East Suffolk Council – Based in Melton, Woodbridge IP12 1RT or Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0EQ £33,024 - £40,221 (Band 6 / 7) per annum 37 hours per week Permanent East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work, delivering essential local services and making a real difference to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk. We currently have an opportunity to join East Suffolk Council's Communities Team as one of two Communities Officer roles. Each role will cover one Community Partnership area: either Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth and surrounding villages, Lowestoft and the surrounding villages, or Aldeburgh, Leiston, Saxmundham and villages. Please express a preference for which area(s) you’d like to cover in your application. Your role You will be required to work proactively across council service areas and to develop active partnerships with partners, businesses and communities to deliver the team’s five key outcomes: Better outcomes and quality of life for individuals, families, communities and organisations Resilient, connected, cohesive and inclusive communities Resilient, independent and safe individuals and families, particularly those who are vulnerable Reduced health inequalities and improved mental and physical health and wellbeing People and communities do more for themselves and, if necessary, can access the right service(s) at the right time In addition to this, the candidate will act as lead officer for one of eight East Suffolk Community Partnership areas, using data and local intelligence to identity community assets and needs and supporting the community and its elected members, with a focus on Asset Based Community Development, Community Safety, Anti-Social Behaviour reduction and maximising mental and physical Health and Wellbeing. What you will need The post holder will have a relevant degree/appropriate professional qualification or the equivalent level of practical experience, and relevant experience in community development/enabling, community safety, ASB and/or health/wellbeing in the public, private of voluntary sector. You’ll be a great communicator, solution-focussed and enjoy problem solving. If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t meet all of the essential requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application. Why work for us? East Suffolk Council is a great place to work and there are lots of benefits our employees can access. To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council, take a look at our video and hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work (YouTube). Here are some of the main benefits: Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 25 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays) Local government pension scheme Flexible working arrangements Learning and development tailored to your role A wide variety of staff support networks including access to health and wellbeing initiatives and programmes. Discounts on mobile phones, computers, holiday and travel, fashion and clothing, health and beauty and many other products and services. Find more information about what we offer in our benefits brochure (pdf). Most of our teams are working in an agile way, with a mixture of home and office working, depending on individual preferences and service requirements. If you wish to discuss how that might impact your working arrangements if you were the successful candidate, please contact the recruiting manager listed at the bottom of this advert. For more information For an informal discussion regarding this post, please contact Nicole Rickard by calling 07766 998074. Closing date: 31 March 2025. Interview date: Week commencing, 7 April 2025. How to apply – PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY Step 1 - Read the advert and the Job Description and Person Specification Step 2 - Complete the Supporting Statement template (docx). PLEASE USE THIS TEMPLATE, NO OTHER FORMAT WILL BE ACCEPTED (for example, do not send your CV). Your statement needs to indicate how you meet each of the criteria contained within the Person Specification. Step 3 - Complete the online application and upload your statement. Please note, CVs are not accepted. For more information, check out the How to Apply section of our Career Site (URL). East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work and a great place to make a real difference to people’s lives, delivering vital services to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk. We hugely value our staff and know that in order for us to remain successful, it is essential for us to recognise talented employees, developing and retaining them within the organisation. We are therefore committed to investing in our staff and providing first-class support to ensure a positive culture and rewarding careers. To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council and to hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work, take a look at our video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?vTSWedQksWt0