Community Engagement Officer

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week

Contract: Fixed-term until 30 June 2027

Location: Hybrid – Office-based in Dorchester with travel across Dorset Council Area

Reports to: Operations Manager

Start date: To be agreed

About the Role

Volunteer Centre Dorset (VCD) is a key partner in delivering Dorset Council’s Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) infrastructure support and has been awarded the contract to deliver the foundation phase of the Dorset Thriving Communities Network (DTCN). To deliver this work, VCD will establish VCS networks across Dorset, enabling these integrated programmes to strengthen the VCS by providing training, business planning, marketing strategy, access to resources; and promoting collaboration and project sustainability. Additionally, the DTCN will underpin selected VCS organisations in chosen geographical areas with grants and infrastructure support who are delivering services and activities supporting older people to live healthier, happier, and more independent lives in their communities.

We are recruiting a Community Engagement Officer to lead the development and coordination of these networks across the Dorset Council area. This is a unique opportunity for someone who is passionate about grassroots collaboration, capable of working across sectors, and ready to play a central role in transforming how Dorset’s VCS connects, supports and grows.

This role will be instrumental in:

• Building and supporting networks of VCS groups
• Facilitating partnerships with local organisations and stakeholders
• Enabling effective early help and prevention services for older people
• Co-ordinate learning opportunities and key speakers’ presentations at networks to share information to develop and strengthen the local offer
• Coordinate the distribution and monitoring of small community grants
• Ensure representation in groups is inclusive, equitable and representative of the community

Key Responsibilities

• Network Development and Engagement: identify, recruit and support local VCS groups, micro-organisations and informal or grassroots groups to join place-based networks
• Support the development of place-based networks by convening and facilitating in-person and virtual meetings, workshops, and peer learning events; enabling sector updates and themed discussions
• Signposting to local and county-wide training, funding, and development opportunities, including organisational support offered by VCD
• Support network members to develop individual Action Plans, to develop or enhance solutions focused on older people’s wellbeing, prevention, and independence
• Coordinate learning opportunities and key speakers’ presentations at networks to share information to develop and strengthen the local offer
• Ensure representation in groups is inclusive, equitable and representative of the community
• Manage the promotion, administration and monitoring of small grant funding to community groups in each area

• Partnership and Collaboration:
• Work closely with statutory partners including Dorset Council, local elected members, NHS Dorset, GP surgeries, and Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs)
• Build trusted relationships with key stakeholders including community leaders, Parish and Town Councils, local businesses, and faith groups, and the wider VCS
• Champion collaborative working and share local insights to inform system-wide planning and service alignment
• Liaise with infrastructure partners, the Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly (VCSA), and local networks to avoid duplication and promote joined-up delivery
• Promote joint-working and co-production opportunities between VCS and statutory partners to support community-led solutions.
• Feed learning and insights from local networks into Dorset-wide strategic forums.

• Project Delivery and Administration:
• Coordinate delivery plans in line with agreed project milestones and outcomes
• Manage a programme of community-based micro-grants, including outreach, application support, and monitoring of funded projects
• Work collaboratively with the wider VCD team to ensure the best resources are suggested and deployed to support groups
• Support groups to develop individual Action Plans to guide their development and delivery
• Promote inclusion, accessibility and equity in all aspects of delivery

• Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting:
• Collect qualitative and quantitative data on activity, trends, emerging needs, service gaps and outcomes across the networks
• Capture stories of change and community impact
• Record all contacts, attendance, progress, outcomes and tasks on VCD’s CRM database
• Contribute to quarterly monitoring reports and an annual evaluation report
• Use insights from engagement to identify service gaps, opportunities, and community-led innovations
• Ensure feedback and learning are fed into ongoing project planning and strategic discussions

Training, Support & Development Officer

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week

Contract: Fixed-term until 30 September 2026

Location: Hybrid – Office-based in Dorchester with travel across Dorset Council Area

Reports to: Operations Manager

Start date: To be agreed

Purpose of the Role

To engage, support and develop Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations (VCSOs) across the Dorset Council area – particularly small and grassroots groups and those in areas of higher deprivation. You will be the local link between communities and infrastructure support, offering tailored support and practical help, facilitating access to training, capturing insights, and enabling a responsive, place-based approach to development, to grow their capacity, enhance their sustainability, and strengthen their impact.

Key Responsibilities

Community Engagement & Outreach:

• Proactively develop and maintain relationships with VCSOs, especially those in priority or underserved communities
• Conduct outreach through 1-2-1s, local drop-ins, community hubs, digital channels, and partnership networks.
• Map local VCS activity, identify emerging organisations, and assess support and capacity-building needs.
• Promote inclusion across all VCS sectors including youth, faith, social, cultural and support organisations.

Support & Capacity Building:

• Provide 1-2-1 tailored support to VCSOs, helping with guidance on governance, policy development and reviews (eg safeguarding, H&S, GDPR), business planning and operational development.
• Assist organisations with funding diversification planning, grant applications and how to be ‘funding ready’, plus impact measurement and evaluation.
• Connect organisations to relevant toolkits, online resources, peer networks, and external support services.
• Targeted support for small grassroots organisations, to build resilience and sustainability.
• Signpost to additional infrastructure or specialist support as appropriate.

Training & Development:

• Promote and help facilitate a calendar of live, recorded and community-based training, including ‘Lunch & Learn’ sessions and in-person workshops, eg governance, fundraising, safeguarding, impact evaluation.
• Co-ordinate specialist sessions in partnership with subject-matter experts.
• Support the development of topical and innovative training themes, eg AI, digital inclusion, green initiatives, social enterprise.
• Facilitate digital access to toolkits, guides and training via webinars, recorded modules, and downloadable resources.
• Work closely with stakeholders and delivery partners to ensure a joined-up approach for VCS support.
• Facilitate statutory-VCS collaboration, fostering shared practice and community-led solutions.
• Represent VCD in locality-based initiatives and collaborative planning forums.
• Facilitate peer-to-peer learning through in-person networking events and online support platforms.

Community Intelligence & Feedback:

• Capture and record engagement, support and training activity using our in-house CRM system, maintaining accurate and up-to-date records.
• Collect and analyse feedback and outcomes from participants, identify trends, and inform future planning.
• Contribute to quarterly monitoring reports, annual impact summaries, and case studies for funders and stakeholders.

Refworks: this is the end summary of the two roles; refers to dorchester, etc.

Note: There is no explicit expiry notice within the job description text above; if the role has closed, please update status accordingly.

For more details or to apply, contact the provided email address or phone number in the original posting.