Project Development Lead

Job description

About

The Role:

This is much more than a Project Development Lead role.

As our Project Development Lead, you will work across the whole of Dorset helping CLARITY grow into a confident, sustainable and community-led organisation.

Working closely with Dorset Council, Waythrough, commissioners, recovery communities, mutual aid groups, voluntary organisations, employers and local community assets, you'll strengthen the connections that already exist whilst creating new opportunities for people affected by drug and alcohol challenges.

Rather than focusing on people's problems, you'll take a strengths-based approach, recognising the talents, experiences and potential that already exist within individuals and communities.

You'll support people with living / lived experiences to become volunteers, peer supporters, ambassadors, trustees and future community leaders, helping CLARITY develop the confidence, governance and sustainability needed to become increasingly independent over time.

Success won't simply be measured by activities delivered. It will be measured by stronger communities, empowered people, meaningful partnerships and an organisation that belongs to Dorset.

What the day to day role will look like:

Community Development:

• Lead the continued development of CLARITY across Dorset.

• Take an asset-based community development approach, identifying the strengths, skills and resources already available within local communities.

• Create opportunities for people with living / lived experiences to become active members of their communities through volunteering, education, employment and social participation.

• Develop new recovery initiatives that respond to local needs through genuine co-production.

• Promote recovery as entirely strength focused, that happens within communities, not just services.

Partnership Working:

• Develop strong relationships with Dorset Council, Waythrough, commissioners and other important stakeholders.

• Work collaboratively with local mutual aid groups, recovery communities, voluntary organisations, employers, housing providers, healthcare services and community organisations.

• Represent CLARITY at local partnership meetings and community forums.

• Promote CLARITY as an organisation that complements existing services and strengthens Dorset's wider recovery services.

• Build partnerships that create opportunities for people with living / lived experience to contribute to service improvement and community development.

Community Leadership:

• Recruit, train, and develop volunteers, peer supporters and ambassadors.

• Help identify and nurture future community leaders from within CLARITY's membership.

• Support people with living / lived experience to build confidence, influence local services and take on leadership responsibilities.

• Promote meaningful co-production and ensure local people help shape the future direction of CLARITY.

• Sustainability & Organisational Development:

• Support CLARITY's long-term ambition to become an independent and sustainable organisation.

• Develop governance arrangements alongside members, trustees and community leaders.

• Identify funding opportunities, grants and partnerships that strengthen long-term sustainability.

• Support the development of policies, procedures and organisational infrastructure.

• Help diversify income opportunities and reduce long-term reliance on commissioned funding.

• Develop systems that enable CLARITY to continue growing beyond the life of the current contract.

Quality & Impact:

• Capture meaningful outcomes, impact stories and community feedback.

• Demonstrate the difference CLARITY makes to individuals, communities and partner organisations.

• Produce reports and presentations for commissioners and stakeholders.

• Ensure safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion remain central to everything CLARITY delivers.

• Promote continuous learning and improvement throughout the organisation.

• What we are looking for:

• We are looking for someone who naturally sees people's strengths through their challenges. Someone who enjoys bringing people together, developing partnerships and helping communities discover what they are capable of achieving.

• You might already work within community development, substance use services, mental health, public health, social care or the voluntary sector.

• Equally, you may have developed community initiatives in another setting where you have successfully built partnerships and empowered people to lead change.

• Most importantly, we're looking for someone who genuinely believes that people with living / lived experiences should be trusted to shape the services and communities they are part of.