Community Development Officer in Newtownards

Directorate: Active and Healthy Communities, may be required to work in any Directorate of the Council

Department: Community Services, may be required to work in any department of the Council

Location: Signal Centre, Bangor, however, may be required to work in any location in the Council

Reports To: Community Development Manager

Salary Scale: PO1, SCP 29 - 32

Car User Status: Casual

Purpose of the Post: To work in partnership with relevant statutory, voluntary and community organisations to build sustainable communities within identified areas, whilst maximising the effective and efficient use of Council resources.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• To advise and assist in the strategic development process of the Councils Community Development Section and to manage activities and resources ensuring the delivery of an efficient and effective service.
• To research, develop and deliver a range of quality service initiatives determined by local needs in order to build local community infrastructure.
• To engage, enable and support community organisations using the community development process and to promote and develop appropriate collaborative working within the area using a partnership approach.
• To support, supervise and motivate employees and to comply with and promote equality, health and safety and employee development in compliance with Council human resources policies and legal requirements.
• To identify and meet volunteer development needs.
• To source and secure relevant funding and resources to meet identified community needs, including assisting with external grant aid opportunities and informing the Councils internal community grant aid process.
• To prepare and manage budgets and to utilise resources effectively and in compliance with Council financial standing orders and standard operating procedures.
• To provide relevant cover within the Community Development Section as required.
• Any other additional duties as directed consistent with the nature and level of the post.

To comply with and promote equality, health and safety in accordance with Council Policies and legal requirement.

Person Specification:

The person specification provides information on the qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills required to carry out the duties of the post. The essential criteria will be used for shortlisting and as part of the selection process.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree, Level 6 qualification or equivalent in Youth Work, Community, Psychology, Social Work, or other relevant area. And 2 years experience as detailed below.
• Or HNC/HND, Level 4 or 5 qualification in a relevant area and a minimum of 3 years experience as detailed below.
• Other specialist qualifications or training, for example Train the Trainer or Safeguarding. Risk Assessment Training.

Experience:

• A minimum of 2 or 3 plus years of relevant experience depending on level of qualification, as outlined above, of working in the Community Voluntary Sector.
• Experience of developing, implementing, managing and evaluating community-based projects/programmes, including Play Work, over 50s and adults with additional needs.
• Experience in developing and maintaining effective community partnership networks with a proven ability to work collaboratively to identify need and deliver shared outcomes.
• Experience of identifying funding opportunities and securing financial support.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, including the ability to produce presentations, reports and manage project budgets with the ability to track expenditure, monitor spend and ensure value for money.
• Experience of developing high quality funding applications, aligning project objectives with funder requirement and evidencing need and impact and successfully managing awards to funder conditions.

Knowledge, Skills and Ability:

• Demonstrate a sound understanding of community development principles.
• Knowledge of how to support and advise community groups on governance structure.
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a wider team.
• Knowledge of potential funding sources for the community and voluntary sector.
• Ability to support community organisations with 3rd party funding applications.
• Excellent communication skills of all types and at all levels.
• Demonstrate ability to engage, empower and build effective relationships with diverse communities and stakeholders.
• Ability to identify local needs and develop practical solutions with a creative approach to overcoming barriers.
• Ability to prioritise and manage conflicting work demands.
• Resilient and adaptable with the ability to work in a dynamic community environment.
• Highly organised with attention to detail.

Other Requirements:

• A valid driving licence with access to a form of transport that will allow fulfilment of the duties of the post, or have access to a suitable form of transport which will enable the post holder to meet the requirements of the post.
• Flexibility with working hours, to include working evenings and occasional weekend to meet community needs, and to attend events, meetings and outreach activities outside office hours.
• Consent to a pre-employment Enhanced Access NI check.

The above alternative access to a suitable form of transport is a reasonable adjustment specifically for applicants with disabilities who, as a result of their disability, are unable to hold a valid driving licence.

The selection panel reserves the right to enhance the shortlisting criteria to facilitate the process when necessary.