Shape how community buildings, land and shared spaces support local priorities, strengthen neighbourhoods, and enable place‑based working across Dorset.
Dorset Council is transforming how it manages its land and property. Through the Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP) 2024‑2030, we are moving towards a proactive, placemaking and insight‑led approach to the estate – ensuring assets are used effectively to support local priorities, community resilience and service delivery.
The Community Assets Business Partner plays a key role in delivering this ambition, helping ensure the council’s community estate is agile, sustainable and responsive to what communities need.
Why this role?
This is a significant, high‑influence role that blends strategic planning, community insight, service engagement and partnership working. You’ll help shape how land and buildings support locality‑based services, community‑led initiatives, and shared or comanaged models of stewardship.
You’ll be central to ensuring the council understands community needs and capacity at a local level – enabling the right assets, used in the right way, to support the way Dorset’s places function and grow.
What You’ll Lead And Deliver
* Strategic reviews of community assets, making clear recommendations on retention, repurposing, disposal, colocation or redevelopment in line with local priorities and the SAMP.
* Insight‑led understanding of community needs and capacity, informing asset planning, service models and decision‑making.
* Support for neighbourhood‑based service delivery, ensuring community buildings and spaces are used effectively to bring services closer to residents.
* Enabling community‑led initiatives, including shared/multiuse buildings, partnership arrangements and opportunities for devolved, comanaged or collaboratively stewarded assets.
* Identification of opportunities for community hubs, bringing services and partners together in accessible, multi‑use locations.
* Development of strategic reviews, assessments and business cases, ensuring sustainability, community benefit and alignment with wider asset strategy.
* Strong partnership working, collaborating with internal teams, services, town and parish councils, and community partners to deliver place‑based solutions.
Why Dorset?
Dorset is a place of strong communities, natural beauty and growing local ambition. The council is modernising its asset management approach, deepening its engagement with communities, and shifting towards a portfolio that is leaner, more agile and more responsive to change.
You’ll join a collaborative, forward‑thinking team committed to enabling resilient, thriving neighbourhoods through smarter use of land and buildings.
About You
You bring strategic insight, strong communication skills and the confidence to engage widely with communities, partners and services.
You Are
* Skilled in stakeholder engagement and relationship management
* Experienced in options appraisal, business case development and strategic planning
* Diplomatic, nuanced and able to build constructive relationships
* Analytical and able to interpret complex datasets and needs evidence
* A strong communicator – written, verbal and interpersonal
* Politically aware and professionally credible
* A collaborative team player, supporting others and building trust quickly
* A proactive problem solver with the ability to work at pace
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