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We’re looking for an enthusiastic and proactive Sustainable Communities Officer to join our Community Partnerships Service Team. Our Housing and Communities Team are passionate about the people who live in our town; our vision is for everyone to have the opportunity to live in a good quality sustainable home within a lively and thriving neighbourhood. We have bags of energy and enthusiasm and channel this by seeking to innovate and create opportunities that have a lasting effect on the communities in Reading and keeps them at the heart of all we do.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as a diverse and inclusive team will be key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role:
The Community Partnerships Service, which sits within Housing & Communities to ensure the service is better placed to support, enable, and protect individuals and communities and is now looking for an enthusiastic Sustainable Communities Officer to join the team.

We have a great track record in building strategic partnerships, successfully bidding for Government funding, major project delivery and being the best landlord in the town. Our work is rewarding, we change lives for the better by tackling homelessness, building new homes and strengthening communities.

This is an exciting community focussed role which will require you to support the development of asset-based community development plans through connecting services with residents to jointly shape positive activity and outcomes to achieve sustainable resolutions to improve the lives of local residents.

You will have the opportunity to work in partnership with our amazing stakeholders to enable effective connections across the areas to achieve these positive outcomes and support the delivery of local projects as well as supporting the shaping and delivery of services and activities from our 4 housing owned community centres.

Main Duties and responsibilities:

• Support the development and monitor/refresh collaborative asset-based community development plans, which will drive locality delivery to improve outcomes for people living in those identified neighbourhoods and ensure those neighbourhoods feel clean, green and safe.
• Act as a broker between neighbourhoods, internal RBC teams and partners to identify and progress activity to support neighbourhood change aimed at delivering improved outcomes and service priorities.
• Work alongside the Community Development Officers to build knowledge of community priorities and ensure feedback from community consultations/conversations help shape neighbourhood plans and inform service development.
• Build relationships with the local Voluntary and Community Sector organisations, including faith based and equalities led organisations, to identify opportunities to work together for the benefit of residents, including offering spaces or organisations to deliver activities more locally.
• Support the promotion of neighbourhood related events and activities across services and partners to ensure maximum participation.
• Work with the Community Centre Co-ordinator to ensure that activities delivered at the centres are shaped by residents.
• Provide updates relating to Asset Based Community Development Plans and activity happening in local areas to improve outcomes for neighbourhoods and resident wellbeing at a range of forums and through written reports.

About you:
We are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated person with excellent communication skills and experience in working with communities to shape local services and partnership working. You will have experience of working within culturally diverse and/or disadvantaged communities, experience of building networks and working with partners to deliver new initiatives in local communities. You will need the ability to confidently communicate with a range of audiences and understand the views of others. Multitasking and working both individually and as part of a team are key attributes too!

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success.

Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading
Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently, and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively
Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential
Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity

Our offer:
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

This post will be a hybrid working post.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

For more information on this position please contact Pennylope Kapere - Sustainable Communities Manager - Pennylope.Kapere@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date: Monday 3rd August 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Setup: In person at the Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU