Engagement Manager - Grassroots

Role Profile

Place of work: Hybrid, time split between home working, our office and out in the community of Cornwall (includes weekly face to face meetings in Cornwall)

Role summary

This role is to effectively engage with a diverse range of VCSE organisations and stakeholders in Cornwall through meetings, workshops, consultations, surveys, events, conferences etc.   To strengthen our alliance-based model of engagement by expanding existing alliances and creating new ones.  To bring the voice of the sector into the new integrated care area forums and community area partnerships. To bring together the VCSE sector around pertinent issues, so they can meet the needs of their beneficiaries and achieve their organisational outcomes.

Key Duties

• Manage and develop a range of thematic and place-based alliances, bringing together VCSE organisations to collaborate on shared community themes and challenges.
• Actively engage with integrated care areas, community area partnerships, and other strategic forums to amplify the voice of the VCSE sector. Ensure this engagement translates into actionable outcomes by integrating their insights into the planning, design, and execution of community-based services. For example, facilitate focus groups or workshops that allow grassroots VCSE feedback to be directly included in policy discussions, ensuring their needs and perspectives are supported.
• Be the first point of contact for fostering collaboration between the VCSE sector and public/private stakeholders, maximizing opportunities to collaborate and achieve shared priorities.
• Build trusted relationships with VCSE organisations and statutory partners, ensuring their representation and involvement in key strategic initiatives.
• Develop and facilitate alliances and working groups, nurturing new alliances as needed to strengthen the VCSE network and support.
• Lead the recruitment and election process for alliance chairs when necessary, ensuring a democratic approach.
• Use various engagement methods; including site visits, workshops, and consultation events. To foster direct communication and build the profile of VCSE organisations.
• Support VCSE organisations in understanding and navigating relevant policies, legislation, and best practices, equipping them with evidence-based strategies for effective service delivery.
• Provide timely, practical advice and support to grassroots and established VCSE organisations, enabling them to remain adaptable, agile, and responsive to evolving community needs.
• Facilitate creative discussions, undertake research, and deliver consultation events to promote collaborative problem-solving and community co-design.
• Represent VSF and the VCSE sector at senior leadership and thematic meetings, contributing to policy development and influencing service design and commissioning.
• Identify and communicate funding opportunities, supporting the preparation of collaborative funding applications and strategic initiatives that benefit VCSE organisations.
• Build internal and external connections to facilitate knowledge sharing, best practices, and resource sharing across the VCSE sector.
• Work closely with VSF leadership and the communications team to share intelligence, report activities, and ensure that information is accessible and tailored to the target audience.
• Maintain detailed records and data on sector engagement activities, using CRM tools to support communication and reporting functions.
• Proactively engage with and support BAME, vulnerable, and at-risk communities, ensuring their active involvement in co-designing community interventions.
• Participate in and contribute to collaborative event planning and delivery, including thematic campaign weeks and sector initiatives.
• Commit to ongoing professional development to remain informed of sector trends and research relevant to thematic and place-based work.

Person Specification

• We are particularly interested in individuals working within grassroots advocacy and support-focused VCSE organisations or those engaged in community-based systems and welcome secondment opportunities from all sectors.
• Is educated to degree level or equivalent with excellent literacy and numeracy skills.
• Solution-focused and able to communicate effectively, demonstrating excellent listening, interpersonal skills, and emotional intelligence.
• Excellent at building and maintaining trusted relationships with a wide range of people, organisations, and grassroots communities.
• Demonstrable experience of working with the VCSE sector, building, and sustaining productive partnerships, including with seldom-heard organisations.
• Skilled in producing compelling case studies and collating qualitative and quantitative data to showcase local, thematic, and strategic developments.
• Confident public speaker, facilitator, and presenter, effective in both online and in-person group settings.
• Proven track record of working collaboratively with diverse VCSE stakeholders and partners to achieve shared objectives.
• Adept at influencing, facilitating, and engaging with stakeholders to drive positive outcomes and transformative change.
• Capable of developing and maintaining strategic relationships with public sector commissioners, directors, and VCSE leaders.
• Reflective in practice, applying lessons learned to improve and achieve desired outcomes.
• Skilled in conflict mediation and fostering consensus among stakeholders.
• Understands safeguarding, anti-oppressive practice, equality, and diversity.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and meet stakeholder expectations, even when addressing conflicting priorities.
• Strong communication skills to convey complex information to diverse audiences.
• Possesses in-depth local knowledge of Cornwall and has experience working within the VCSE sector.
• Experience advising organisations on governance and best practices is desirable.
• Experienced in grant administration, distribution, and monitoring, with an understanding of tendering and funding processes.
• Committed to supporting grassroots organisations and amplifying their voices to ensure their needs are represented in decision-making spaces.

Other Requirements

• Possess a clean driving licence.  
• Be familiar with all relevant Health and Safety, operational, personnel, customer care, Data Protection, and financial procedures, ensuring that all statutory obligations are complied with, especially in relation to licensing laws and first aid. 
• Complete a satisfactory DBS check. (This can be applied for on appointment)  
• Any other duties as reasonably required by line management. 
• Work occasional evenings and weekends to attend meetings/events 

Interviews

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to meet the Engagement Team on 10th or 11th December. 
Formal interviews to be held on 18th December