Make meaningful impact in a game changing project.
Jobs
Northern Roots is a small, friendly and inclusive team that prioritizes connection to nature and each other. As the project grows, so will our team.
Creative Strategist, Northern Roots
We’re looking for an exceptional individual, with experience of working at a strategic level within the cultural landscape, and a passion for arts and culture, to help us grow the vision for arts and culture at Northern Roots.
Northern Roots is creating the UK’s largest urban farm and eco-park on 160-acres of urban green space in Oldham. Formerly the site of cotton mills, a coal mine, and the Council tip, we’re creating a unique new community asset and visitor destination, already benefitting people, planet and place – and arts and culture is a key catalyst.
A brand-new Visitor Centre, amphitheater, and Forestry Skills Centre will open in 2026, followed by a Longhouse performance space (funding permitting). The Cultural Strategist role is crucial to maximising the opportunity we have with new facilities opening in 2026, and to the long-term aspiration around cultural programming, community co-creation, talent development pathways, revenue generation, and placemaking.
You will be a leader in the sector, have an impressive regional and national network, relish the opportunity to co-create an Arts & Culture Strategy and costed Delivery Plan, understand the intricacies of co-creation and relationship-building, possess creativity and innovation in abundance, and understand the role of arts and culture in placemaking and the power of arts and culture to change lives.
Want a conversation before applying? Please reach out via info@northern-roots.uk and we’ll connect you to the hiring team.
Salary: £40,000 pro rata
Contract: Fixed term, May 2025 until December 2025. Three days/week, 7.5 hours per day
Location: Northern Roots Alexandra Park Offices, Oldham, OL8 2BH, with opportunities for flexible and remote working
Application deadline: 12 midnight on Sunday 23rd March 2025
To apply: please email your Cover Letter, CV and Equal Opportunities form to info@northern-roots.uk, before the deadline. We will shortlist applicants the week commencing Monday 24th March 2025, and interviews will be held on Tuesday 8th and Thursday 10th April 2025.
This role is made possible and supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
Fundraising Lead, Northern Roots
We are looking for an individual with a successful track record of Trust and Foundation fundraising, and with an interest in developing expertise in building relationships with Corporate and Philanthropic sponsors, to join our team. The role provides an excellent opportunity for a dynamic, strategic individual to play a catalytic role in shaping an exciting, innovative and transformational project.
Northern Roots is transforming 160 acres of urban greenspace in Oldham into a destination for learning, leisure and growing. The charity aims to benefit the environment, and to improve the health, wellbeing and livelihoods of local communities. We are currently constructing a Visitor Centre, Forestry Skills Centre and four acres of Urban Farm and will open as a visitor destination in 2026.
Over the last five years, the Northern Roots charity has successfully secured significant capital and revenue funding from a wide range of statutory, trust, foundation and corporate funders. Over the past year, we have conducted extensive pipeline research, developed a variety of Case for Support and proposal documents, begun to engage with High Net Worth and corporate supporters, and achieved success with a number of trusts and foundations new to us. As we prepare to open our new facilities, we are now ready to recruit a member of staff to work with our CEO and Board to take forward the research, relationships and materials we have developed.
Want to have a conversation before applying? Please reach out to info@northern-roots.uk and we’ll connect you with the hiring team.
Salary: £36,000 – £38,000 pro rata
Contract: Fixed term, May 2025 until June 2026. Three days/week, 7.5 hours per day
Location: On site at Northern Roots with opportunities for flexible and remote working
Application deadline: 12 midnight on Sunday 6th April 2025
To apply: please email your Cover Letter, CV and Equal Opportunities form to info@northern-roots.uk, before the deadline. We will shortlist applicants the week commencing 7th April and interviews will be held on Thursday 17th April 2025.
DOWNLOAD EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FORM
Citizen Rangers, Citizen Researchers and Heritage Champions
Would you like to become a paid, part-time Citizen Researcher, Heritage Champion or Heritage Champion at Northern Roots?
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we are recruiting four Citizen Researchers, four Heritage Champions, and four Citizen Rangers as part of a new heritage project.
The project is inspired by Oldham’s incredible 18th and 19th century working class scientific and environmental movements, the Oldham Microscopical Society, and individuals like James Nield (1825-1896), the son of an Oldham hatter who developed a passionate interest in the natural world. An early advocate for nature conservation, Nield built on the existing botanical legacy in Oldham by being a founding member of the Oldham Microscopical Society (1864), a Society which still meets regularly today.
Each role offers you the chance to build skills and gain knowledge in a friendly and supportive environment.
Citizen Rangers
Citizen Rangers will train with our Rangers and Land team to identify and monitor species, learn about habitat management, and engage local people with the natural heritage on our site. To apply, you must be 18+ and resident in Oldham. No previous experience required, simply a willingness to learn and get involved.
Hourly rate: £12.21, up to 6 hours per week, May 2025 – May 2026
Location: Northern Roots Alexandra Park Offices, Oldham, OL8 2BH
Application deadline: 12 midnight on Sunday 23rd March 2025
To apply: please email your EOI (Expression of Interest form) and Equal Opportunities form to info@northern-roots.uk by 12 midnight on Sunday 23rd March 2025
Interviews: will be held on Thursday 3rd April at Northern Roots
Start date: week commencing 21st April 2025
Citizen Researchers
Citizen Researchers will build strong connections with their community, learn a range of research methods and carry out research that will help shape the future of Northern Roots. To apply, you must be 18+ and resident in Oldham. No previous experience required, simply a willingness to learn and get involved.
Hourly rate: £12.21, up to 6 hours per week, May 2025 to June 2026
Location: Northern Roots Alexandra Park Offices, Oldham, OL8 2BH
Application deadline: 12 midnight on Sunday 23rd March 2025
To apply: please email your EOI (Expression of Interest form) and Equal Opportunities form to info@northern-roots.uk by 12 midnight on Sunday 23rd March 2025
Interviews: will be held on Tuesday 1st April at Northern Roots
Start date: week commencing 21st April 2025
Heritage Champions
Heritage Champions will research and uncover the fascinating industrial, social and natural heritage of our site and share their knowledge at co-created events and activities on site. To apply, you must be 18+ and resident in Oldham. No previous experience required, simply a willingness to learn and get involved.
Hourly rate: £12.21, up to 6 hours per week, May 2025 – May 2026
Location: Northern Roots Alexandra Park Offices, Oldham, OL8 2BH
Application deadline: 12 midnight on Sunday 23rd March 2025
To apply: please email your EOI (Expression of Interest form) and Equal Opportunities form to info@northern-roots.uk by12 midnight on Sunday 23rd March 2025
Interviews: will be held on Monday 31st March at Northern Roots
Start date: week commencing 21st April 2025
Learning Manager at Northern Roots, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
We’re looking for a enthusiastic, dynamic individual to connect a variety of learners to the Northern Roots site.
As our Learning Manager, you will work with our team of Heritage Champions, Citizen Researchers and Citizen Rangers to co-design a pilot programme of curriculum linked educational visits, placements and sessions. These will focus on nature and the heritage of our site and you will be supported by our friendly, dedicated team.
Specialist knowledge of the communities and heritage of Oldham, and an affinity for horticulture, ecology, arts and culture would be an advantage.
Contract: £30,000 – £32,000 depending on experience, pro rata 3 days per week, May 2025 until April 2026
Location: Northern Roots Alexandra Park Offices, Oldham, OL8 2BH
Application deadline: 12 midnight on Sunday 2nd March
To apply, please email your Cover Letter, CV and Equal Opportunities form to info@northern-roots.uk before the deadline of 12 midnight on Sunday 2nd March. We will shortlist applicants on week commencing Monday 3rd March, and interviews will be held on Tuesday 11th, Tuesday 18th and Thursday 20th March 2025.
Volunteering
Volunteers make a valuable contribution to the development of Northern Roots, and we are grateful for the hard work, enthusiasm and support of everyone who volunteers with us. We offer a variety of volunteering opportunities from short Community Litter Picks to our Urban Farm and Environmental volunteering programme.
Our team of Northern Roots staff and existing volunteers are a friendly and inclusive group, so if you join our volunteering programme, you’ll get a warm welcome.
Northern Roots Urban Farm and Environmental volunteers can get involved in sowing, harvesting, composting, weeding, mulching and creating no dig beds in our Phase 1 Urban Farm. You can support the conservation of 160-acres of woodland, meadows and ponds through path maintenance and habitat creation, or learn new skills such as woodworking and landscaping with our experienced Land Team. No previous experience required, simply a passion for nature and learning.
Applications for the Northern Roots Urban Farm and Environmental Volunteering autumn intake are now closed. We will be re-opening applications in spring 2025. We may offer shorter volunteering opportunities in the meantime, so make sure to follow our social media to keep up to date.
In future we’ll expand our volunteering offer to include opportunities to support Northern Roots events, tours and our schools programme.
If you are interested in corporate volunteering or a Corporate Away Day, please email info@northern-roots.uk for more information.