At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic partnerships with community organisations and enhance collaboration across Croydon.
- Company: Croydon Council, dedicated to community engagement and partnership development.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team focused on equality, diversity, and inclusive community engagement.
- Why this job: Shape the future of Croydon by empowering communities and driving impactful initiatives.
- Qualifications: Experience in community engagement, partnership development, and strategic leadership required.
The predicted salary is between 60573 - 62766 £ per year.
Salary range: Grade 16 £60,573-£62,766 p.a. plus fantastic benefits
Contract: Permanent
Hours of work: 36 hours per week
Location: Croydon
This role is a senior strategic leadership post responsible for leading Croydon Council’s relationship with the voluntary, community and faith sector (VCFS) and strengthening how the Council works with communities and partners across the borough.
At its core, the role is about ensuring that the Council’s approach to community partnership working is joined-up, strategic, and outcomes-focused. The postholder would act as a key corporate lead, building strong relationships with VCFS organisations, community leaders, elected members, senior officers, and statutory partners such as the NHS and Police. They would help shape a shared vision for Croydon, support the development of new partnerships and initiatives, and ensure that community voice is properly reflected in Council decision-making.
The role also has a strong capacity-building and advisory dimension. It involves supporting the local VCFS to become more sustainable and influential, including helping identify funding and investment opportunities, while also providing high-level advice to the Mayor, Cabinet, members, and senior officers on partnership and community issues. Alongside this, the role is responsible for improving coordination across Council services, overseeing performance and governance arrangements, and leading staff to deliver effective community and partnership work.
Overall, this is a role for someone who can combine strategic thinking, political awareness, partnership leadership, and community engagement expertise to help the Council work more effectively with residents and partners and deliver better outcomes for Croydon.
Essential skills and abilities
- Ability to lead strategic partnership work with the voluntary, community and faith sector.
- Ability to build effective relationships with senior stakeholders, elected members, partners, and communities.
- Ability to develop policy, strategy, and service improvements in a complex organisation.
- Ability to engage communities and support co-production in policy and service design.
- Strong written, verbal, analytical, and presentation skills.
- Ability to provide expert advice and constructive challenge on complex issues.
- Ability to coordinate work across services and partnerships to achieve shared outcomes.
- Ability to manage staff, performance, projects, and budgets effectively.
- Strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusive community engagement.
Essential experience
- Experience of working with the VCFS and community partners at a strategic level.
- Experience of partnership development in local government, public sector, or a comparable setting.
- Experience of advising senior leaders and elected members.
- Experience of policy development, strategy delivery, or service transformation.
- Experience of community engagement, involvement, and co-production.
- Experience of identifying or securing funding and investment opportunities.
- Experience of leading cross-organisational or partnership-based projects.
- Experience of staff management, performance monitoring, and reporting.
Closing Date: 21 June 2026
To view the role profile please Click here
Community and Voluntary Sector Manager in Croydon employer: Croydon
Croydon Council is an exceptional employer that prioritises community engagement and partnership development, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of Croydon. With a strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusive practices, employees benefit from professional growth opportunities, comprehensive training, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on local communities. The Council fosters a collaborative culture where innovative ideas are welcomed, ensuring that staff feel valued and empowered in their roles.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Community and Voluntary Sector Manager in Croydon
✨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 Croydon.
✨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 Croydon.
✨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 Croydon.
✨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 Croydon. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Community and Voluntary Sector Manager in Croydon
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 Croydon. 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 Community and Voluntary Sector Manager, 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 Croydon
✨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 Croydon. 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!
