About The Role
Take the next step in your career now, scroll down to read the full role description and make your application.
We are looking for a proactive and relationship-focused Parish & Town Council Engagement Officer to support Parish and Town Councils (PTCs) across the Forest of Dean as we prepare for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and the devolution of services and assets.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in strengthening partnerships, enabling place-based collaboration, and supporting councils to work together effectively for the benefit of local communities.
You will become a trusted and visible point of contact for PTCs, helping to coordinate conversations, build capacity, and support collaborative working across the district.
As Parish & Town Council Engagement Officer, you will:
* Build and maintain strong working relationships with Parish and Town Councils across the district.
* Coordinate engagement plans and cluster meetings between councils and the District Council.
* Facilitate theme-based and place-based conversations that lead to practical actions and agreed outcomes.
* Work collaboratively with partners including: Gloucestershire Association of Parish and Town Councils (GAPTC),
* Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC), Forest Voluntary Action Forum (FVAF)
* Support councils with collaboration opportunities, shared services, and community asset or service transfers.
* Act as a liaison point into the District Council, helping councils access the right information, services, and contacts.
For more information about your responsibilities as a Parish and Town Council Engagement Officer, please see the attached Job Description.
At the Forest of Dean District Council, were passionate about creating connected, resilient, and thriving communities. Youll be part of a supportive and forward-thinking team that values creativity, partnership working, and making a tangible impact in peoples lives.
You will need
* A minimum qualification equivalent to NVQ level 3 or A level, and/or three years relevant experience
* GCSE Maths and English or equivalent to grade C/4 or higher
* Ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including councillors, clerks, community organisations, and senior officers.
* Ability to remain calm and confident when dealing with challenging situations
* Has experience of partnership working, community engagement, or local government.
* Understands or is interested in local governance, devolution, and community-led service delivery
Special Conditions
* Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes.
What we can do for you
* Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
* Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
* 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 30 days after five years of service
* In addition you will have an extra two volunteering days a year for you to support a charity of your choice
* Renewed again for another year there is a Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
* Generous contributory local government pension scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
* Cycle to work scheme
* Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
* Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements
About The Organisation
Forest of Dean District Council is dedicated to creating a vibrant and sustainable future for our community. Our priorities are centred on fostering thriving communities by empowering and engaging residents, enhancing infrastructure, promoting community well-being, and ensuring social equity.
We are committed to decarbonisation and nature recovery, focusing on renewable energy transitions, energy efficiency, transport transformation, nature recovery, and food resilience. Additionally, we strive to build a sustainable economy through the promotion of a circular economy, robust business support, workforce skill development, sustainable town initiatives, and the preservation of natural capital.
Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email.
Forest of Dean District Council is committed to meeting its statutory and moral duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people under 18 years of age and adults at risk who are the recipients of its services and/or activities.
Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. xsngvjr Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references; proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.