Community Engagement Officer – FTC

The Community Engagement Officer will play a pivotal role in delivering Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Dementia Community Champions (DCC) programme. Launched in 2022, the programme empowers volunteers to share dementia information within communities that are under-served in terms of access to health information and research, and at higher risk of being affected by dementia. The programme has to date focused on South Asian communities in Leicester, Nottingham, and Derby. In 2026, it will expand to include Black African and Black Caribbean communities in East London. As the programme continues to grow, the Officer will have significant scope to support, shape, and develop this important area of work.

Dementia Community Champions are volunteers trained by Alzheimer’s Research UK to deliver events in their communities to increase knowledge and understanding of dementia, brain health and dementia risk factors. They also emphasise the importance of taking part in research in their local communities.

They do this by:

• attending and completing training in dementia, risk factors, and dementia research run by the core ARUK team.
• holding events within their communities to share dementia information.
• sharing leaflets and other resources.
• speaking to local people about their experience of dementia and signposting them to appropriate information and opportunities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Day to day support of volunteers
• Assist in the recruitment and management of new DCC volunteers, ensuring a smooth onboarding process and volunteer journey.
• Act as a point of contact for DCC volunteers, providing guidance, support, and timely responses to their enquiries.
• Empower volunteers by helping them build skills and confidence to talk about dementia and dementia research, and to engage effectively with their audiences.
• Plan, facilitate, and deliver monthly online meetings. This includes coordinating with volunteers, arranging logistics, addressing queries, and liaising with internal stakeholders.
• Comprehensive admin support
• Provide comprehensive administrative support for the programme, including assisting volunteers in organising and evaluating their events.
• Collect key metrics from the programme to monitor progress and evaluate activities.
• Maintain relevant files and documents, ensuring accurate recording of data and adherence to GDPR.
• Ensure activities comply with ARUK’s branding and style guide.
• Support the delivery of Dementia Community Champions in underserved communities.
• Assist in the development and delivery of DCC training and ongoing support to volunteers to hold their own events.
• Act as a champion for DCC across Alzheimer’s Research UK, effectively communicating the importance, successes and challenges of the programme. Share insights and support colleagues across ARUK in their efforts to reach underserved communities.
• Collaborate with the DCC Manager to produce ongoing evaluation of the programme. Proactively suggest new initiatives and continuous improvements.

What we are looking for:

• Science graduate or equivalent level of education (biomedical or biological subject) or relevant work experience
• Experience of discussing health or research with the public.
• Experience of communicating complex health information in a simple and accessible way.
• Awareness of current topics in dementia and dementia research
• Demonstrated experience in providing comprehensive administrative support for programmes or initiatives.
• Experience of working with and supporting volunteers.
• Project and events coordination experience.
• Effective written and spoken communication skills.
• A confident, friendly, and professional attitude; would feel at ease representing the charity to a range of audiences.
• Willingness and ability to travel independently in the UK and occasionally to work outside of regular office hours when needed.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritise responsibilities, and meet deadlines effectively, especially in a fast-paced environment.
• The willingness to learn and understand about dementia and dementia research and be able to use learning to effectively train others on topics of diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
• Willingness to work collaboratively with colleagues across different departments, as well as external stakeholders and volunteers, to achieve common goals.
• Openness to adapting to changing circumstances and priorities, as well as flexibility in approach when working with diverse communities and volunteers.
• Ability to understand and empathise with individuals affected by dementia, as well as volunteers who may have personal connections to the cause.
• Dedication to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the programme and ensuring that all volunteers feel valued and respected regardless of their background.

Additional Information:

Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD.

Salary: Circa £30,000 per annum, plus benefits.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.