Senior Capacity Building Development Officer (Community Empowerment & Development) in Bury St Edmunds

Recruitment Pack

Senior Capacity Building Development Officer (Community Empowerment & Development)

Closing Date: Sunday 6th December

Interview Date: Tuesday 15th December

Who we are

At Bury VCFA we’re proud to champion

the vital role the VCSE sector makes to

the people and communities of Bury.

Set up 5 years ago, Bury VCFA is here

to develop the capacity of VCSE sector

groups and organisations and connect

people into the wealth of volunteering

opportunities in the Borough.

We support the voice of the VCSE

sector through our networks and

strategic representation across a wealth

of themes, including health and social

care, children and young people,

community safety, skills and

employment and the environment.

We promote the sector, championing its

role strategically and acting as a catalyst

for the sector’s involvement in the design

and delivery of local services.

We are looking to add to our committed

team of staff to ensure we continue to

deliver quality services that meet the

changing needs of the VCSE sector in

Bury.

For more information about our services,

please visit www.buryvcfa.org.uk

http://www.buryvcfa.org.uk/

http://www.buryvcfa.org.uk/

How we work and what we do

Our work aligns with the four key

functions of Local Infrastructure as

identified by NAVCA (National

Association for Voluntary and

Community Action) for which we’re proud

to have received accreditation in April

2023.

We provide volunteering and organisational development support

to the VCSE sector in Bury - helping to build its capacity to

enhance the quality of life for individuals and local communities.

We promote the sector, championing its’ role strategically and

acting as a catalyst for the sectors’ involvement in the design and

delivery of local services.

How we work

Our vision is simple. All our work is focused on

“Improving the lives of local people”How we work both as an organisation and as individual staff

members is captured in three key principles

We work together to create solutions

We are open to new ideas and ways of

working

We are a movement - connecting groups

and communities

We have Integrity

We bring together a range of knowledge and

expertise

We are a trusted safe pair of hands,

delivering a high quality service

We are Proud

We are proud to be part of Bury and the

communities we serve

We are passionate about our communities,

the sector and the people of Bury

At Bury VCFA we offer a range of

benefits to ensure

you feel supported

and connected

35 hour full time

for continuous service

IT resources to keep

pension

contribution

Senior Capacity Building Development Officer -(Community Empowerment & Development)

Salary £31,487 per annum

Hours of Work Full Time (35hrs per week)

Contract Fixed Term – 4 years (subject to funding)

Benefits 5% Pension Contribution22 Days annual leave + 3 concessionary days + bankholidays

Location Hybrid (Home / Office / Community)

Responsible to Deputy Chief Officer

Responsible for Volunteer Development Officer,Age Friendly Development Worker

Special Conditions Occasional evening or weekend work

Area of Work Bury with occasional travel across Greater Manchester

Who we’re looking for

We are looking for an experienced, values-driven development professional to

lead Bury VCFA's community capacity building and development work. This senior

role will strengthen communities, organisations and volunteers across Bury by

supporting participation, learning and community-led action, while ensuring local

voices and lived experience help shape services, systems and decision-making.

You will lead a small team within the Capacity Building service, contributing directly

to the delivery of Bury VCFA's core infrastructure and development offer. This

includes overseeing a high-quality training and development programme; providing

support, information, advice and guidance to VCSE organisations and emerging

groups; and leading activity that strengthens volunteering, community action and

organisational resilience.

The role will also lead aspects of neighbourhood development, including support

for Community Connector networks, community reporting and insight gathering,

and creating opportunities for residents and community organisations to influence

local priorities and service design. Working closely with VCSE partners, public

services and communities, you will help ensure community strengths, experiences

and aspirations are embedded within local decision-making.

This role requires strong leadership, partnership working and a commitment to

community empowerment. You will lead projects and initiatives that build the

capacity of individuals, groups and organisations, strengthen volunteering and

participation, and enable communities to influence services, shape solutions and

Main Responsibilities

Staff Management and Team Leadership

• Provide effective line management, supervision and support to CapacityBuilding staff and Bury VCFA volunteers.
• Create a supportive, reflective and learning-focused team culture thatencourages innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Lead by example, embedding Bury VCFA's values across all aspects of
• Volunteering, Community Development and Participation
• Lead the strategic development of volunteering across Bury VCFA'sinfrastructure offer, working alongside the Volunteer Development Officer tostrengthen volunteer recruitment, brokerage, support and pathways intocommunity action.
• Support the development of strong, connected and resilient communitiesthrough community development approaches that build on local strengths,assets and relationships.
• Create opportunities for residents, volunteers and community groups toparticipate in local decision-making, civic activity and neighbourhood action.
• Work alongside community organisations and emerging groups to buildconfidence, leadership and community capacity.
• Promote volunteering and participation as key routes to wellbeing,community connection, skills development and social action.
• Support Bury VCFA's role in community resilience and emergency responseactivity, including volunteer mobilisation where required.

Community Voice, Reporting and Insight

• Provide leadership for Bury VCFA's community reporting programme,creating systems and approaches that capture lived experience, communitypriorities and grassroots insight.
• Ensure community insight is gathered ethically, inclusively and meaningfully,with a particular focus on underrepresented communities and voices.
• Translate community intelligence into actionable insight that informs localpriorities, service design, policy development and system change.
• Work with community groups, residents and partners to ensure livedexperience is embedded within decision-making processes.
• Coordinate the collection, analysis and communication of communityinsight, learning and impact across Bury VCFA's programmes andpartnerships.
• Champion approaches that strengthen community voice, influence andparticipation across local systems.

Place-Based Working and Live Well

• Work closely with the Senior Officer for Spaces of Hope and colleaguesacross the wider Live Well programme to connect neighbourhooddevelopment, volunteering, community voice and capacity-building activity.
• Represent and champion the VCSE sector within place-based partnerships,and system leadership spaces including public service reform programmes.
• Ensure alignment with the Greater Manchester Live Well approach,embedding principles of prevention, early intervention, community powerand collaboration.
• Foster effective relationships with public sector, VCSE and communitypartners to strengthen local outcomes and community-led solutions.

VCSE Sector Development, Training and Support

• Oversee Bury VCFA's information, advice and guidance offer for VCSEorganisations, ensuring groups can access timely support, resources and
• Lead the strategic oversight, design and continuous improvement of BuryVCFA's training and development programme for VCSE organisations,community groups, volunteers and residents.
• Identify emerging development needs and ensure learning opportunitiesrespond to local priorities and sector challenges.
• Ensure Bury VCFA's support offer promotes good governance,resilience and community leadership.
• Work with partners, associates and specialists to deliver accessible, highquality learning opportunities, particularly for small, emerging and grassroots organisations.
• Develop pathways that connect organisations and individuals to widersupport, funding, networks and development opportunities.

Impact, Learning and Quality

• Capture, evidence and communicate the impact of volunteering, communitydevelopment, training, community reporting and VCSE support activity.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements for coreservices and funded programmes.
• Share learning internally and externally to support continuous improvement,innovation and organisational development.
• Use data, insight and feedback to shape future service delivery anddemonstrate impact.

General Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Bury VCFA
• Attend team meetings, supervision training and relevant partnership forums
• Maintain high standards of safeguarding, equality, inclusion, health andsafety and data protection.
• Undertake administrative tasks and any other responsibilities appropriate tothe role.

Person Specification

Skills

Excellent communication, facilitation and relationship-building skills, including theability to engage diverse audiences and translate complex ideas into practicalaction.

Strong project, programme and workload management skills, with the ability to

plan, prioritise and deliver multiple workstreams independently.

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills and an ability to think creatively

Strong partnership and influencing skills, with the ability to represent the VCSE

sector effectively and build productive relationships across communities, voluntary

organisations and public services.

Ability to research, understand and apply to a range of relevant policy, strategicand legal information to practical situations.

Ability to assess organisational and community needs and provide appropriatesupport, advice, guidance and development solutions.

Ability to design, deliver and evaluate training, learning and developmentprogrammes using a range of facilitation, coaching and peer-learning approaches.

Ability to gather, interpret and communicate community insight, lived experienceand qualitative evidence to support service improvement and system change.

Ability to support community groups, volunteers and residents to developconfidence, leadership and participation.

Ability to motivate and develop others within a supportive and reflective teamculture.

Confidence using digital technology, including office applications, CRM systemsand video conferencing.

Knowledge

Good understanding of the voluntary, community and faith sector, its role in

community life and how it interacts with other sectors

Knowledge of community development, asset-based approaches, communityempowerment and participation.

Knowledge and experience of capacity-building techniques and organisationaldevelopment.

Understanding of community insight and community reporting methodologies.

retention and development.

Awareness of policy and practice issues relevant to volunteering and community

activities, including safeguarding, health and safety and working with vulnerablegroups.

Experience

Experience working within the VCSE sector or community development field,including supporting community groups, residents and voluntary organisations(paid or unpaid).

Experience developing the capacity, resilience or sustainability of communityorganisations or networks.

Experience of designing and delivering training, workshops, learning programmes

Experience of providing information, advice, guidance or practical support toindividuals, groups or organisations.

Experience of community engagement, consultation, co-production or participationactivity.

Experience gathering, analysing and communicating community insight, livedexperience or qualitative evidence and turning it into action including influencingservices or decision-making.

Experience of working in partnership across VCSE, public and/or communitysectors

Experience coordinating meetings, networks, multi-agency forums or events bothonline and in person

organisations.

Experience using CRM systems or case management tools

Experience of line management, supervision or supporting staff and volunteers

Experience influencing or advocating within partnerships or strategic forums

Experience contributing to budget management and funder reporting (desirable)

Behaviours

Leads by example in modelling Bury VCFA’s values of collaboration, integrity andpride, whilst demonstrating a clear commitment to the organisation’s mission tosupport and strengthen a vibrant Voluntary, Community & Faith sector in Bury.

Takes responsibility for delivering work to a high standard, following through oncommitments and being honest about challenges or limitations.

Collaborative, inclusive and person centred approach.

Proactive, motivated and solution focussed.

Able to work flexibly – including evenings and weekends, and adapt to changingneeds

A commitment to equality, inclusion, positively promoting diversity and challenginginequality.

Is open to new ideas and way of working including a commitment to your ownpersonal training and development.

Other Duties

To take responsibility for individual administration, attend team meetings andmandatory training.

Commitment to adhering to all of Bury VCFA policies and procedures at all times,including Health & Safety and Equal Opportunities

To act as a secondary key holder for Bury VCFA supporting access to the building

To perform any other duties commensurate with these responsibilities, the needsof the organisation, the grade of the post and the skills and qualifications of thepostholder.

This job description is intended as an outline of the general areas of activityand responsibility for the post holder and may be amended in light of thechanging needs of Bury VCFA.

• How we work
• We have Integrity
• We are Proud

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