At a Glance
- Tasks: Support local projects and strengthen the Library of Things network across North and West Wales.
- Company: Join Benthyg Cymru, a community-led movement making borrowing easy and sustainable.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible home-based working, 25 days leave, and all travel expenses covered.
- Other info: Be part of an innovative team dedicated to community connection and environmental sustainability.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in your community while promoting sustainability and sharing.
- Qualifications: Fluent Welsh speaker with experience in community development and partnership building.
The predicted salary is between 27000 - 33000 £ per year.
Come and join our passionate team, making borrowing as easy as popping out for a loaf of bread across Wales!
- Role
- Title: Network Development Officer North and West Wales (Welsh essential)
- Based in North Wales (home-based with travel)
- Reports to: Head of Operations
- About Benthyg Cymru
Benthyg Cymru is Wales's national Library of Things network, a community-led movement built on one idea: borrowing should be as easy as popping out for a loaf of bread (or getting it delivered).
Founded in 2015 following a campaign to save a local library, we've grown to a network of over 35 community sites across Wales, working hand in hand with local groups, councils, housing associations, and libraries.
This is circular economy in action, community-led, practical, and rooted in place.
Wales now has around six times the UK average of Libraries of Things per capita, and we're only getting started.
- Purpose of the Role
- To increase borrowing and strengthen the Library of Things network across
North and West Wales by supporting local projects, developing network capability, building local partnerships, unlocking collaborative funding and income generation opportunities, and championing the value of borrowing, sharing as community connection and sustainability.
You'll act as Benthyg Cymru's regional support, rooted in place, connected to community infrastructure, and responsive to local needs.
Through one-to-one support, training, quarterly network meetings, partnership development, and regional influencing, you'll help Libraries of Things grow their reach, resilience, and community impact.
You’ll also gather and share regional insight, learning, and evidence to support continuous improvement, demonstrate impact, and inform Benthyg Cymru's national communications and influencing work.
This is a continuing role.
You'll be picking up an active regional network and existing partnerships, not starting from scratch, and you'll have the toolkit, training, and support already in place to get up and running quickly.
Key Responsibilities
- Onboard new members and support their successful integration.
- Help new and established Libraries of Things adopt best practices and resolve operational challenges.
- Provide tailored one-to-one support through site visits, calls, and regular peer check-ins.
- Maintain an active regional pipeline, tracking projects from initial enquiry through to launch.
- Help members confidently adapt and use the Benthyg Cymru toolkit.
- Organise and deliver quarterly regional network meetings to strengthen connections, share learning, and encourage collaboration.
- Coordinate training sessions and practical workshops that build skills and strengthen network capability.
- Promote peer learning, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration across the region.
- Increase Borrowing Locally
- Work with network members to identify and remove barriers to borrowing.
- Use local stories, data, and engaging visuals to raise awareness and encourage borrowing across the region.
- Support members to develop effective local outreach and promotional activity.
- Feed regional insights, experiences, and success stories into national campaigns and communications.
- Build Local & Regional Partnerships
- Build and maintain relationships with councils, housing associations, universities, businesses, community organisations, repair networks, and other relevant partners.
- Develop collaborative initiatives that increase borrowing, promote reuse, and deliver meaningful benefits for local communities.
- Identify opportunities for shared delivery, resources, and funding that respond to local needs.
- Connect Libraries of Things with regional partners and encourage long-term, mutually beneficial collaboration.
- Work with the Fundraising and Impact Lead to identify joint funding opportunities involving Libraries of Things, Benthyg Cymru, and regional partners.
- Build relationships with regional funders, feeding local knowledge into Benthyg's wider fundraising pipeline.
- Support partners to embed borrowing, sharing, and reuse within their own services and funding proposals.
- Contribute local insight and impact evidence to funding applications, with the Fundraising and Impact Lead leading on development and submission.
- Regional Influence
- Work alongside Benthyg's Director, Comms Lead, and Data & Impact Lead to raise awareness of borrowing among local politicians, public services boards, anchor institutions, and other regional decision-makers.
- Support Libraries of Things who want to engage in local influencing, helping position them as essential community infrastructure that supports affordability, sustainability, and community resilience.
- Contribute to building support for borrowing, sharing, and reuse within regional strategies and policies, working with the wider team rather than leading this alone.
- Feed local intelligence and policy insights back to Benthyg Cymru to inform national influencing work.
You’ll Work Closely With
- Network Development Officer (South)
- Director & Head of Ops (national partnerships, policy, strategy)
- Fundraising and Impact Lead (data and funding alignment)
- Comms, Marketing and PR Lead (Network comms and events)
About You
- Practical experience of working with communities, networks, and/or public services across North and/or West Wales
- Fluent Welsh-language skills, both spoken and written, are essential for this role.
- Comfortable using social media, including creating Welsh-first content, and confident supporting network members with their own comms, mainly social media
- Experience of community development, organising, or helping people and organisations build their skills and confidence.
- A warm, approachable relationship-builder who enjoys connecting people and working collaboratively.
- Some experience of partnership development or fundraising, or enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
- Practical, organised, and comfortable taking initiative while staying connected to a small, supportive team.
- Comfortable travelling and working independently across North and West Wales.
- A generous, flexible approach and willingness to contribute across different areas when needed.
- A strong commitment to sharing, equity, inclusion, community-led action, and environmental sustainability.
What Benthyg Cymru offers
- 25 days annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays
- Fully flexible, home-based working, with autonomy over how you structure your time and travel around outcomes rather than fixed hours
- All travel and subsistence expenses paid
- The chance to do something genuinely innovative with communities, with the independence to shape how borrowing and sharing works across your region, backed by a small, supportive team
- Applications in by
- 23:59
- 16th August 2026
- Interviews will be held virtually via Teams week commencing 17th August 2026
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Network Development Officer -North & West Wales employer: Benthyg Cymru
Benthyg Cymru is an exceptional employer that champions community engagement and sustainability in North and West Wales. With a strong focus on equity and inclusion, our supportive team fosters a collaborative work culture where you can grow professionally while making a meaningful impact. Join us to unlock funding opportunities and develop partnerships that empower local communities, all while enjoying the flexibility of part-time work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Network Development Officer -North & West Wales
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Benthyg Cymru.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Benthyg Cymru.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Benthyg Cymru.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Benthyg Cymru. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Network Development Officer -North & West Wales
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Benthyg Cymru. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Network Development Officer -North & West Wales, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Benthyg Cymru
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Benthyg Cymru. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
