Development Officer

Job Overview: Development Officer

Community First Yorkshire, the official Local Infrastructure Organisation (LIO) for the region, is recruiting two Development Officers to join their VCSE (Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise) Support team. This role is essential for strengthening the “backbone” of North Yorkshire’s charities, providing the expert guidance they need to remain sustainable, compliant, and impactful.

Job Summary

• Employer: Community First Yorkshire (Registered Charity No: 515538)

• Location: Hybrid (Minimum 1 day/week at Askham Bryan, York, with travel across North Yorkshire).

• Salary: £32,597 pro rata (Actual: £26,077.60 for 28 hours).

• Hours: 28 hours per week (0.8 FTE).

• Contract: Permanent.

• Closing Date: 9am, Wednesday 25 March 2026.

Key Responsibilities

As a Development Officer, you act as a consultant and advocate for local grassroots groups and established charities:

• Governance & Legal: Providing expert advice on legal structures (e.g., CIOs, CICs) and ensuring boards understand their trustee responsibilities.

• Funding & Sustainability: Helping organizations identify grant opportunities, refine their “case for support,” and develop long-term financial strategies.

• Volunteer Management: Advising groups on best practices for recruiting, retaining, and managing volunteers safely and effectively.

• Training & Facilitation: Designing and delivering workshops to upskill community leaders and facilitating meetings to solve local challenges.

• Strategic Advocacy: Representing the interests of the voluntary sector to local government and statutory partners.

Requirements & Qualities

• Experience: A proven track record of working within or supporting charities and community organizations.

• Specialist Knowledge: Strong skills in charity law and governance are particularly desired for these vacancies.

• Communication: Must be a confident relationship builder, capable of facilitating groups and delivering engaging training sessions.

• Attributes: Approachable, solution-focused, and deeply committed to community development principles.

• Logistics: Ability to travel across the expansive county of North Yorkshire.

Benefits

• Flexible Working: A “blended” approach combining home working with office days in Askham Bryan.

• Professional Growth: Opportunity to work at a strategic level within the North Yorkshire VCSE sector.

• Environment: Free on-site parking at the beautiful Askham Bryan location.

Strategic 2026 Context: Your 165th Market Entry

This role represents the “Third Sector Infrastructure & Advocacy” tier of your 165-role York dataset.

• The York-North Yorkshire Pivot: While based in Askham Bryan (YO23)—near the A64 and close to the PUMA and adidas retail hubs—this role is unique because its impact spans the entire county. It confirms that YO23 is a strategic 2026 base for organizations that need to bridge the gap between York City Centre and the rural North.

• Salary Benchmark: At £32,597 (FTE), this role aligns with the York College Tutor (£34k–£38k) and sits above the Sewell Cleaning Supervisor (£13.21/hr / ~£25.7k FTE). It reflects the professional, “Consultant-lite” nature of development work in 2026.

• The “Retirement Wave” Trend: This recruitment is driven by “upcoming retirement,” a key 2026 demographic trend noted in your data. It highlights a massive “Knowledge Transfer” phase currently happening in York’s charitable sector as long-standing leaders hand over to a new generation of digital-first development officers.

  Community First Yorkshire is an influential regional charity and “infrastructure organization” dedicated to strengthening the voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector across North, South, and West Yorkshire. Formerly known as Rural Action Yorkshire, the organization has a deep-rooted history in rural advocacy but has evolved into a comprehensive support hub for all community leaders.

   

  Company Description & Culture

  Community First Yorkshire operates with a vision of a “vibrant Yorkshire where strong, inclusive communities thrive.” Their culture is defined by Empowerment and Connection. Rather than delivering front-line services directly to individuals, they act as the “scaffolding” for other charities—providing the expertise, funding advice, and leadership training that allow local groups to succeed.

   

  Internally, the workplace is characterized by a “ripple effect” philosophy: employees understand that by supporting one charity leader, they are indirectly helping hundreds of residents. The culture is collaborative, mission-driven, and highly adaptive to the shifting political and economic landscape of Yorkshire. In 2026, they have placed a significant cultural emphasis on Climate Action and Digital Inclusion, integrating these themes into every project they touch.

   

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  Key Organisation Highlights (2026)

  Category	Details
  Headquarters	Unit A, Tower House, Askham Bryan, York, YO23 3FS
  Primary Industry	VCSE Infrastructure, Rural Advocacy, and Community Development
  Service Reach	North, South, and West Yorkshire (Focus on North Yorkshire)
  Core Purpose	To champion, connect, and support community and voluntary groups
  Recent Impact	Over 550 organisations supported and £1.6m in funding secured
  Key Partners	North Yorkshire Council, York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority

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  Core Services & Strategic Projects

  The organization provides a toolkit of essential services for the region’s 3,000+ voluntary groups:

  • Funding & Sustainability: A dedicated team helps groups navigate the complex grant landscape, recently channelling £150,000 specifically into Rural York Community Buildings for digital and infrastructure upgrades.

  • Community Buildings Support: Acting as the leading advisor for Village Halls across the region, offering guidance on everything from energy efficiency to legal governance.

  • Digital Hubs Initiative: In partnership with local authorities, they are rolling out a £12m dormant asset allocation to set up local digital hubs, helping residents gain essential online skills.

  • Leadership Mentoring: A flagship programme that pairs emerging sector leaders with experienced mentors to build strategic thinking and resilience.

  • Health & Care Advocacy: Facilitating the North Yorkshire VCSE Health and Care Assembly, ensuring that local charities have a seat at the table during NHS and local government planning.

  Working at Community First Yorkshire

  The organization is a prime employer for those passionate about social impact and community development:

   

  • The “People First” Approach: Staff benefits in 2026 include fully flexible working patterns to support work-life balance and a commitment to “multi-role careers” where staff can develop diverse skill sets.

  • Professional Growth: As a training provider themselves, they offer employees exceptional access to CPD (Continuing Professional Development) in charity law, governance, and facilitation.

  • Wellbeing Focus: Recognised for a culture where staff mental health is prioritized, including regular “check-ins” and access to a vibrant ecosystem of peer support.

  • The Askham Bryan Site: Based at Tower House (near the large water tower), the office offers a scenic, accessible location just off the A64, with free parking and modern collaborative spaces.

     

  Volunteering & Career Entry

  • Volunteering North Yorkshire: They manage a massive directory of regional opportunities, connecting individuals with roles ranging from Digital Champions to Trustees.

     

  • Community Energy Projects: A major 2026 focus is recruiting volunteers and staff for “local power” initiatives, following the government’s record investment into community-led energy.