Group Development Officer

**Group Development Officer**

You will have a theoretical and practical knowledge of setting up and running different types of voluntary and community organisations.

This role will involve enhancing resilience in communities by: supporting the development of new projects and organisations, championing good practice in running groups, encouraging collaboration between voluntary and community groups and promoting the valueof the sector to partner organisations.

**Role Requirements**
- You have theoretical and practical knowledge of setting up and running different types of voluntary and community organisations.
- You have experience of working within the voluntary and community sector and have good up to date working knowledge of the voluntary sector challenges and opportunities.
- You have knowledge and experience in at least 3 of the following areas
- Community development
- Safeguarding (children and young people, vulnerable people)
- Project and business planning
- Financial management for voluntary and community organisations
- Data protection
- Health and safety
- Employing and managing staff
- Income generation options for voluntary and community organisations
- Knowledge and experience of partnership working with public, private and voluntary sector organisations and supporting local partnerships
- Excellent facilitation and collaboration skills
- Ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team
- You are comfortable with ambiguity and able to thrive in a fluid environment while recognising constraints which partner and stakeholder organisations work within
- You have experience of successfully coordinating projects in challenging environments
- You have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- You are skilled at conveying information and ideas
- You are a clear communicator with good report writing and presentation skills, capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for a range of audiences
- You can plan, prioritise and carry out your work in a flexible way and can meet competing deadlines. You are accustomed to working in teams and do this effectively.

**Role Responsibilities**
- Help to gather people’s views and experiences of health and social care services, at consultation meetings and workshops, events and conferences, reaching out to lesser heard voices at all possible opportunities.
- Help with interviews, surveys and focus group work, facilitating networks updating information collected on relevant databases.
- Identify and contact relevant networks, organisations, groups and Healthwatch Dudley volunteers to raise awareness of Healthwatch Dudley and contribute to discussions with a range of health and social care organisations, liaising with Dudley CVS colleaguesto build on existing relationships.
- Support community engagement activity in relation to Healthwatch Dudley and wider Dudley CVS commissions.
- Provide cover to maintain the Healthwatch Dudley service during its hours of operation where necessary.

**Company**

Our client is a friendly, versatile and creative charity. They help people and organisations that want to make a positive difference in communities across Dudley borough.

The team is crammed full of enthusiastic people with a dazzling diversity of skills and knowledge.

**Why should you apply?**
- The chance to join a fantastic company.
- To become part of a hardworking, dedicated team.
- To showcase your current knowledge and skill set in the field.
- To be a proactive member of the company.

They actively encourage BAME and disabled applicants and value the positive impact that difference has on our teams.

They are committed to equality and diversity within the workforce.