Development Officer Tlnt1_Ni

Job Overview

Development Officer – a key role within the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland focused on the Stronger Together Building Community Resilience programme.

The role involves designing, delivering and developing community-based activities that strengthen resilience, build local leadership, and promote inclusion across Northern Ireland.

• Key Details
• Reporting to: Programmes Manager
• Hours: 35 per week, flexible with occasional evenings and weekend work
• Salary: NJC points 2628 (approximately £37,280 – £39,152)
• Duration: Fixed term, 3 years from appointment
• Location: Hybrid (Belfast office and home‑based working), extensive travel across Northern Ireland
• Programme Overview

The Stronger Together Building Community Resilience programme is a grassroots, capacity‑building initiative for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations.

It seeks to empower community leaders, combat misinformation, promote inclusive narratives, foster collaboration, and drive policy change around hate crime prevention, race equality and digital rights.

• Main Responsibilities
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with community groups, grassroots leaders, statutory, government and partner organisations.
• Support delivery and management of core programme strands: community leadership development, media literacy and misinformation awareness, storytelling and narrative change, advocacy training and community campaigns, and peer learning initiatives.
• Recruit, develop and engage Champions for Change, and facilitate their practical action in local communities.
• Plan and coordinate workshops, events, roundtables and learning activities.
• Promote inclusion, challenge racism and misinformation, and strengthen social cohesion through programme delivery.
• Support advocacy activity focused on hate crime prevention, race equality and digital rights.
• Collaborate with voluntary, community, statutory and other stakeholders to support joined‑up responses and cross‑sector coordination.
• Contribute to research, evaluation and evidence gathering on racial justice and community resilience.
• Support the development of practice‑to‑policy outputs and policy papers.
• Build the programme’s visibility and profile in partnership with the Policy, Public Affairs and Communications Directorate.
• Represent the organisation through events and visits that showcase programme learning and impact.
• Contribute to effective communications, including report writing, presentations and stakeholder engagement.
• Support programme evaluation, impact reporting and funder monitoring returns.
• Capture and share learning internally and externally to inform policy and practice.
• Manage workload effectively, maintain confidentiality, and comply with all organisational policies and procedures.

Qualifications

• Relevant third‑level qualification and at least five years paid experience in a similar role, or five years experience in a voluntary role.
• Experience using community development or participatory approaches, including working with lived experience.
• Experience of partnership working and building positive relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience working with diverse communities, particularly those experiencing inequality, exclusion or disadvantage.
• Significant experience of working on sensitive or complex issues in a community development context.
• Experience of designing and delivering community‑based programmes, events or workshops.
• Proven experience of building and maintaining effective partnerships across the voluntary, community and statutory sectors.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and presenting to different audiences.
• Experience of monitoring, evaluation and capturing learning or impact.
• Ability to organise and manage multiple priorities, work independently, and collaborate as part of a team.
• Competent in Microsoft Office and general administrative systems.
• Committed to the Foundation’s vision, mission, values (Ambition, Passion, Integrity, Kindness) and behaviours (Active Listening, Non‑judgemental, Collaborative).
• Proactive, self‑motivated, well organised and committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Additional Requirements
• Ability to work outside normal office hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Full driving licence and access to a form of transport; consideration will be given to alternative travel proposals for applicants with a disability.
• Available to work independently with regular reporting into the wider team.
• Terms and Conditions

Office hours Monday to Friday 9:00‑17:00 (including meal breaks).

The post-holder will be required to be flexible and work unsocial hours when needed.

The role is based in the Foundations Belfast Office but operates a flexible hybrid working model.

Holidays: 25 days annually plus statutory customary days, pro rata for part‑time posts, and a day off for the holder’s birthday each year.

The post is subject to a probationary period of up to six months.

Eligibility for the Foundations Pension Scheme and Health Shield Employee Benefits Scheme may be available.

No on‑site parking is provided.

Benefits

Competitive salary, generous annual leave (25 days rising to 30 days after five years), statutory public holidays, 2 customary days, defined contribution pension scheme, occupational sick pay, enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, paid carers leave where eligible, hybrid working arrangements and allowance, flexible working, online staff training portal, financial support and time off for training and development, permanent ill‑health insurance, life insurance, health cash plan, health checks, wellbeing training and events, cycle to work scheme, volunteering leave, reward and recognition programmes including birthday leave and gift, office wellness hub with wellbeing resources, and proceeds from acts of kindness rewards.

EEO Statement

The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve and welcomes applications from all genders, backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, religions, disabilities and lived experiences.

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and in the workplace.

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