Community Food Partnership Manager

Suffolk Jobs Direct; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A local community support organization in Ipswich is seeking an experienced Community Food Partnership Manager to lead a team and support food projects across the county. The ideal candidate will have experience in infrastructure support, financial acumen, and the ability to communicate effectively. The role offers a salary of £34,170 per annum and flexible working options.

Benefits

Blended working options

Flexible work hours

33 days annual leave increasing to 36

Matched pension contribution up to 4%

Pro rata volunteering days

Staff discount scheme

Company sick pay

Professional development opportunities

Family friendly policies

Tailored induction

Qualifications

• Proven experienced Manager of people.
• Understanding of the challenges facing the voluntary sector.
• Ability to navigate multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and management to a team of four.
• Work with partners to meet project outcomes.
• Support Food Projects in capacity building and resilience.

Skills

Knowledge of infrastructure/capacity building support

Developing partnerships

Financial acumen

Effective communication

Job description

Overview

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.

We are looking for an experienced Manager to join the Community Food Team. The CAS Community Food Partnership is intended to support Food Projects (i.e., Foodbanks, Food Pantries, Top Up Shops and Community Fridges to name a few) 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 supporting awareness raising of local services (i.e., Healthy Start, Affordable Food information, Cooking Projects) through social media channels to supporting Food Projects to become more resilient, including looking at their food supply chain and supporting the development of innovative solutions.

Role

Community Food Partnership Manager, you will provide strategic direction and management to a team of four, and work with partners to ensure the outcomes of the project are met. You will have a good level of knowledge of infrastructure/capacity building support and be an experienced Manager of people. You should have an awareness and understanding of the challenges facing the voluntary sector and be skilled at developing partnerships, be able to demonstrate sound financial acumen, and the ability to navigate multiple priorities.

You will be a proactive individual with a can-do attitude and appetite for learning. We are looking for those who can communicate with a wide range of people with varying degrees of experience.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

We are a friendly organisation, committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive culture in all that we do, and welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We aim to create a workplace which is welcoming, fair, and inclusive, where people can be themselves and contribute to our vision and values. We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments individuals may require in the recruitment process, or on commencement of post.

Remuneration and Location

• Address: Ipswich, Suffolk IP2 0HH*
• Salary: £34,170 per annum
• Hours: 37.5 hours per week
• Contract: Fixed Term to 30 November 2026. Required as soon as possible
• Reference: 0452
• Regular travelling around the county is required.

Benefits

We will offer you:

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

How to Apply

To find out more, please visit our website. If you are interested in the role and would like to learn more, please email [e-mail], 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 emailed to [e-mail] or posted to Susan Butler, at Community Action Suffolk, 160 Hadleigh Road, Ipswich, IP2 0HH by the closing date below.

Closing date: 1 pm, 11 November 2025. Applications for this role will be reviewed and considered on an ongoing basis until the role is filled. Interviews will be arranged according to availability. We therefore encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment, as we reserve the right to close this job listing once a successful candidate is appointed. Should you not hear from us within 7 working days from receipt of your application you have not been selected for an interview.

About the Team

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