Co-operative Development Officer in Manchester

We are delighted to share this exciting opportunity for a Co-operative Development Officer to join a values-driven and dynamic organisation.

Location: Manchester (Holyoake House)

Salary: £27,004 per annum (pro rata to 21 hours – £16,202)

Hours: Part-time, 3 days per week (21 hours)

Contract: Fixed-term, 11 months

Working pattern: Hybrid working, with at least 1 day per week in the Manchester office

Closing Date: Midnight, Sunday 8 February 2026

Interviews: Week commencing 23 February 2026, in Manchester

Benefits: Flexible working options, pension scheme, discounted travel to work schemes, employee wellbeing assistance programme including free eye tests, personal and professional growth and development including coaching, trade union.

We reserve the right to close the role early should a suitable candidate be found before this date. Applicants must apply via the application form on our website – CVs cannot be accepted.

About the role

As Co-operative Development Officer, you will support the delivery of the organisation’s growth strategy by helping to plan and deliver events, business support programmes and partnership activities. Working closely with the Co-operative Development Team, you will help raise awareness of the co-operative model and support new and existing co-operatives to thrive. This is a varied and rewarding role, offering the opportunity to contribute to meaningful work that supports communities, values-led enterprises and a fairer economy.

Key responsibilities

• Events and outreach

• Deliver small-scale online and in-person events, managing logistics such as venues, digital platforms and catering.
• Coordinate speakers and manage administrative tasks including payments and invoices.
• Communicate with attendees before and after events to ensure a positive experience.
• Work with communications teams to support promotional activity, including newsletters and email campaigns.
• Track event metrics, gather feedback and prepare reports.
• Attend external events and exhibitions to promote the organisation.
• Provide occasional out-of-hours or weekend support for specific events or campaigns.

• Programme delivery

• Support the delivery of business support programmes.
• Manage administrative processes, including contracts and payments.
• Track programme activity and prepare monitoring and evaluation reports.

• Partnerships and funding support

• Support partnership activity aligned with organisational strategy, including youth engagement, digital innovation, community development and embedding co-operative values.
• Gather evidence, case studies and data for funding applications and funder reporting.
• Maintain accurate records and processes related to funding and partnership activity.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will be organised, proactive and passionate about supporting values-led organisations and community impact. You will bring:

• Experience of running small events, both online and in person.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent attention to detail and administrative capability.
• Clear and confident written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with colleagues and external partners.
• Highly developed IT skills, including confidence using Microsoft Office applications.

Desirable:

• An understanding of, or interest in, values-driven organisations.
• Experience supporting grant-funded programmes.
• Interest in areas such as youth engagement, ethical tech, community development or climate action.
• Experience using project management tools such as Asana or Trello.

About the organisation

As the voice of the UK’s co-operative movement, we empower and support co-operative enterprises with specialised knowledge and expertise, to grow the co-operative economy and create a fairer society. From football clubs and farms to convenience stores and pubs, there are more than 7,000 co-operatives in the UK, each owned and controlled by their members and based on a set of shared principles and values. As an organisation we are led by our unwavering values of solidarity, self-responsibility, equity, and honesty, therefore if you share these core values, we would be delighted to receive your application.

Other roles you may have experience in could include Project Officer, Events Officer, Programme Coordinator, Community Development Officer, Partnerships Officer, or Business Support Officer.