The Communities & Partnerships team sits at the heart of Dorset Council’s commitment to strengthening communities, supporting prevention, and working in genuine partnership with the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. As a small, friendly and highly collaborative team, we work across the whole council and with partners to help residents and communities thrive. The Community Engagement Project Officer role is dynamic and community facing, ideal for someone who thrives on meeting people, building trust and helping local ideas and initiatives flourish. It offers purpose, variety and connection, spanning several council priorities including Communities for All, prevention, the cost of living programme and the Community Partnerships approach. The role combines analytical work, relationship building, community insight and strategic influence. A major current focus is food security, working closely with foodbanks, social supermarkets and community food projects to improve access to affordable food, reduce inequalities and strengthen local resilience. A key part of the role is making connections, between projects, partners, services and residents. You will work closely with local food initiatives to ensure residents can access healthy, affordable food, alongside wraparound support such as cookery skills, financial resilience and wider health and wellbeing services. You’ll nurture local networks, support collaboration and help community groups build confidence and capability. This role is about building confidence, connection and resilience in communities. You will support partners to share learning and good practice, identify local needs and strengths and co‑create practical solutions. You’ll play a key role in supporting the Healthy Food for All Steering Group, convening organisations such as Citizens Advice, the Volunteer Centre, LiveWell Dorset and local food projects. Through this work, more residents will be able to access support earlier, feel heard and empowered and become better connected to the services and opportunities around them. This is a multifaceted and rewarding role for someone who is a natural connector, a thoughtful listener and a positive, diplomatic presence. You will bring energy, compassion and curiosity to your work, helping communities navigate challenges and celebrate their strengths. A commitment to equality, amplifying residents’ voices and supporting diverse communities to shape their own solutions is essential. The successful candidate will join a friendly, committed team that values collaboration, curiosity and positive change. If you are driven by making a difference, enjoy working with people from all walks of life and believe in the power of community, this role offers a rare and meaningful opportunity to turn those values into action every day. Beyond the generic job description, we are looking for someone who has: Proven experience working with or within voluntary and community sector organisations (VCSEs), with an understanding of the challenges they face, including those related to food security. Strong relationship building skills, with the ability to form and maintain partnerships across community groups, VCSE organisations, health partners and local councils. Skilled facilitation abilities, with confidence in leading community engagement activities, local network meetings, multi‑agency discussions and steering groups. The ability to interpret community insights, identify emerging needs and trends, and use this understanding to inform local solutions and strategic priorities. Knowledge of prevention, community development approaches, coproduction and strengths-based practice, particularly relating to food security and cost of living challenges. The ability to help community projects access training, build capacity and strengthen governance (e.g., safeguarding, food hygiene, volunteer management). Experience in monitoring and evaluating community networks and project activity and gathering evidence of impact and outcomes. An understanding of local government structures, governance and the role of engagement in shaping equitable services. Confidence in representing the Council in community settings, VCSE networks and multi‑agency forums. High level ICT proficiency, including Microsoft 365 and digital collaboration tools. Diplomatic communication skills, with the ability to manage sensitive conversations and support diverse community groups. A flexible, adaptable approach, able to work across multiple strands of activity and support colleagues across the team as required. Further Information For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Laura Cornette - Business Partner for Communities and Partnerships by emailing [email protected] or calling 01305 2240306. You can also contact Fiona Thomas, by emailing [email protected] or calling 01305 838459 This role is Fixed term until October 2027 About Us At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video: Unable to show this video due to your cookie preferences At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future. We: provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents work in partnership to make a real difference value every role and the impact it has on our communities support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive You will: be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset have access to a range of benefits and support receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application. This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement. If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us. Find out more about how to apply.