Community Development Officer

POSITION DESCRIPTION

POSITION NO:

DIRECTORATE: Community Development

DEPARTMENT: Community Strengthening

SECTION: Community Engagement

STATUS: Full-time, ongoing

CLASSIFICATION: Band 6

OCCUPANT:

LOCATION: 43 Davey Street, Frankston

APPROVED BY: Director Community Development

DATE: June 2015

POSITION OBJECTIVE(S)/GOAL(S):

The role of the Community Development Officer is to work alongside communities to

increase civic participation; health and wellbeing and to reach and agree on priorities to be
included and progressed in local community plans. The role also provides cross Council
support and guidance to build and improve community engagement capability and
streamline engagement processes.

KEY OUTCOMES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Community Engagement

• Apply a broad range of community development and engagement processes and

practices to assist Council and the community to identify and implement local priorities.
• Build relationships and networks with residents and community groups to encourage their
participation in local activities and projects, with particular emphasis on hard to engage /
disengaged residents to strengthen civic participation.
• In consultation with Team Leader Community Development, assist skills development of
potential community leaders, volunteers, community groups and local representative
working groups (committee) members.
• Provide cross-Council mentoring and advice to assist with planning, preparing and
implementing community engagement events in a way that builds capacity of other staff
to undertake future facilitation.
• Work across Council to develop, broaden and embed shared understanding of different
communities, their challenges, needs and aspirations.
• Work with Community Strengthening Administrative Officer to input a calendar of
community events across the organisation to reduce engagement fatigue by streamlining
engagement processes.

2. Administration
• In consultation with Team Leader Community Development develop and monitor project
plans and prepare funding submissions to deliver community projects identified by the
community and defined in policy and plans.
• Monitor and provide advice on emerging and current community issues and proposed
directions.
• Convene and resource working groups that relate to implementation of local priorities as
required by the Team Leader Community Development.
• Provide quality, timely and accurate advice, information and reports as required.
• In the event the Municipal Emergency Management Plan is enacted, assist all aspects of
the relief and recovery phase.

Organisational Responsibilities

• Cooperate with Council in relation to any actions taken to comply with the Occupational
Health and Safety Act 2004 and ensure that actions taken by the employee do not
interfere with or place at risk the health, safety or wellbeing of the employee or any
person in the workplace.
• Ensure compliance with all Privacy Legislation and treat all information of a personal and
sensitive nature concerning the business of Council, Ratepayers or Residents in a
professional and confidential manner in accordance with Council’s information and
records management procedures.
• Ensure that all Council’s policies, procedures, systems and work practices are
implemented and adhered to, in particular, in human resource management, risk
management, financial management, governance, procurement, and customer service.
• Act in a professional manner at all times while performing duties for and/or representing
Frankston City Council in accordance with the Staff Code of Conduct.

OTHER DUTIES:

Responsibilities and duties included in this Position Description are subject to the
Multiskilling provisions of the Frankston City Council Enterprise Agreement.

POLICE RECORDS CHECK:

The incumbent must have and maintain a current Police Records Check: YES

WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECK:

The incumbent must have and maintain a current Working with Children Check: NO

ORGANISATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reports to: Team Leader Community Development

Supervises: Nil
 Internal Contacts: This position will work across all Council Departments

External Contacts: Community members; Government Departments; community service organisations;

community groups and relevant agencies.

Financial delegations Nil

Manages budget: Nil- Operating budget

Nil - Staff budget
Nil - Capital budget

ACCOUNTABILITY AND EXTENT OF AUTHORITY:

The incumbent is responsible and accountable for:

• Working with community to determine and implement agreed priorities
• Preparation of plans and reports to Council
• Maintaining awareness of community needs and issues.

The incumbent has the following delegations:

• Signing letters, reports to community members and community service organisations

• The incumbent is accountable for adhering to and implementing the Organisational

Responsibilities set out in the Key Outcomes and Responsibilities, above.

JUDGEMENT AND DECISION MAKING:

The incumbent is required to use judgement and make decisions relating to:
• Providing information and advice to members of the public, staff and external agencies
drawing on experience and knowledge.
• Resolving issues and problems which are of a complex nature. Guidance and advice are
usually available.

SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

The following knowledge and skills are required to be demonstrated and utilised:
• Demonstrated knowledge of community development principles and practices.
• Demonstrating experience in group facilitation and community engagement.
• Understanding of community strengthening policies and principles.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex political and social structures.
• Relevant technology skills to deliver the requirements of the role.

MANAGEMENT SKILLS:

The incumbent must demonstrate and apply the following management skills:
• Proven ability to manage own time, set priorities, plan and organize work to meet
timelines.
• Well-developed project management skills
• Ability to work with independently (direction is usually available) and as part of a team.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

The following interpersonal skills are required to be demonstrated and utilised:

• High level liaison and relationship building skills to establish and maintain networks and
facilitate cooperation.
• Demonstrated developed verbal and written communication skills with the ability to
prepare reports and presentations in plain English.
• Demonstrated, developed facilitation and engagement skills.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

The following qualifications and/or experience are required for the position:
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in community development or related field.
• Substantial experience working in a community development environment.
• Current Victorian Driver License.
The following qualifications and/or experience are desirable for the position:
• Experience in a similar role.

VARIATION TO CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

These conditions of employment, your duties and your location may be varied by Council
during the term of your employment in accordance with Council’s Enterprise Agreement.
The Position Description will be reviewed annually, in conjunction with you, in accordance
with Council’s Enterprise Agreement, and as part of the employee’s annual Performance
and Development Review.
The Position Description is to be read in conjunction with the Council’s Enterprise
Agreement.

AGREEMENT:

I accept and agree to the duties in this Position Description.

I understand that this Position Description is to be read in conjunction with Council’s Enterprise
Agreement and I agree to abide by the terms and conditions of employment stipulated therein.

Name (Please print):

Signature: Date:

SELECTION CRITERIA:
Selection will be based on the following Selection Criteria. However, reference will also be
made to other attributes, skills and knowledge as listed in the Position Description:
Mandatory/Essential:

1. Tertiary qualifications in community development or related field

2. Substantial experience in community development including working with diverse
populations
3. Demonstrated track record in building collaborative partnerships to achieve objectives
4. Experience in planning community engagement projects and facilitating groups to input
projects, plans and other activities
5. Ability to set priorities; plan and organise work and manage time
6. Exceptional written and communication skills
7. Current Victorian Driver Licence

Desirable/Optional:
1. Experience in a Local Government setting
 PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION:

The physical requirements of the position are outlined below:

Task Performed Performed Never/Rarely

Frequently Sometimes Performed
More than 2 Less than 2 Infrequent
hours in 1 shift hours in 1 shift use/activity
or continually
for 30 min
Keyboard duties X
Reading tasks X
Writing tasks X
Sitting (extended periods) X
Walking/Standing (Briefly) X
Walking/Standing (Extended) X
Driving Car/Utility/Tractor/Truck/Bus X
(strike out whichever is inapplicable)
Lifting/Carrying duties (Light) <10kg X
Lifting/Carrying duties (Heavy) >10kg X
Pushing/Pulling tasks (Light) <10kg X
Pushing/Pulling tasks (Heavy) >10kg X
Chopping/Digging tasks X
Bending/Kneeling requirements X
Climbing (stairs, ladders/scaffold) X
(strike out whichever is inapplicable)
Handling grease/oils X
Exposure to dust/dirt/hazardous materials X
X
Exposure to chemicals and/or detergents
Stress - Difficult customers X
Tight deadlines X
Other (Please specify)
Exposure to hot/cold temperature X
Exposure to noise/required to wear hearing X
protection