Community Development Officer

Huntingdonshire District Council; Huntingdon; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexitime

Hybrid working

Job summary

Huntingdonshire District Council is seeking a Community Development Officer to lead partnerships, identify local needs and develop innovative solutions across the district.

You will work with councils, charities, businesses and residents to secure funding, manage projects, and support refugee and asylum programmes, contributing to health, prosperity and inclusion. The role offers hybrid working with field presence across the district.

Qualifications

• Experience in community development or related field.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with high delivery standards.
• Driving licence and access to a vehicle for district-wide work.

Responsibilities

• Lead and facilitate partnerships and oversee community development projects.
• Identify local needs and develop innovative, evidence-based solutions.
• Secure funding opportunities and commission services as required.
• Engage diverse stakeholders, chair meetings and present reports.
• Support refugee and asylum programmes to help vulnerable residents access services.
• Use research and data to shape strategies and interventions.
• Work with elected members and partners to deliver priorities like health, wellbeing and prosperity.

Skills

Community development

Project management

Partnership working

Funding applications

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Problem-solving

Data analysis

Education

Degree or equivalent in related field

Job description

Job details

Help shape stronger, healthier and more connected communities across Huntingdonshire.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead meaningful projects, build influential partnerships, secure investment, and deliver initiatives that directly improve the lives of residents while supporting some of the district's most vulnerable communities.

About the Role

As a Community Development Officer, you will play a pivotal role in creating positive change across Huntingdonshire. Working at the heart of the community, you will identify local needs, bring together partners, and develop innovative solutions that improve outcomes for residents. From supporting established communities to helping new communities thrive, you will work collaboratively with a wide range of organisations, agencies, businesses and residents to tackle challenges and build long-term resilience.

This is a varied and highly rewarding role where no two days are the same. You will lead and facilitate partnerships, oversee community development projects, secure funding opportunities and commission services that respond to identified needs. You will also play a key role in supporting refugee and asylum programmes, ensuring vulnerable individuals can access the services and support they need. Through research, data analysis and stakeholder engagement, you will help shape evidence-based strategies that align with the council's priorities and deliver lasting benefits for local people.

Working closely with elected members, community groups, statutory agencies and local partners, you will act as a trusted advisor and advocate for communities. Your work will contribute to important priorities including health and wellbeing, tackling poverty, supporting economic prosperity, reducing isolation, strengthening community networks and enabling residents to access opportunities that help them flourish.

This role offers a flexible hybrid working model, combining home working with time spent in council offices and within communities across the district.

About You

We are looking for a passionate and proactive community professional who thrives on building relationships and making a tangible difference. You will bring experience of community development, project management and partnership working, alongside a proven ability to deliver successful initiatives that create positive outcomes for diverse communities.

You will be an excellent communicator, comfortable engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and confident in bringing people together around a common goal. Whether chairing meetings, presenting reports, developing funding applications or supporting vulnerable residents, you will demonstrate professionalism, empathy and strong influencing skills.

You’ll have strong problem-solving abilities and a strategic mindset, using research, insight and data to inform decision-making and shape effective interventions. Just as importantly, you’ll be someone who is motivated by creating opportunities for others, challenging the status quo and delivering sustainable solutions that improve lives.

To be successful, you will have relevant experience within community development or a related field, a degree or equivalent level of experience, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high standards of delivery. A full driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential due to the nature of community-based working across the district.

An offer of employment is conditional upon having the right to work in the UK. HDC does not hold a Sponsorship Licence and is unable to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or take over sponsorship for any role.

The closing date is 9am 15 September 2026 and interviews will be held on 18 September 2026.

We recognise that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. While we welcome the use of technology to help present your experience and achievements, we ask that the content of your application remains an accurate reflection of your own skills, knowledge and experience. In particular, we encourage candidates to demonstrate how they meet the criteria for the role by providing specific examples from their own experience. This helps us to better assess your suitability for the position.

For many of our roles, our hybrid work model enables employees to work remotely while allowing for in-office collaboration opportunities across the district, with an expectation of being in the office at least two days a week. However, please note that some positions may require a more consistent presence in the office due to the nature of the work.

Working for the council

As an employer who values diversity of thought, we seek to employ candidates from a range of backgrounds in order to make our organisation more innovative. We are seeking candidates who are looking for their next career opportunity and are supportive employers, enabling our staff to work in an environment that produces high standards of work in an employee-led environment.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our recruitment and along with our values we are committed to creating an inclusive working environment, where diversity is valued and there is equality of opportunity. We therefore welcome applications from all sections of the community and we offer a range of benefits, including flexitime, to encourage a work-life balance.