Voluntary Sector and Community Partnerships Manager

Communities1st

We are looking for someone who can live and breathe our values; to work in partnership, deliver quality, adapt, be positive and be inclusive. You will be a self-starting, proactive individual with strong operational ability and a passion for supporting communities and strengthening the local voluntary sector.

Purpose of the Job:

This role leads the day-to-day delivery of Communities 1st’s support for voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations and volunteer centre engagement. You will play a key role in supporting community groups to be welcoming, accountable, effective and sustainable, and lead engagement with both new and established organisations.

We’re looking for a confident and capable leader who combines strong values with practical delivery skills. This role is ideal for someone experienced in the sector, ready to take on a broader management remit, with potential to grow into a future senior leadership role..

General Responsibilities

• Act as a key point of contact for VCFSE organisations seeking support, advice and partnership.
• Lead the planning and delivery of multiple services, projects and programmes in line with agreed objectives.
• Line manage and support staff and volunteers across the team, ensuring clear workplans, regular supervision, and high performance.
• Ensure your team meets key deadlines, outputs and targets set by funders or Communities 1st.
• Promote the voice and value of the VCFSE sector in meetings, networks and forums.
• Champion inclusive practice and equitable access in all areas of delivery.
• Ensure accurate records, timely reporting, and continual quality improvement.
• Support income generation through identifying new opportunities, contributing to bids, and building relationships with funders and stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively across departments to ensure a joined-up organisational approach.

Key Responsibilities

Strengthen the Local VCFSE Sector

• Provide high-quality advice, support and guidance on governance, funding, volunteering, project planning and service development.
• Support start-up groups and help existing organisations adapt and thrive.
• Design and deliver practical resources, events, training and workshops that strengthen organisations’ capacity and leadership.
• Work with colleagues and partners to ensure the sector has access to good quality, up-to-date information and funding opportunities.

Develop Volunteering Locally

• Lead the delivery of our Volunteer Centre services.
• Promote inclusive, flexible volunteering that meets community needs and individual motivations.
• Support local organisations to improve their volunteer recruitment, retention and management.
• Promote and embed volunteer recognition and celebration across the community.

Drive Community Engagement and Partnerships

• Build strong relationships with local organisations, public services, community leaders and funders.
• Facilitate connections and collaboration between organisations, networks and systems partners.
• Represent Communities 1st in local forums, networks and multi-agency partnerships.
• Support development of collaborative projects and joint funding bids where appropriate.

Management and Leadership

• Lead and support a team of staff and volunteers, ensuring high performance, wellbeing and development.
• Ensure clear workplans, supervision, and evaluation are in place for your team.
• Contribute to organisational planning, funding proposals and reporting.
• Model a collaborative, supportive and values-led approach.

Data, Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

• Ensure robust monitoring and evaluation of your team’s work.
• Track performance against funder outcomes and organisational objectives.
• Use data and feedback to improve delivery and demonstrate impact.
• Contribute to organisational reporting, storytelling and case study development.

Other Duties

• Create a welcoming and supportive environment with a culture of trust so that end users have the confidence to access the service.
• Work as part of Communities 1st team in a professional manner in accordance with policies, procedures and equal opportunities practices.
• This is not a final and complete statement of the duties attached to this post, which may be amended from time to time in accordance with the changing needs of Communities 1st.