In BCP GP at the AGM all officers effectively resign, and new ones are elected. Any existing officer can re-stand for a maximum of 5 years.
Every nomination requires a proposer and a seconder. If more than two candidates stand for a given position, there will be a mini husting — an opportunity to ask questions to candidates before the vote.
All posts come from the Green Party of England and Wales (GPEW) through the South West Green Party Regional Office (SWGP), although in parts the descriptions have been customised for local relevance.
The role of local party contact is normally taken up by either the Coordinator, Secretary or Membership Secretary, although they may share the role providing there is a single point of contact.
Description
Relates to issues and policy-based campaigns.
Local party campaigning may relate to an election at a ward or constituency, or — throughout the year — to any specific local issue of importance to the community. Most parties are involved in both types of campaigning, and it is useful to have one person take on this responsibility, supported by other members. For example, a local party might appoint a Ward Campaign Manager for each target ward overseeing leafleting, action days, awareness of local issues, smaller meetings; or a Green Belt Campaign Manager to spearhead a greenbelt campaign.
Campaigning is the ‘bread and butter’ of local party activity and is the primary means of achieving desirable change and engaging with potential new members and volunteers. It brings together many of the activities conducted by local parties such as working with local media, exploiting digital media opportunities, producing leaflets and other printed material, lobbying local organisations and — most importantly — working alongside your electorate.
The national party also has a campaigns committee which organises campaigns for all members to get involved in, and the campaigns lead can act as a link with this team. In addition, a local party will almost certainly get asked to become involved in campaigns by local pressure groups, and you will need to be able to respond to these.
To contribute to the formation of the local party strategic plan, and to carry out the role in accordance with the objectives and timeframe captured and agreed by the local party within the strategic plan.
Skills and capabilities
Campaigners need a wide range of skills and capabilities. They need to listen but know when to be assertive; they need to be good planners, organisers and motivators; and they need to be passionate but caring and dedicated to making positive change. Campaigners also need good written and verbal communication skills as they will have to co-produce campaign literature and vocalise concerns to a wide range of audiences. The Campaigns Officer will need to liaise and work closely with other officer roles, especially Media & Comms officers and the Ground Events Officer.
Description
The Chair has the principal role of facilitating BCPGP’s meetings, political positions and political relationships, within BCPGP’s membership democracy framework.
They also chair General Meetings of BCPGP as and when they are called and have a casting vote in the case of any electoral deadlock at General Meetings. The Chair may occasionally act as a spokesperson for BCPGP.
To contribute to formation of the BCPGP strategic plan and to carry out the role in accordance with the objectives and timeframe captured and agreed by BCPGP within the strategic plan.
The Chair acts as the position of last resort in resolving internal local disputes. The Chair will also act as Coordinator if not separately appointed.
Skills and Capabilities
The role suits an energetic person who is a capable public speaker, able to impartially resolve conflict and understand others, maintain a business-like approach at meetings, and develop an ‘overview’ understanding of the big issues faced by the area. The role requires a good understanding of GPEW ethos and policy, and the need to work within party structures.
Description
To lead on providing support and development resources to wards; prioritising target wards. Working with ward teams to grow members and active volunteers to strengthen resilience and grassroots projects.
Activities may include:
The Community Organiser should routinely work closely with the Ward-Based Green Groups Officer who is responsible for supporting the wider Green community to organise wider neighbourhood action and social activity. They should also work closely with the Elections Coordinator and Elections Steering Group.
To contribute to the formulation of the local party strategic plan, and to carry out the role in accordance with the objectives and timeframe captured and agreed by BCPGP within the strategic plan.
Skills and Capabilities
This role requires strong practical knowledge of community work and Green Party targeting strategies, plus an affinity for grass-roots action, and understanding of the local electoral and engagement contexts. It will suit a self-starting, energetic, well organised individual with strong interpersonal and teamworking skills, who is keen to motivate and support others to contribute to BCPGP’s electoral ambitions.
Description
The Coordinator has a key role in coordinating the various activities of the group, providing support for all the officers in ensuring everything runs smoothly and effectively. The Coordinator will deputise for the Chair if one is appointed; if there is no elected Chair then the Coordinator will act as the effective Chair.
This is the person who drives the delivery and operation of the strategic plan and ensures that party activity is delivered in line with the mandate of the agreed plan in an effective and timely manner. Duties include addressing arising problems, ensuring appropriate conduct, ensuring that the party maintains legal, financial and ethical procedures, ensuring that everyone works within party structures and that correct process is followed, and generally acting on behalf of the officers to ensure our potential is maximised.
If any officer positions are vacant or an individual needs to take a leave of absence, then the Coordinator will ensure nothing falls through the gaps. To use an analogy: the Coordinator is the glue that brings the team together.
Skills and Capabilities
The role suits a hardworking, energetic, and organised person who is a good communicator, able to impartially resolve conflict and understand others. Develop an ‘overview’ understanding of the big issues faced by the area and BCPGP. The role requires a good understanding of GPEW ethos and governance, the need to work within party structures and follow relevant legislation, and the ability to consult with both Regional and/or National party support as required. This role is demanding and requires a person able to dedicate sufficient time and emotional energy. One may want to consider a job-share arrangement for Coordinator roles, and arrangements for how to cover the role when people are away.
Description
In outline, the role involves oversight of BCPGP’s systems for storage and retrieval of personal data, supporting other officers and groups with data work, and compliance with Data Protection legislation, GDPR and system security standards.
To be the general custodian of all IT and data systems (data registers, data reporting, websites, apps etc.) both locally and where there is a local element with regional or national systems. In collaboration with the Coordinator ensure access to software systems — including social media and emails — is maintained and only those warranted to administration access have the relevant access.
Pivotal to this role is working in coordination with relevant staff at GPEW National Office. To contribute to the formation of the local party strategic plan, and to carry out the role in accordance with the objectives and timeframe captured and agreed by BCPGP within the strategic plan.
Skills and capabilities
This role is suited to someone with a systematic approach, accuracy, attention to detail, able to work within GPEW structures and systems, and the ability to understand and follow technical, administrative and governance procedures. The role will require responsiveness to the operational needs of the local party. A background in IT or data analysis is desirable but not essential.
Description
This role combines the legal, organisational, and strategic responsibilities required to run election campaigns effectively and lawfully for the local party. The post-holder will:
This role is suitable for job sharing.
Skills and Capabilities
Description
To take a lead with the organisation of events, particularly — but not limited to — fundraising for BCPGP. As well as ongoing and regular events, develop opportunities for pop-up fundraising and awareness events for specific needs, e.g. to fund candidates and their campaign costs, and community engagement and enrichment events.
Depending on the scale and type of fundraising event, this may involve booking facilities, consideration of relevant protocols and stipulations (health & safety, risk management, licensing requirements etc), consideration of inclusion/safeguarding, cash-handling, volunteer engagement (organising rotas, stewarding etc) and working alongside other agencies.
The officer needs to work closely with the Treasurer regarding event costs, with the Media & Communications Manager to ensure fundraising events are suitably promoted, and with the Fundraising Officer regarding alignment with other fundraising activity. To contribute to the formulation of the local party strategic plan, and to carry out the role in accordance with the objectives and timeframe captured and agreed by BCPGP within the strategic plan.
Skills and Capabilities
Needs to be well organised and good at planning, implementing and overseeing activity, with good budgetary and money-handling skills. Keen to motivate others, a good networker, able to work closely with the Treasurer, Fundraising Officer and election campaign teams, and to have a reasonable knowledge of the issues and activities associated with different sorts of fundraising events. In addition, fundraising events need to be creative and innovative (concerts, jumble sales, auctions, raffles etc).
Description
To lead on fundraising, discuss and help agree ideas for fundraising, and organise or oversee arrangements in coordination with the Events Officer.
To gain enough money to run effectively, the local party needs to raise funds additional to the membership capitations received from the National party. As well as an ongoing need, there is also pop-up fundraising activity for specific needs, e.g. to fund candidates and their campaign costs. It is useful to have one person who ensures this takes place. Both new and existing ideas for raising funds should be considered, and use should be made of platforms such as crowdfunding. As parties grow, many local parties have set up standing order arrangements with local members asking for a rolling monthly contribution. This has helped divert resources from fundraising and enabled more time for campaigning.
To take a lead in exploring and linking into local businesses, follow GPEW ethical guidance, and liaise with Regional and National regarding overall fundraising strategy, policy and timed activity. To contribute to the formation of the local party strategic plan, and to carry out the role in accordance with the objectives and timeframe captured and agreed by the local party within the strategic plan.
Skills and Capabilities
The Fundraising Officer needs to be well-organised, able to motivate people, and able to work closely with the Treasurer, Events Officer, and Campaigns Officer. Persuasive to present a convincing argument to potential donors for why money should be given to the local party — many candidates build their funding case around the issue-based campaigns they are delivering. Good at planning, implementing, and overseeing activity, and has good budgetary and money-handling skills, liaising with the Treasurer. Fundraising activity needs to be creative and innovative.
Description
Leads and coordinates the Media & Communications team, combining both operational and strategic responsibilities to ensure BCPGP’s media and communications are effective, sustainable, and aligned with the local party’s strategic plan.
Strategic / Development responsibilities
Operational / Secretarial responsibilities
Skills and Capabilities
Description
The Internal Communications Officer will need to make use of GP systems to ensure effective communication between officers, volunteers, and members, e.g. Action Network mailing functions.
They will need to ensure internal emails and newsletters are all sent to the right groups and responses are handled and transferred to the right people. They will work with the Media & Comms Team on collating content for members’ mailings — for example details of party meetings and activities, and other news and updates. They play an important role in ensuring that party members are not ‘overloaded’ with emails, can coordinate communications traffic, and can monitor ‘unsubscribes’ from email lists.
To contribute to the development and implementation of the local party strategic plan, ensuring that information and reports are appropriately distributed to the members.
Skills and Capabilities
The role requires a well-organised person with attention to detail and time-management skills, and some affinity with databases or contact management systems. They will be able to liaise whenever appropriate with the IT & Data Manager, Coordinator and the Media & Communications Manager, and uphold the need to exercise good judgement with regards to communications released by the party.
(Often combined with Internal Communications Officer)
Description
To welcome new and potential members and supporters, to maintain regular contact with all members to ensure records are up to date, and to maintain interest.
The local party will need to have someone to keep the membership records and let Party Office know who they should send membership information to in the local party. (If the local party does not have a Membership Officer, then National party office will send membership information to the Coordinator.) However, there is no real need for Membership Officers to maintain independent records of membership as they can access records on Action Network at the members’ website. The Membership Officer has a role in welcoming new members and chasing up lapsing members in the grace period (suggested: a certain number each month, and possibly shortly before their membership renewal date). It is important to engage with members and identify skills and interest areas that will be of use to the local party and maintain volunteering interest.
To contribute to the formation of the local party strategic plan, and to carry out the role in accordance with the objectives and timeframe captured and agreed by the local party within the strategic plan.
Skills and Capabilities
Organised, with good attention to detail. Good interpersonal and communication skills, as this will be the first contact for many new members, and requires the ability to involve and motivate new and existing volunteers.
Description
To lead in the preparation of our local manifesto, to coordinate responses to consultation, organise local grassroots research and feedback, and link in with GPEW to ensure we follow national policy matters. Liaise with councillors, local MPs and communication teams to ensure their broad understanding of Green Party policy.
The process of policy development is one of the most important means through which the party can build real connections with the local electorate and partner organisations and demonstrate that it listens and acts on their priorities. While all members need to be involved in this, assigning policy leads for specific areas is useful as they can then bring together teams of researchers from across the membership to produce policy documents.
To contribute to the formation of the local party strategic plan, and to carry out the role in accordance with the objectives and timeframe captured and agreed by the local party within the strategic plan.
Skills and Capabilities
Policy leads and researchers need excellent listening skills; they need to integrate information and evidence from a range of different sources, and formulate practical solutions, while understanding and following national party policies and guidance. Editing and proofreading experience recommended but not essential.
Description
A vital and important role due to the level of work involved in taking and making minutes of meetings. To ensure that agendas, minutes and other documents as required by the party officers are sent out on time to members.
The local party will need a conscientious person to take and write up accurate minutes of meetings and make them available for members. They are responsible for drawing up the draft agenda and liaising with the Chair/Coordinator. They also ensure that members are given due notice of meetings, and they communicate and work closely with the other officers.
The Secretary is often also the Local Party Contact, and may be the Public Enquiry Recipient — both key external-facing roles. The Secretary will ensure any mandatory reporting is filed, including due notice for meetings or voting.
To contribute to the formation of the local party strategic plan, and to carry out the role in accordance with the objectives and timeframe captured and agreed by BCPGP within the strategic plan.
Skills and Capabilities
Requires a well-organised person with good writing and interpretation skills, to assist the Chair/Coordinator in the smooth running of meetings; able to identify key issues, then make accurate and clear written records. Needs to be someone who attends meetings regularly, is reliable in getting messages out on time, and is able to be concise and clear in putting down the actions that are required.
Description
The Treasurer manages the local party bank account* and finances (usually with at least one other, ideally two, signatories). This involves administering all party spending and overseeing any deposits made into the bank account.
The Treasurer maintains an up-to-date record of income and expenditure and presents a short financial report at party meetings and produces an annual set of accounts to be presented at the AGM.
The Treasurer has overall responsibility for the appropriate management and collection of money due to the party, arranges payment of any bills incurred by the party, receives all donations, and informs GPEW’s registered Treasurer, via Party Office, of all donations and loans of more than £500. The Treasurer may nominate a named individual to be responsible for takings at an event; but that named individual must return all funds and financial reports of the event to the Treasurer.
The Treasurer has authority to spend up to an amount agreed in the Constitution without prior consultation at the monthly meeting.
Other duties include budget planning, overseeing election spending, provision of financial guidance to other officers, liaising with the Fundraising Officer, monitoring any fundraising activity, and facilitating donations to the party by creating mechanisms such as PayPal, standing orders, and crowdfunding.
The Treasurer also has an important role in monitoring and reporting on all election expenditure, keeping financial records for all expenditure as legally required by our bylaws, the GPEW, and the Electoral Commission. To contribute to the formation of the local party strategic plan, and to carry out the role in accordance with the objectives and timeframe captured and agreed by BCPGP within the strategic plan.
Skills and Capabilities
A competent Treasurer can have a transformative effect on the achievements of the local party. This role requires an organised person who pays attention to detail and who thinks creatively about resource-related issues. Basic mathematical and spreadsheet management skills are essential. Some accounting and/or financial planning background can be useful but is not necessary. Experience as a financial officer or accountant for a public or not-for-profit organisation is recommended.
Description
To promote volunteering within BCPGP by members and (where appropriate) non-member (“green hand”) supporters, and to provide direct routes into volunteering opportunities.
This involves collation and promotion of information about volunteering opportunities available across BCPGP, responding to volunteering enquiries, greeting and signposting individual volunteers, and coordinating their deployment as required, including through ongoing dialogue with BCPGP officers and groups seeking volunteers.
To contribute to the formulation of the local party strategic plan, and to carry out the role in accordance with the objectives and timeframe captured and agreed by BCPGP within the strategic plan.
Skills and Capabilities
This role suits a team worker with strong interpersonal skills, who is keen to motivate others to contribute to BCPGP’s growth ambitions. A reasonable understanding of the issues and challenges to be considered on both sides in volunteer deployment is helpful. They should also be able to work with other BCPGP officers and groups to gain an overview of when and how BCPGP is able to successfully deploy volunteers.
Description
Operating at the ward level to promote, facilitate and support the development of ward-based strategies and community engagement. Can operate as combined wards by mutual consent, ensuring activities are neighbourhood-based. Connecting directly with the community to engage in grassroots events and community-based initiatives.
To contribute to the formulation of the local party strategic plan, and to carry out the role in accordance with the objectives and timeframe captured and agreed by BCPGP within the strategic plan.
Skills and Capabilities
This role will suit someone with an affinity for neighbourhood green community and DIY action, who is keen to motivate others to grow more of it around Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Able to understand the context of this activity within BCPGP and local ecological activism and develop and apply an understanding of the elements which practically and realistically support this.