Freelance Communication Strategist – Next Steps Project within the International Permaculture CoLab – Closed

About the Role
The International Permaculture CoLab through Next Steps Project is seeking a collaborative and impact-driven Communication Strategist to join our team in 2025.

This is a part-time freelance position paid by the hour using equitable wage calculation.

The team requires someone with a proven track record in strategic communication, especially using social media. We are looking for experience building social media channels that have reached a large number of people, and have direct experience in how to adapt communication (formatting/timetable etc.) to “fit” algorithms, and attain a bigger reach, in particular for the social media platforms that the CoLab are currently using for external communication (Youtube and Linked-in), and for communicating and promoting for non-profit, cooperative, or permaculture-related initiatives.

The strategist will formulate and help implement a communication strategy that aligns with our mission while working closely within a collaborative team.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Develop a comprehensive communication strategy that supports the CoLab’s vision, goals and community activities
  • Identify and pursue opportunities, to increase reach and impact through social media and communication tools in place
  • Work closely within the Communications, Engagement and Outreach team
  • Contribute to the implementation of the strategy, providing guidance and practical support.

Essential Qualifications & Skills:

  • Proven track record in strategic communication, especially using social media. More specifically: Have experience building social media channels that have reached a large number of people, and have direct experience in how to adapt communication (formating/timetable etc.) to “fit” algorithms, and have a bigger reach. Especially for the social media platforms the CoLab are currently using for external communication: Youtube and Linked-in.
  • Proven track record of managing social media channels whilst having a large reach impact
  • Experience in collaborative work environments and team-based strategy development.
  • Strong understanding of nonprofit, cooperative, or regenerative movements and their respective personas and their funders.
  • Excellent research, writing, and communication skills.
  • Ability to work within a capped budget while maximizing impact.

Desirable:

  • Experience working with decentralised communities
  • Experience using Leantime or other project management software
  • Knowledge about CoLab projects

What We Offer:

  • A dynamic and mission-driven team environment.
  • Opportunity to shape and implement a communication strategy with tangible impact.
  • Flexible, freelance work arrangement.
  • Support from the Communications, Engagement & Outreach team

Timeframe, budget and remuneration

You will be working within the Permaculture CoLab, which operates using self-organising and sociocratic principles.

This freelance position will be part of a small team of other freelancers, that has a fixed budget of 10,400 GBP for team activities between 5 team members. This budget needs to be exhausted by 9th December 2025. We estimate this to equate to around 60 hours for the new communications strategist, most of the work is expected to be done within the first few months.

Exact remuneration for each person will be determined once roles and responsibilities have been agreed by team members. Hourly rates are typically in the range of 28 – 30GBP and are usually calculated using an equitable wage guide. Higher rates may be possible depending on and reflecting the person’s experience in the field.

How to Apply:
In order to apply for this position you must join the CoLab as a member: https://www.perma.earth/onboarding-journey/ and attend an onboarding session. If there isn’t one available in the the first week of you joining please ask in the #welcome-gardening channel for an adhoc onboarding session.

Submit your application in the #next-steps-project channel on the CoLab Slack workspace in the recruitment thread for this position. In your application, you should outline your relevant experience, approach to collaboration, past experience managing strategic communication and your proposed hourly rate. Submit your application by midnight UTC on the 2nd June 2025.

Freelance Funding Strategist – Next Steps Project within the International Permaculture CoLab – first round of applications closed

About the Role
The International Permaculture CoLab through Next Steps Project is seeking a collaborative and impact-driven Funding Strategist to join our team in 2025.

This is a freelance position paid by the hour using equitable wage calculation.

The team requires someone with a proven track record in securing funding for non-profit, cooperative, or permaculture-related initiatives. The strategist will formulate and help implement a funding strategy that aligns with our mission while working closely within a collaborative team.

The primary goal of the position is to secure funding to keep the CoLab functioning in 2026 and beyond.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Develop a comprehensive funding strategy that supports the CoLab’s vision, goals and community funding profiles.
  • Identify and pursue funding opportunities, including grants, partnerships, and other financial support. This includes grant writing, managing collaborative grant writing and processing feedback from applications.
  • Work closely with the community to ensure alignment between funding opportunities and project needs.
  • Contribute to the implementation of the strategy, providing guidance and practical support.

Essential Qualifications & Skills:

  • Proven track record in securing funding and demonstrating measurable impact.
  • Proven track record of designing successful funding strategies
  • Experience in collaborative work environments and team-based strategy development.
  • Strong understanding of nonprofit, cooperative, or regenerative economy funding models.
  • Excellent research, writing, and communication skills.
  • Ability to work within a capped budget while maximizing impact.

Desirable:

  • Experience working with decentralised communities
  • Experience using Leantime or other project management software
  • Knowledge about CoLab projects

What We Offer:

  • A dynamic and mission-driven team environment.
  • Opportunity to shape and implement a funding strategy with tangible impact.
  • Flexible, freelance work arrangement.
  • Support from the Next Steps Project manager and the Monitoring, Evaluation and Impact Lead

Timeframe, budget and remuneration

You will be working within the Permaculture CoLab, which operates using self-organising and sociocratic principles.

This freelance position will be part of a small team of other freelancers, that has a fixed budget of 11,200 GBP for this function. This budget needs to be exhausted by 9th December 2025.

Exact remuneration for each person will be determined once roles and responsibilities have been agreed by team members.Hourly rates are typically in the range of 25 – 30GBP and are usually calculated using an equitable wage guide. Higher rates may be possible depending on and reflecting the person’s experience in the field.

How to Apply:
In order to apply for this position you must join the CoLab as a member: https://www.perma.earth/onboarding-journey/ and attend an onboarding session. If there isn’t one available in the the first week of you joining please ask in the #welcome-gardening channel for an adhoc onboarding session.

Submit your application in the #next-steps-project channel on the CoLab Slack workspace in the recruitment thread for this position. In your application, you should outline your relevant experience, approach to collaboration, past funding successes and your proposed hourly rate. Submit your application by midnight UTC on the 28th March, 2025.

Following this, a recorded interview will conducted by volunteers from the community with recommendations to the community for a shortlist of candidate/s or make a proposal to extend the application deadline until the right candidate/s are found for this position.

Beta readers wanted! Voluntary Position

This is a voluntary position for people interested in the intersection between Permaculture, Business and Self-Organization / Flat organisational structures.

I am looking for feedback about structure, use of graphics, use of language, content and any other relevant feedback….

The document is a sample and is 11 pages long – it takes about 20 min to read through it

In return for constructive feedback you will be named in the final product (if you wish) and you will receive a full copy of the finished product when it is completed – estimating this to be c. end of March/April 2025.

Contact Aimee Fenech on mail@aimeefenech.com to receive the sample for beta reading today.

Closed: Emerging Festival Coordinators / Festival Crew

The International Permaculture CoLab is actively looking to appoint 2 people for the Emergent Festival within the Next Steps Project. Perhaps one could lead and the second could support.

The Festival Coordinators Team will be comprised of people who are skilled facilitators with experience in coordinating within a self organized system.

We anticipate this position will be paid on an hourly basis on an equitable wage rate and will require around 20 hours of time over the next few months from mid-February until mid-October. With a total maximum budget for both roles of 1000 GBP.

The positions will be active until the Emergent Festival is finished.

Role & Responsibilities:

  • Keep the festival running smoothly on time and on budget
  • Manage admin tasks on CoBudget / Slack– training for this will be provided
  • Manage communications & assist Festival Rockstars & Ravers to actively participate
  • Host fun Festival Events within timelines provided – see timeline
  • Feedback into the festival setup for future improvements
  • Complete quarterly & end of project monitoring reports as per other Next Steps projects
  • Use Leantime to track tasks and hours worked

Having 2 people on this team enables an opportunity to co-design events and assign tasks between the crew as needed.

The project manager will be on hand to provide support and induction training. Applications for this position can be submitted in the #next-steps-project channel in the designated thread, tell us why you want to be involved, your capacity and your experience with group facilitation and events hosting as well as working with Co-Budget and Leantime.

Make your application in the #next-steps-project channel in the appropriate thread between February 17th to 21st. Applicants must be active CoLab members – https://www.perma.earth/onboarding-journey/

Read the full policy before applying

Closed: Diversity & Decolonization Community Pot Coordinator

The Diversity Coordination team will be comprised of at least 2 persons (coordinators) who are themselves eligible for a diversity stipend and have interest and motivation to attract and support projects and individuals in this theme of work. The coordinator will work alongside the Next Steps Project Manager (who is paid through their role budget line).

Your experience in the International Permaculture CoLab, in the Permaculture movement and previous relevant work experience is desired please tell us about these in your application.

This opening is for the Diversity & Decolonization Community Pot Coordinator(s).

We anticipate this position will be paid on an hourly basis on an equitable wage rate and will require 15 – 20 hours time from March to December 2025.

The positions will be active until the Diversity Community Pot is exhausted .

Read the full policy here to understand how this Community Pot works before making your application.

Role & Responsibilities

  • Support groups & individuals to apply for a diversity grant / stipend
  • Encourage applications for the grant and stipend by communicate with CoLab members about the potential of this grant /stipend
  • Review applications for completion upon submission within 48 hours (2 working days)
  • Forward applications to the #next-steps-channel along with up-to-date % of pot remaining and % of total pot that this application represents for e.g. 1000GBP 20% of total fund, 80% remaining to be allocated
  • Alert applicant of any pending clarifying questions / objections
  • Link successful applicants / contributors with the project manager for set up
  • Report to the community in #next-steps-project any issues that arise
  • Provide and pass on feedback of this process in order to improve it
  • Make a commitment not to disclose details about personal circumstances applicants might share.
  • Follow up with contributors to complete the end of year report
  • Use Leantime to manage tasks and log hours worked

The Next Steps Project Manager will be on hand to provide induction training and ongoing support.

How to Apply for this position

  1. Read this document well from beginning to end and ask questions is anything is unclear.
  2. Record a short video (not more than 5 minutes) outlining who you are and your relevant experience and one of the following:
    1. In a nutshell – What is the Diversity & Decolonisation Community Pot?
    2. Give 1 example of a possible Grant and 1 example of a possible Stipend
  3. Post your video with a short text in the Recruitment thread for this position on the #next-steps-project channel for this position include a link to your LinkedIN profile.

Deadline for Applications: 30th April 2025

Recruitment Process: All applications will be visible to all CoLab members. They will be able to comment and ask question of candidates within two week of the application deadline. There may be a recorded informal interview in this period.

Onboarding for the role will be conducted during the first 2 weeks of after appointment.