Community Food Partnership Officer

Overview

Salary: £29,570 per annum FTE (pro rata for part time) – actual dependent on hours

Hours: up to 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Fixed term contract until 31 November 2026

Reference: 0437

About Us

Community Action Suffolk (CAS) is the county’s infrastructure organisation for the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector. We exist to ensure our sector, and its volunteers are supported, safe and sustainable and that our communities are active and resilient. Our values of collaborative, enabling, person centred, responsive and trusted are the golden thread which runs through who we are and how we operate, and we aim to make them real every day.

The Role

We are looking for new Officers to join the Community Food Team. The CAS Community Food Partnership is intended to support Food Projects (e.g., Foodbanks, Food Pantries, Top Up Shops, and Community Fridges) with capacity building and diversifying their operations – enabling them to support their communities and users, with overcoming challenges related to food and income insecurity. The project delivers activities across the county, with each Officer acting as a dedicated point of contact for each district. Activities range from raising awareness of local services (Healthy Start, Affordable Food information, Cooking Projects) through social media to supporting Food Projects to become more resilient, including examining their food supply chain and developing innovative solutions.

As a Community Food Partnership Officer, you will provide practical support to Food Projects through signposting to other services, delivering information sessions (e.g., webinars, networks), training and upskilling, devising solutions to challenges, and raising awareness of opportunities. You will take a holistic approach focused on food and income insecurity, connecting services, brokering relationships, and increasing collaboration across the food system and Suffolk’s support services. You will be proactive with a can-do attitude and appetite for learning, and you should be able to communicate with a wide range of people with varying levels of experience.

What We Offer

• Blended working where role allows
• Flexible working options to support work/life balance
• 33 days (FTE) increasing to a maximum 36 days (FTE) annual holiday including bank holidays
• Up to 4% matched pension contribution
• 2 days pro rata volunteering days
• Staff discounts scheme for a range of retailers including shopping, holidays, insurance, eating out and health and leisure activities
• Company sick pay scheme
• Continued professional development for job related development
• Family friendly policies and practices
• Tailored induction

How to Apply

If you are interested in the role and would like to learn more, please contact alice.wade@communityactionsuffolk.org.uk (Deputy Director of Operations and Business Development) for an informal conversation.

To apply, please visit our website for a copy of our application pack. Completed applications should be sent to: susan.butler@communityactionsuffolk.org.uk or via post to Susan Butler, Community Action Suffolk, 160 Hadleigh Road, Ipswich, IP2 0HH.

Closing date: 12pm, 22 October 2025. Interview date: week commencing 27 October 2025. If you do not hear from us within 7 working days from receipt of your application, you have not been selected for an interview.

Requirements / Responsibilities

• Provide practical support to Food Projects, including signposting to other services
• Deliver information sessions (webinars, networks, etc.) and training to upskill Food Projects
• Devise solutions to challenges faced by Food Projects and raise awareness of opportunities
• Take a holistic approach to food and income insecurity, connecting services and increasing collaboration across the food system and Suffolk’s support services
• Demonstrate a proactive, collaborative, and adaptable approach; communicate effectively with diverse audiences

We are a friendly organisation, committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive culture in all we do, and welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process or on commencement of post.