Exciting opportunity for a full time Community Development Officer to work within our team in Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council based in Ballycastle on a temporary basis.

Main Purpose of Post

• To provide wide ranging support to ensure achievement of the aims and objectives contained within the Community Development Strategy and Action Plan.

• To carry out the day to day co-ordination and delivery of identified priority areas and associated programmes within the Community Development Strategy ensuring that all actions are fully implemented, results monitored and evaluated, maintaining effective, efficient service delivery.

• Ensure that the department complies with all statutory and legislative requirements by adhering to these requirements and working in accordance with good governance and health and safety requirements.

• Ensure that all responsibilities are carried out in a timely and effective manner and that general confidentiality is maintained in all areas relating to the work of the Council.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Under the direction of the Community Development Manager, contribute to the delivery of the Community Development Strategy and Action Plan for the Borough. This involves promotion of capacity building, community engagement, partnership working and developing sustainability of community and voluntary sector organisations in the Borough.

• Undertake appropriate research and consultation with relevant individuals, bodies and organisations and assist in developing and updating the Community Development Strategy and Action Plan for the Borough in accordance with current guidelines provided by the Department for Communities and with the approval of Council.

• Identify, design and deliver strategies to meet the training, resourcing and communication needs of the local community and voluntary sector as well as training opportunities for staff and other interested parties in order to improve community capacity and promote effective community engagement.

• Establish, develop and maintain appropriate links between Council and community and statutory stakeholders to establish effective relationships and working structures, in order to ensure co-ordination and effective delivery of services to local communities.

• Engage directly with key stakeholders, including representatives and community and voluntary sector groups, to develop and undertake projects which will promote community development and improve community capacity through innovative approaches.

• Implement Council’s Community Development Grant Aid Programme and other external funding programmes where appropriate, and provide advice to groups on funding process and assist in the assessment of applications from groups carrying out community development activities within the Borough.

• Identify areas of weak community infrastructure and establish ways of increasing community participation and self-help.

• Identify new potential sources of internal and external funding to enhance the Community Development action plan and to support the community sector.

• Prepare applications for small amounts of new potential funding.

• Plan, promote and manage special events and information sessions.

• Supervise and co-ordinate the work of staff and volunteers at events where appropriate.

• Provide guidance and support to the community and voluntary sector in areas such as potential streams of funding becoming available and assistance with funding applications.

• Provide guidance and support on examples of community development best practice and maintain a bank of relevant information for dissemination to the community and voluntary sector.

• Make suggestions, organise and market training, events, conferences, etc that will promote community development activities in the Borough.

• Develop and promote new and innovative approaches to Community Development work/programmes.

• Provide a Community Development perspective to other Council Departments and to promote the mainstreaming of community development and effective community engagement throughout the Council’s functions and in its strategic planning process.

• Report to the Community Development Manager and any relevant Council Group and prepare reports as necessary.

• Support the Community Development Manager to develop and manage the Council’s Community Development Programme budget, preparing estimates, monitoring expenditure and preparing financial draw down claims for submission to Funding Bodies.

• Establish and maintain effective project performance monitoring and evaluation processes in order to ensure effective delivery of programmes and achievement of targets.

• Represent Council on external bodies relating to community development and to advise and influence their activities to enhance community development in the Borough.

• Contribute to Corporate Management through participation in meetings of Councillors, Officers and other Working/Consultative Groups or specific project teams as necessary to promote community development policy and community engagement activity throughout Council.

Essential Criteria

• A third level qualification.

Experience

Be able to demonstrate, by providing personal and specific examples two years experience in project management in one of the following areas

implementing community development initiativesproviding support to voluntary and community sector organisations

Alternatively, consideration will be give to candidates who do not possess a third level qualification but can demonstrate, by providing personal and specific examples that they have four years experience in the areas outlined above.

• Understanding of current issues impacting on the community and voluntary sector.
• Ability to use a wide variety of Microsoft office packages to include Word, Excel and powerpoint

By its nature the post will require flexible working to meet the needs of the service. Attend meetings of the council and any relevant working groups as required.

Skills:
Community community development project management

Benefits:
Holidays