We're hiring! Development Officer
Community Enterprise Ltd is one of Scotland’s leading social enterprise support providers. We provide business support to third sector groups
across Scotland and work with communities to build and sustain projects for the benefit of local people. We are looking for someone to join our busy administration team.
The need for this role
This is an exciting and challenging opportunity to work with a driven team of social enterprise and community developers in one of Scotland’s most well regarded and effective social enterprise support providers. Community Enterprise Ltd is a well-established third sector support organisation with a progressive outlook and a diverse portfolio.
Our sector is under increasing pressure with the cost-of-living crisis and funding cuts. The need for support and assistance across Scotland, and the demand on our services, has grown and evolved significantly in recent years. We are looking to complement our Development Team to meet that demand. The post involves delivering capacity building and development support to a wide range of clients and projects across Scotland.
This role will be based within the development team. We are particularly keen to enhance this team's capacity and skillset by recruiting someone with strong financial skills and experience. The successful candidate will be able to deliver this alongside broader development work.
Workplace values
- Building relationships
- Empowering people
- Developing our expertise
- Dynamic innovation
- Giving back
Job Title: Development Officer
Job Purpose: To deliver development support and capacity building to third sector organisations to assist them to become sustainable. Community Enterprise operates largely as a social enterprise consultancy agency so much of your role will be that of a consultant undertaking specific pieces of work as well as providing free capacity building and mentoring.
Accountable to: Development Director
Main Duties
The post holder will:
- Contribute to the achievement of Community Enterprise’s overall organisational objectives and targets.
- Work as a member of the Development Team to deliver a programme of consultancy, advice, learning and support activities for existing and emerging social enterprises. These organisations can range from established social businesses to smaller voluntary sector organisations concerned about their sustainability as well as new and emerging individual social entrepreneurs.
- Identify and analyse the key issues affecting individual organisations and communities and lead on creating appropriate documents and reports and plans. This can include Feasibility Studies, Options Appraisals, Community Action Plans/Local Place Plans, Research Papers, Funding Assessments and Strategies and Business Plans. You must be able to write well.
- Undertake financial analyses of an organisation to identify key issues and/or set out cash flow projections to identify future options. Prepare budgets, detailed financial reports and cash flow forecasts. Support organisations to improve their financial management and position. Analyse the finances of an organisation
- Undertake market research and community consultation, from survey design and analysis to stakeholder interviews, open meetings, on-line research and community consultation.
- Organise and participate in the delivery of a programme of business support and/or training appropriate to organisations
- Support programmes appropriately whether they are based on free support or on a paid-for contractual relationship.
- Represent Community Enterprise at business meetings, seminars and conferences relevant to the Social Enterprise and broader Third Sector.
- Collaborate with co-workers engaged in other Community Enterprise ventures to ensure a joined up, added value approach.
- Prepare regular reports on activities for the Development Director and keep CRM records up to date.
- Such other tasks as may be required which are consistent with the duties and responsibilities of the post.
Person Specification
- Real experience, aptitude, values, fit with team and a sensitivity to the enterprising third sector are more important to us than formal qualifications. With that said, an ICAS or ACCA accountancy accreditation or formal financial training would be viewed positively. This post needs someone who can combine financial and analytical skills with a practical and sensitive approach to a range of people and situations. Excellent and quick written skills are crucial. Demonstrable experience in financial management and reporting would be ideal. Although this is only part of the role, we need to enhance this skill set in our team due to demand from our clients, particularly those in financial crisis.
Specifically, we’re looking for someone who is:
- Confident, self-motivated and proactive with good organisational skills.
- Someone who can gather information intelligently and sensitively, analyse data and articulate it well in writing. The post holder will be a great writer who can bring together large volumes of information into coherent reports.
- Has an understanding of the third sector and how funding and finances works, including charitable trading, grants and contracts.
- An excellent relationship builder with clients and partners from a range of backgrounds: ideally someone who clients warm to and trust.
- Some who can turn their hand to chairing large meetings as well as interviewing individuals.
- Experienced in supporting trading ventures, particularly from a financial perspective, has generic business development skills, and is also comfortable helping those in challenging financial circumstances.
- Able to problem-solve and design and implement solutions.
- Comfortable with digital solutions to challenges as this becomes increasingly a part of the third sector’s way of working.
- Knowledgeable about the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors and key issues.
- Able to match commercial reality with social aspirations.
- An excellent team player willing to share skills and knowledge with co-workers.
- Someone with a strong work ethic. We are renowned for going the extra mile and have a hard-working team. This is a busy job, and the post holder must be happy with a significant workload and tight deadlines.
- Ability to manage time effectively, multitask, and simultaneously work on several projects.
- Proficient in the use of technology and willing to learn new ways of working as needed.
- Willing to travel across Scotland or further afield with occasional overnight stays when required. Willing to adopt flexible working patterns: at times work needs to be delivered in the evenings or weekends to suit clients.
Hours
We are hoping to recruit a full-time post (37.5 hours) but may consider other options, such as part-time (minimum 0.6 fte) or job share, for the right candidate.
This job will include some weekend and evening work where projects require it, for which time off in lieu will be available.
Duration: We hope that this will be a permanent position (subject to a successful 6-month probation period), but initially, we are structuring it as an 18-month post to ensure it fits with the organisation's changing needs.
Remuneration: £35,500 f/t pa.
Location
We are based in West Lothian and operate on a flexible blended model. We generally expect full-time workers to spend at least one day a week in the office and the remainder working remotely, both from home and in the field. Travel throughout Scotland will be required. The post holder must hold a clean driving license.
How to Apply
Please complete the attached application form
Email to maria@communityenterprise.co.uk
Closing date: Monday noon, 21st October
Interview date: Thursday, 25th October
Further information
If you’d like to discuss Community Enterprise's work, please contact Victoria Pearce, Development Director, at victoria@communityenterprise.co.uk or call 07787 898880.
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