Community Development Officer

NESCAN Hub; Aberdeen City; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

NESCAN Hub invites applications for a Community Development Officer to support communities across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire. The role focuses on increasing climate action and engagement, liaising with members and partners, and facilitating inclusive projects within a hybrid working model.

The post reports to the Community Development Lead, with responsibilities including training, resource creation, reporting, and support for funding applications.

Qualifications

• Degree level or equivalent experience in a relevant subject.
• Experience in community development and engagement.
• Experience in building partnerships with diverse groups.
• Knowledge of climate action and sustainability concepts.

Responsibilities

• Support and facilitate NESCAN members and communities to develop groups or projects.
• Provide knowledge, advice and training to build community capacity and liaise with partners.
• Signpost funding information and assist with funding applications.

Skills

Community engagement

Stakeholder relations

Project development

Learning facilitation

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Do you want to make a difference to the environment, diverse local communities and the North East of Scotland as a whole?

Community Development Officer at NESCAN Hub

About NESCAN Hub

The North East Scotland Climate Action Network (NESCAN) Hub is a regional climate action hub, funded by the Scottish Government, supporting a network of people, community led organisations and partners across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire.

Our vision is to contribute to the creation of a flourishing, connected and sustainable North East Scotland through the provision of dedicated training, help and support for community led climate action.

Our aims:

• To support and develop community led climate action throughout Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire.
• To support communities to be a part of a just transition to a sustainable North East Scotland, contributing to local, regional and national policy setting and decision making.

For further information on NESCAN please visit our website www.nescan.org

About the role

The Community Development Officer contributes to the delivery of NESCAN Hub’s vision and aims by supporting communities on the ground, acting as a key liaison between the NESCAN Hub, its members, partners, and communities in the region.

The post holder’s role is to increase understanding of climate issues and actions within communities and enable them to act on climate, together with taking an active role in local and national policy setting and decision making. The post holder will encourage and facilitate the development of community projects focused on sustainability, climate change and biodiversity, and support diverse groups to initiate, develop and run their own projects. The post holder will work closely and collaboratively with the whole Community Development team, and wider stakeholders and partners, to support groups and communities in these endeavoursand help support communities to gain funding.

The role is part of a community development team headed up by the Community Development Lead.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Support and facilitate NESCAN members and community organisations to develop their group or organisation, initiate inclusive new ‘sustainable’ projects and build their membership.
• Support and facilitate diverse communities to create and develop their own climate action projects and become NESCAN members.
• Build the skills and capacity of members and community organisations by providing members with knowledge, practical training and tools.
• Provide knowledge, advice and support to members to enable them to respond to public engagement and consultation processes on behalf of their group/ community.
• Signpost community groups to funding information and opportunities.
• Provide knowledge, advice, support and assistance to NESCAN members with funding applications and facilitating joint applications.
• Create and utilise appropriate resources to build community capacity, knowledge and skills.
• Work with communities to identify their needs, priorities, and opportunities, and develop plans to address them.
• Map and utilise resources, skills, capacity, organisations and opportunities within a collaborative integrated framework of partners and stakeholders to support local action.
• Support and co-ordinate the delivery of community deliberative democratic processes and events e.g. community climate assemblies
• Draft and present written and verbal reports to the NESCAN Hub Manager and Board when required.
• Contribute to NESCAN Hub business and financial planning and implementation.
• Create inclusive training and educational resources and organise and run training events.
• Assist with NESCAN Hub campaigns and events as required.
• Represent NESCAN at relevant meetings and events.
• Operate within the framework of systems, procedures and expected standards of practice and conduct of the NESCAN Hub.
• Any other reasonable duties as required to contribute to the delivery of NESCAN Hub’s vision and aims.

Person Specification:

You will have experience and knowledge in the following:

• Knowledge of the challenges and inequalities faced in disengaged communities
• Experience of building working relationships with diverse individuals and groups
• Experience of partnership and collaborative working
• Experience of developing and delivering projects and group learning sessions and creating learning resources
• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject or suitable equivalent relevant experience
• Community development and engagement experience
• Climate literacy

You will have the following skills and abilities:

• Excellent interpersonal and engagement skills
• Ability to work with a diverse range of groups and individuals
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including production of structured reports
• Ability to self-manage competing demands and be highly organised
• Good record keeping skills
• IT skills (including Microsoft Office)
• Social media skills to promote engagement and maximise communications is desirable

You will have the following qualities which are essential to this role:

• Enthusiastic, flexible, self-motivated, approachable and resilient
• A team player
• Commitment to the principles of community capacity building, empowerment and development
• Commitment to community-led climate action
• Commitment to undertake professional learning and development to develop and maintain practice
• Solution focused with a growth mindset
• Driving License and access to a vehicle

• Additional Terms and Conditions of Employment

Location: This post is a mix of home and office working. The postholder will be expected to come into the office based in the James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen at least every Tuesday. Regular and extensive travel across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire applies. The postholder may be required to occasionally travel out of the region via public transport. Travel and other reasonable expenses will be reimbursed in line with our expenses policy.

Job title: Community Development Officer

Salary: £33,400 per annum, plus 5% pension contribution.

Location: Aberdeen City Base (hybrid working)

Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week)

Reports to: Community Development Lead

Closing Date: Midnight Sunday 11th October 2026

Interview Date: Thursday 22nd or Thursday 29th October 2026

Candidates must have the legal right to live and work in the United Kingdom.

Job Opportunities (www.nescan.org)

If you have any questions about this role, please contact: Keith Dunmall at [e-mail].