant and capital funding applications for the Access Project.
• Manage funding phases and project timelines, keeping them aligned with the planning application schedule.
• Build relationships with funders, statutory bodies and key partners, including Scottish Canals and the City of Edinburgh Council.
• Keep clear project records and progress logs to support strong governance and audit trails.

Strategic & Business Planning

• Draft a robust Business Case for the new clubhouse, including income from room hire and facility use.
• Develop a 5-Year Club Development Plan with club trustees and volunteers.
• Assess the viability of a long-term operational staff role for the new facility.

Delivery & Stakeholder Communication

• Act as a key point of contact between the Board of Trustees, architects, contractors and local partners.
• Support the club's move toward stronger operating and delivery structures.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

• Maintain funding compliance and provide quarterly progress updates to the Board of Trustees.
• Track project KPIs, from applications submitted and funding secured to milestones met.
• Author an End of Project Learning Report to create a blueprint for capital development in community sport.

Candidate Requirements



Essential Criteria:

• Project Management: Proven track record in project management, grant funding applications or capital fundraising within the third, public or sporting sectors.
• Strategic Planning: Strong experience of developing business cases, strategic development plans or organisational viability assessments.
• Communication: Clear, well-organised writing for project documentation, funding proposals and reports, plus experience of managing multi-stakeholder relationships.
• Working Style: Excellent time management, self-motivation and the ability to work independently in a hybrid structure, with confident use of Word, Excel and other systems.
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: Understanding of the Equality Act 2010 and how it applies to widening access to sport and community facilities.
• Eligibility: Aged 18 or over, eligible for PVG membership, and willing to complete safeguarding and first aid training.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of working alongside voluntary boards or community sport structures.
• Knowledge of local authority planning processes or capital build project lifecycles.
• Interest in or familiarity with paddlesport, outdoor recreation or adaptive/para-sport initiatives.

How to Apply

To apply for this role, please submit your CV and a brief cover letter explaining your suitability to hr@paddlescotland.org.uk.

Closing Date for Applications: 16 December 2026

Interviews: Week commencing 11 January 2027

Start Date: February 2027

Informal Enquiries: For an informal discussion regarding the role, please reach out to fcc.secretary@yahoo.com.

Note: The successful candidate will be required to obtain PVG Scheme membership prior to commencing employment.