• Flexible working available, using a hybrid model – working from home and your contracted work base. Your work base is open to discussion and travel across the county will be required, including for evening meetings.
• 30 days annual leave per annum.
• The role will be varied and include participative community development working with a wide range of partners and stakeholders.
• The role involves attendance at regular evening meetings at sites around Somerset and therefore ability to travel is a requirement.
• This is a permanent role.

We’re working to improve the lives of people here in Somerset – and you’ll be a key part of that. Working with a wide range of partners, including City, Town and Parish Councils, Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Groups, Businesses, the Police, the NHS and colleagues within Somerset Council you will be supporting communities to identify and understand local priorities and the development of local services and projects.

Your day-to-day work will include:

• Leading the delivery of at least 2 Local Community Networks (LCNs) and their associated projects in Somerset.
• Building effective partnership working with stakeholders including Somerset Council Members, City, Town and Parish Councils, Statutory Partners, businesses and the Voluntary Community Faith and Social Enterprise sectors. 
• Working closely with the Chair and Vice Chair of your LCNs to build and promote participative practice, priority setting and action plan delivery leading to improved outcomes for Somerset residents.
• Using data, appropriate engagement tools and techniques to support a place- based approach to community development.

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But it will really help if you have the following key skills and experiences needed to be successful in this role are:

• Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline or with relevant professional qualification.
• Sound understanding of the principles of community development.
• Understanding of how Council and partners work at both strategic and operational level and the changing face of the public and VCFSE sector landscape.
• Knowledge of the Town and Parish Councils and of voluntary and community sector and the business sector, how they work and the challenges they face.

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
• Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave.
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
• Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more.

When completing your application/CV please provide your full employment history and ensure that any gaps in employment are explained. Please start with your current or most recent employment.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Kate Hellard, LCN Development Lead - kate.hellard@somerset.gov.uk

Interviews will take place week commencing 18th November 2024.

If you have all the information you need, just hit the apply button - we can’t wait to hear from you.