Communities Officer

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Communities Officer to join the team in Ipswich, Suffolk. You will join us on a full time (37 hours per week), Fixed Term Contract or Secondment opportunity for 12 months as Maternity Leave cover. The successful candidate will earn a competitive salary of £37,280 - £44,075 per annum (pro rata for part time).

This role is open to full time, part time, and job share applications, all of which will be assessed equally.

Join our team

We are looking for a Communities Officer to join our Communities Team.

If you share our values and you are motivated to make a difference for our residents, clients, and communities, we would love to hear from you.

About the role

We are now looking for a Communities Officer to join our team in Communities to encourage and support others to take an active part in helping the Councils develop safe, vibrant and healthy places to live.

This is a key role that will enable programmes of work within the community to support the wellbeing of our residents and develop place-based community development to help build communities which are safe, strong, cohesive and confident.

The postholder should be effective in:

• Working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders to deliver successful wellbeing initiatives, grants and improve performance and monitor outcomes.
• Developing and supporting a programme of activities which provides confidence and guidance to our communities in relation to our planning for growth, communities, grants and wellbeing agendas.
• Co-ordinate and deliver effective engagement activities which are vital to the development of communities in line with the Councils Communities and Wellbeing Strategies.
• Building strong relationships in order to understand and gather information on local issues, expectations and need.

About you

We are now looking for a dedicated person to join the Communities Team with the commitment and motivation to make a difference for our districts as maternity cover for 12 months.

You will demonstrate a confident, adaptable approach, and excellent communication skills are key for this role.

We are seeking someone who has a strong track record and experience of community engagement and working within a political environment.

About us

At Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils we are passionate about building communities that people want to live, work, visit and invest in.

We serve around 200,000 residents across our two districts and are well known for our collaboration and partnership working across public, private and voluntary sectors.

We believe that the heart of Suffolk is an incredibly special place to live and work, with:

• 60 conservation areas
• two National Landscapes
• many picturesque market towns

It is no surprise we are ranked among the top 50 places to live in the UK (United Kingdom).

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous leave entitlement (26 days a year, rising to 31 days after 5 years).
• Competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Wellbeing Support and Employee Assistance Programs.
• Private Health Care Options.
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (Business needs permitting).
• Great learning and development opportunities.

For more information, visit our Employee Benefits page.

Our ways of working

We believe work is what we do, not just where we go.

We work in a hybrid way, with a mix of office, home, and remote based working (Business need permitting). Our hybrid working arrangements support flexibility and collaboration, helping our teams to thrive.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, providing opportunity and ambition for all, supporting and enabling our people to deliver the best possible services for our residents.

Closing date: Closing date: 5.00 pm, 10 May 2026.

If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this Communities Officer role, even if you don t meet all the requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils are an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.