Voluntary & Community Sector Development Officer

Charnwood Borough Council is an ambitious and forward-thinking local authority at the heart of Leicestershire. We are committed to supporting our communities, protecting the environment, and creating the conditions for a thriving local economy. Delivering excellent customer service is at the centre of everything we do.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual, who will work as part of a busy and collaborative team. You will build strong relationships with residents, community organisations, and the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS). You will provide direct support to organisations and help deliver our successful Community Grants programme.

The successful candidate will have a sound understanding of the Voluntary and Community Sector and experience of supporting community organisations to develop and grow. You will be confident in carrying out organisational health checks, identifying development needs and providing advice on areas such as governance, policies, business planning, financial sustainability, and organisational structure.

You will also have knowledge of external funding opportunities and experience of supporting community groups to access funding, including applications to the Charnwood Community Grants programme and other grant schemes.

A key part of the role will be leading the development of the Charnwood Volunteers programme, promoting the benefits of volunteering and encouraging greater participation by connecting people with local volunteering opportunities.

You will be organised, able to manage a varied workload, and committed to delivering high-quality support within agreed timescales.

As the role involves regular engagement with organisations and attendance at community meetings and events across the borough, you will be expected to travel throughout Charnwood as required.

• Agile working for many roles
• Generous annual leave of between 35.5 and 40.5 days per year depending on length of service, inclusive of bank holidays (pro rata for part time hours).
• Most services are closed over Christmas
• Opportunities for professional development linked to many roles
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Free parking

The Council strongly believes a diverse and inclusive workforce helps make our services better. We value the individual strengths of each colleague and the potential they bring.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and strive to promote a disability confident culture. To find out more about our Disability Confident commitments including reasonable adjustments and the guaranteed interview scheme please visit:

We have also signed the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) and have achieved the AFC’s Employer Recognition Gold Award.

Colleagues are also actively engaged through our Staff Forum and groups such as our Health and Wellbeing Group and Equality Working Group.

Charnwood is one of the largest shire district councils in the country based on population, serving around 183,000 people.

We offer a range of services, with everything from refuse and recycling collections to the operation of a theatre and historic markets.

Our services are built on our values:
Pride in Charnwood;
Customer Focused and Working Together

We are proud of our borough, and it is a great place to live, work visit and invest in.

At the heart of Charnwood is Loughborough, home to a world class university, historic markets, and the only major bell foundry in the UK. It is a diverse community thanks to its student population and cultures from around the world.

No Agencies please.