Sector Development Officer

Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway; Dumfries, Stranraer; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway is seeking a Sector Development Officer to work across communities in Dumfries and Galloway. You will build capacity, provide advice and support to third sector groups, and help shape a regional training programme within allocated localities.

You will chair the Locality Hub and collaborate with local authorities, NHS and partners to inform strategic development and sector resilience. Hybrid working with some evenings may be required.

Qualifications

• Evidence of experience and knowledge of the third sector.
• Experience of community engagement.
• Excellent organisational, planning and prioritising skills; ability to design programme outcomes.
• Positive relationship-building skills with internal and external partners.
• Ability to write good reports and give strong presentations; proficient with MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Deliver capacity building for third sector organisations across Dumfries and Galloway.
• Provide direct advice, connections and signposting to third sector organisations.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of the annual training programme, in locality.
• Host and chair the Locality Hub for your area as part of the Community Planning Partnership.
• Develop and manage relationships with a variety of organisations to support the sector.

Skills

Third sector knowledge

Community engagement

Organisational skills

Relationship building

Report writing

Presentation skills

Tools

Outlook/Teams/Microsoft apps

Job description

Where the role fits in our organisation

This role reports to our Lead for Sector Development, who in turn reports to the Head of Delivery and Partnerships. You will be peer-supported by the other Sector Development Officers and will interact strongly with our thematic teams.

Where you’ll work

Dumfries or Stranraer, with hybrid working and travel. A minimum of 2 days a week is required in the Dumfries or Stranraer office, with significant time spent in your allocated locality. The role is predominantly 9-5, but you may occasionally be asked to support community groups in evenings, with the time taken repaid through our Time Off In Lieu system. Our flexi-working policies apply.

Contract type and hours

35 hours per week (full-time), permanent

Full-time equivalent salary (FTE is 35 hours)

£29,696 FTE

What You'll Do

We are looking for a colleague to join our Sector Development Officers, who work across our communities and are each assigned a locality of Dumfries and Galloway. The localities currently available are Wigtownshire, Nithsdale and Annandale and Eskdale, however one of those will be chosen by the Lead officer when appointed. You will build a strong third sector through advice on matters including leadership, good governance, sustainability, planning and volunteering, offering generalised support through online resources and an annual training programme, plus targeted interventions to build capacity and resolve short-term issues within local third sector organisations. You will also host and chair the Locality Hub for your area as part of the Community Planning Partnership, working with partners in the local authority, NHS and others, and provide key insights into your locality to inform our thematic projects and overall strategic development.

What you’ll do

• Deliver capacity building for third sector organisations across Dumfries and Galloway, but primarily within {locality}.
• Provide direct advice, connections and signposting to third sector organisations as requested or as signposted / notified.
• Contribute to the design of our annual training programme, based on input and feedback from the sector, partners and available evidence, and deliver it in your locality; supporting delivery in other localities as occasionally requested.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of thematic workshops or events in your locality.
• Create and maintain online and offline resources and advice for the sector on key themes such as good governance, sustainability, planning, organisation development, leadership and impact.
• Introduce and facilitate collaborative working between third sector organisations within and outwith your locality.
• Develop and manage relationships and partnership working with a variety of organisations to support the role of, and capacity within, the third sector.
• Contribute to the development of Locality Hubs as part of the Community Planning Partnership, and chair the Hub for your allocated area.
• Build positive relationships, connections and research that build knowledge of {locality}, the range of organisations that work there, and their challenges and opportunities.
• Work with our thematic projects to maximise their impact on the third sector in your locality, using TSDG processes to consistently capture data, insights and learnings from locality working.
• Work with other Sector Development Officers to share insights and experience and provide cover where required, and support colleagues across TSDG in line with our values.

More about you

• You will have evidenced experience and knowledge of the third sector, and experience of community engagement.
• You will have excellent organisational, planning and prioritising skills, and skills and experience in designing programme outcomes.
• You will have positive relationship building skills and experience, and be able to work collaboratively with internal and external partners.
• You will have effective problem-solving skills, be able to capture and analyse information, write good reports and give good presentations, and use common technology packages including Outlook email, Teams and all Microsoft apps.
• You will be self-motivated, take responsibility for personal outcomes, and be committed to ongoing personal and organisational improvement, with an inclusive, adaptable, pro‑active and collegiate attitude.
• You will be able to be consistently and promptly at the Dumfries office, Stranraer office and out in the D&G community at any time within the working week, with flexibility for occasional evening working.
• You may have existing knowledge of {locality}, experience of leading programmes of work within the third sector, and experience of providing advice and support to other organisations on a one-to-one or small group basis.
• You may have a valid driving licence and access to a car with business insurance for work purposes.

Closing date

15th November 2026