Our Values

It’s great to know that you are interested in working with us at Coventry City Council. As a prospective employee, it is important that everyone who works for us is committed to our One Coventry values and shares our commitment to becoming a more diverse and inclusive organisation. 

Our Values are:

About the team we are recruiting to

The Pod [part of Coventry City Council, Adult Social Care] aims to build individual, organizational and/or societal capacity for creativity, innovation, compassion and social/eco activism, and each arm of The Pod’s work asserts the importance of cultivating authentic connection with the city, its creatives, eco activists, entrepreneurs, academics, change makers, quiet activists and the underheard. We believe that recovery and regeneration are totally intertwined. We are keen to create conditions in which everyone has voice and can thrive – the city is its people. 

In 2014 to forge a more radical, purposeful, environmentally conscious and regenerative connection with the city, The Pod launched its social activism program ‘Food Union’ and its sister program Time Union, this dynamic union of likeminded people were, and remain pivotal in the evolution of The Pod Café - moving it from training kitchen to its status now as a café celebrated nationally for its unique take on ‘soil to table’ vegan cuisine and social eating. 

‘The POD is not a like a service it’s more like a social movement’ NHS England.

‘Food Union – as the name implies – uses the simple power of food to bring communities together, to find healthier ways of producing and eating food, but also of thinking about and enacting community and civic identity’ Dr Chris Maughan.

What is the job role?

Do you love food growing, collaborative outdoor work, and creating common ground where people can share their passion for food growing and sustainability?

Food Union (est.2014) is an urban food growing project working to supply fresh seasonal vegetables to The Pod Café.  Our Food Union CV5 site offers Food Union members and allotmenteers space to learn about and experience food production and to connect with other food growers or people interested in food justice. Through this ‘union of people’ we evidence the benefits of a more creative sustainable and rooted approach to local food economy.

It’s  widely recognised that the work of Food Union is unique and we are thrilled to be key delivery partners for Coventry City of Culture Trust ‘Green Futures’ program we have secured funds to recruit an additional  Food Union Coordinator [Propagator] on a 6 month contract for 10 hours a week.

The successful candidate will:

• co- lead the co-ordination CV5 site working alongside members and volunteers
• Be happy to work independently at the site and maintain its upkeep.
• oversee and coordinate our project activity within the funded ‘Green Futures’ program working with partners, collaborators and members of the public   
• design & facilitate engaged learning and skill-sharing around food and food growing whilst maintaining high health and safety standards
• develop the Food Union ethos, promote the well-being agenda and celebrate city-diversity through food
• to build membership of Food Union and support future proofing.   

This post is offered on a fixed term part time (10 hours per week) basis and due to the nature of the work some weekend work may be required.

Who are we looking for?

Work with the other Food Union Co-ordinators, Food Union Members, external organisations and stakeholders (Green Futures team, artists, community leaders, researchers, allotment associations) to achieve mutually beneficial relationships, and opportunities for sourcing workshops and sharing skills/passions or resources.

Support community members to collectively set up and manage food growing sites that adopt the ethos of Pod//Food Union and celebrate and reflect the diversity of the city and demonstrate the wellbeing impacts of growing and cooking food collaboratively.

Lead on Health and Safety across the growing sites and by providing induction and practical ‘how to’ advice to collaborators and by connecting with a network of growing sites and allied experts across the UK that can share best practice.

To develop the capacity and reach of Food Union by co- designing and facilitating public facing events and social media campaigns that address issues such as food poverty and sustainability and create impetus for sustained involvement from community members and collaborators

Evaluate the work to ensure we can evidence projects impact, lessons learnt, outcomes achieved and that we meet funders requirements.

The ideal candidate will be creative, enthusiastic and committed with a passion for horticulture and the environment. You will have practical knowledge of gardening and food growing and ideally have experience of delivering culturally engaging projects.   You can find out more about Food Union here: https://www.coventry.gov.uk/foodunion

Contact the manager of The Pod:  Christine Eade: christine.eade@coventry.gov.uk if you require further information. 

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'

Interview date(s): 22nd February 2022

About Coventry

Coventry is a lively, multicultural city, which embraces old and new. Around the modern city centre there are traces of history everywhere – in the old city walls, the timber-framed buildings and the reconstructed medieval Spon Street. But Coventry has always had an eye on the future, and is now firmly focused on regenerating and re-inventing itself to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. With major developments and new projects taking place right across the city, Coventry City Council is the place to be!
There's a huge buzz about the city – Coventry ranks as the 8th best city to live, work and do business in the UK, and is the UK City of Culture 2021 ! We believe this will help put Coventry on the map for all the right reasons. You can feel the sense of local pride throughout the city as we build towards this momentous year. It also offers a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to those joining us to play their part in it.
We genuinely believe that Coventry City Council is a special place. You will be joining Coventry City Council during an exciting time to become part of a team that contribute to achieving our visions for the city. We have made our council a place where we look after our people, making sure you're happy in your work and given everything you need to succeed. We've created friendly, welcoming workplaces where everyone is working towards the same cause, providing the best possible services for the city of Coventry.
As a council with improvement at its heart, we’re committed to making life better for the people who live and work in Coventry. We’re equally concerned with the quality of life enjoyed by our people, so by joining us, you won’t just be helping the community, you’ll be helping yourself too.
Not only do you get to work alongside great people that are helping to improve services for our community we offer great benefits too! For your valued contribution we will provide a fantastic benefits package including;

• Flexible working arrangements
• Generous annual leave allowance starting at 27 days and rising to 32 days
• Pay progression through multiple increments
• Outstanding local government pension scheme
• Learning & Development with access to certified courses.
• Access to an award winning Occupational Health Team
• Vibrant employee networks 

For full details on the application process please read the attached document labelled Coventry CC Application process.

Coventry City Council