Community Action SuffolkRecruitment Pack Community FoodPartnership Officer Dear ApplicantThank you for your interest in working for CAS and the role weare currently advertising.CAS is a diverse and responsive organisation and I am incrediblyproud to lead such a trusted and passionate team. Our enabling workhas such a positive impact on VCFSE organisations and thecommunities they serve.This application pack should provide you with all the information youneed about the role, as well an idea as to what CAS is all about,what we do and where we see our future.We achieve this through our high performing and motivated staffteam as well as our person centred approach to our work keepingpeople and communities at the heart of what we do. As well asmaking a difference in our communities you will find that the CASteam provide a friendly and collaborative environment to work in andno two days are the same.I hope that you will find this opportunity both interesting and excitingand will consider submitting an application to join us. Hannah Reid, Chief Executive www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk@commactionsuffcommunity-action-suffolk@communityactionsuffolkWelcome from Hannah Reid, ChiefExecutive of Community Action Suffolk About CASWe exist to ensure the sector is supported, safe and sustainable. We provide(or signpost) whatever is needed behind the scenes to enable this, so thesector can concentrate on doing what it does best – making Suffolk anincredible place in which to live and work. CAS supports organisations in thesector to enable them to operate more effectively. We provide a voice fororganisations and groups who may not otherwise be heard and representtheir interests to the private and public sectors. We do this throughconferences, workshops, events, specialist networks, and by consultation withthe sector. We work closely with a wide variety of partners from other sectorsincluding Suffolk County Council, Borough and District Councils, Town andParish Councils, Health and Police, along with partners from the privatesector such as New Anglia Local Economic Partnership and local businesses.All these parties have a vital role in improving the lives of people in Suffolkand by working together we ensure Suffolk is the best place it can be for allthose living and working here.Our VisionCommunity ActionSuffolk’s vision is thatSuffolk is a countywhere every communityaspires, thrives andgrows.Our MissionCommunity Action Suffolk’smission is to strengthen andchampion community action inSuffolk by supporting thevoluntary, community and socialenterprise (VCFSE) sector in itswork. www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk@commactionsuffcommunity-action-suffolk@communityactionsuffolkOur mission is underpinned by our 4 Strategic Priorities...1.Focus on sustainableincome growth toensure CAS remains anessential business inSuffolk, driven bycontinuousimprovement2.Deliver high qualityneeds-led serviceswhich enable Suffolk’sVCFSE sector todeliver projects,activities & services inour communities in asafe, robust &sustainable way3. Promote the 4functions of localinfrastructure toincrease awareness &understanding of ourrole with keystakeholders4. Champion, promote& advocate for, theVCFSE sector inSuffolk in order tocreate & maintaininfluential, equitable &beneficial relationshipsacross sectorswww.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk@commactionsuffcommunity-action-suffolk@communityactionsuffolkOur values representwho we are, how we work, ouraspirations, purpose, & ourgoals. Chosen by our staff team, wereflect them in everything we doboth internally and externally. PersonCentredEnablingCollaborativeTrustedResponsiveCAS VALUESwww.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk@commactionsuffcommunity-action-suffolk@communityactionsuffolkThe role at a glanceHours - up to 37.5 hours per week Salary - £29,570.85 FTE - Actual depending on hoursStart date - As soon as possible Location - Office based Brightspace, Ipswich or KirkleyCentre, Lowestoft with blended working Accountable to - Community Food Partnership Manager Contract term - Fixed term to 30th November 2026Application deadline - Closing date for applications: 12pm Wednesday 22 October 2025ndInterviews will be held week commencing 27 October 2025thPlease contact susan.butler@communityactionsuffolk.org.uk for more informationwww.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk@commactionsuffcommunity-action-suffolk@communityactionsuffolkProvide capacity building and organisational support to strengthen Suffolk FoodProjects and ensure they run safely and sustainablySupport Suffolk Food Projects to support their users to overcome challenges relatedto food and income insecuritySupport Suffolk Food Projects to diversify their operations broadening support offeredto their communitiesImprove access to nutritious, good quality, and low cost food, with low food milesTo be an ambassador for CAS supporting and promoting CAS’s diverse range ofproducts and services To be a positive and flexible member of a high performing, innovative andenterprising CAS teamREPORTS TO: Community FoodPartnership Manager  JOB PURPOSEJOB TITLE: Community FoodPartnership OfficerHOURS: up to 37.5 hours per week MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESSALARY: £29,570.85 FTE  Actual dependent on hours TERM: Fixed term to 30 November 2026thTo provide capacity building and organisational support to strengthenSuffolk Food Projects and ensure they run safely and sustainablyJOB DESCRIPTIONLOCATION: Office based Brightspace,Ipswich or Kirkley Centre, Lowestoft withblended working To act as a first point of contact for Food Projects and support with enquiries asappropriate To deliver and facilitate training & networking opportunities, including signposting intoexisting CAS offer (i.e., Safeguarding & governance support)To deliver specific and tailored activities for Food Projects (i.e., Food Ladders) and thecreation of toolkits and resources to support learning  i.e., getting started guides and howto documents To provide and signpost to CAS wider organisational support, including HealthCheck,Volunteer Management training and Funding4Suffolk platform  To support Food Projects to create solutions to common challenges and work together toresolve i.e., brokering relationships with Suffolk system partners and encouraging co-productionSupport Suffolk Food Projects to support their users to overcome challenges related to food andincome insecurityTo raise awareness of where and how to access advice and support to be food and income-secureTo share relevant partner information with Food Projects and wider food network, including distributionof Affordable Food Flyers, themed webinars, and campaigns to promote food and income-secureschemes i.e., Healthy Start To support Food Projects to promote their services, including increasing the number of Food Projectson Suffolk InfoLink and creation & promotion of case studies To raise awareness and enable wider signposting into wraparound services i.e., cooking projects,financial support including debt advice services, health & wellbeing support.  Support Suffolk Food Projects to diversify their operations broadening support offered to theircommunitiesTo coordinate and facilitate networks for peer to peer sharing and learning, including Food Summit To encourage and support the transition to alternative models of food supply To support and develop Food Projects to focus on wider community engagementTo broker relationships between Food Projects and support services to increase access to wraparoundprovision To work with Suffolk food system, including local businesses to increase engagement with FoodProjects to expand their supply chainTo work with districts to support the distribution of Resilience Food Grants i.e., providing support toFood Projects to develop their ideas and access the funding opportunity. Improve access to nutritious, good quality, and low cost food, with low food miles To work with the Suffolk Food Partnership to promote Suffolk as a sustainable food place To support Food Projects to develop ways to connect local food sources with communities To support initiatives that promote and enable locally sourced food supply to Food ProjectsTo promote and encourage community growing projects i.e., via social media, case studies and tailoredcampaigns To broker relationships to enable pathways for local producers to access a local market.  To be an ambassador for CAS supporting and promoting CAS’s diverse range of products andservicesTo develop and maintain an expert working knowledge about the diverse range of CAS’s productsand services and seek to raise awareness and promote these wherever possibleTo be a first point of contact to share knowledge about who to turn to for support in CAS To work with the wider CAS team to raise awareness of CAS’s services and activities so they canpromote our diverse range of projects to their stakeholder groupsTo actively promote the benefits of CAS Network  To be a positive and flexible member of a high performing, innovative and enterprising CASteam To work collaboratively with colleagues to find solutions to issues as they ariseTo demonstrate and apply the CAS values in the services suppliedUndertake any other duties as requested by the Community Action Manager and by the ExecutiveTeam as appropriate.Experience,Knowledge &SkillsEssentialDesirableUnderstanding of FoodPoverty and its impact onindividuals andcommunities (AP,I)Demonstrable experienceof supporting anddeveloping the VCFSEsector (AP,I)Proven track record indeveloping, establishingand maintain goodworking relationships bothinternally and externally(AP,I) Excellent presentationskills and the ability toshare and disseminateknowledge and learning ina range of differentsettings (AP)Experience in organisingand managing prioritiesand time (AP,I)The ability tocommunicate at all levelswith excellent listeningskills (AP,I)Excellent workingknowledge of modern IT(AP)      Relevant qualification orexperience related to theFood PartnershipNetwork (AP)A sound understandingof Asset BasedCommunityDevelopment (AP)Understanding ofsolutions for Food Waste(AP,I) Experience in developingand managingprogrammes andprojects (AP,I)Understanding ofexternally fundedprojects and monitoringrequirements (AP,I)Good understanding andexperience of how to runand lead successfulcampaigns (AP,I)Experience of settingand working to targetswithin an outcomeframework (AP,I)Assessment methods: I – Interview / P- Presentation / AP- Application Form / T- TestPERSON SPECIFICATIONEssentialAttributesA commitment to CAS, our values and an understanding of ourservices (AP,I)A commitment to tackling inequalities, promoting diversity andinclusion across all service (AP)Excellent team player with a positive attitude, flexible and acan-do attitude to “muck in” where required (AP)A collaborative and solution-based approach to solving problems.(AP,I)Ability to self-manage, organise, balance, and deliver against arange of competing priorities (AP,I)An ability to contribute to an emotionally healthy and fun workingenvironment (AP)Frequent travel around the county and so an ability to travel withinSuffolk or further afield as necessary (AP,I)Assessment methods: I – Interview / P- Presentation / AP- Application Form / T- TestPERSON SPECIFICATION How to Apply  To apply you willneedto completeour application form by: Closing date for applications: 12pm Wednesday 22 October 2025ndInterviews will be held week commencing 27 October 2025th You can find a link to the application form below: https://www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Community-Action-Suffolk-Application-Form-August-25-SB.docx As part of your application you will be asked to:• Tell us why the position appeals to you, and how your skills and experiencedemonstrate your suitability for the role.• Provide full details of your education and employment history including dates• Include how you have demonstrated the CAS values of: Person Centred,Collaborative, Trusted, Responsive and Enabling within your supportingstatement• Provide details of two referees. One of your referees should be your current ormost recent employer. All posts are subject to satisfactory references as detailedin the selection process section below. If you would like to have an informal discussion about the role, please contactAlice Wade on 01473 345400 or emailalice.wade@communityactionsuffolk.org.ukApplications should be sent to susan.butler@communityactionsuffolk.org.ukor posted to Community Action Suffolk, Brightspace, 160 Hadleigh Road, Ipswich,IP2 0HH. Please mark your application for the attention of Susan Butler.When submitting an application please state where you saw the post advertised.www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk@commactionsuffcommunity-action-suffolk@communityactionsuffolkto completing our Application FormCAS aims to ensure that comparison between applicants for posts is thorough, fairand in line with our Equal Opportunities Policy. It is therefore essential that youcomplete the application form fully as it will be used to assess whether or not youare shortlisted for an interview.Please ensure you fully read the Job Description and Person Specification for therole before completing the application form. The application form is in two sections and section A and the Equal OpportunitiesForm will be separated from the application before being given to the recruitmentpanel for shortlisting. Your application will be assessed against the responses you provide in section B.Please ensure you relate your answers on your application to the requirements setout in the person specification and where possible provide examples. Pleaseaddress each point in sufficient detail as incomplete sections may impact on thelikelihood of your application being shortlisted.Please do not send us a CV as part of your application or to apply for the role. Wewill only consider candidates who have completed the application form. If there isinsufficient space on the application form, you may attach supplementary sheetsbut please include your name and the position you are applying for. www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk@commactionsuffcommunity-action-suffolk@communityactionsuffolkReferees Selection ProcessShortlisted candidates will be contacted and offered an interview date and time.Candidates will be notified of the method of interview. If the interview is face to faceyou will be notified of the location the interviews will be held and provided withdirections. All interviews will be confirmed via email once agreed. As part of the interviews candidates will be required to take part in a discussion orpresentation about our CAS values. The format for this discussion will be confirmedwhen the interview date and time is accepted.We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitmentprocess and we will always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. If you require a different format of the application form, such as large print, or youwould like to discuss any specific requirements, please get in touch with us atsusan.butler@communityactionsuffolk.org.uk or call 01473 345400 and ask tospeak to a member of the HR Team. Alwaysask your referees permission before giving their contact details for yourapplication. One of your referees should be your current or most recent employer/linemanager, academic tutor or a volunteer manager if applicable. Please do not givedetails of family and friends. Referees will only be contacted after an offer has been made and accepted. We willconfirm with you before we approach your referees.Accessibility and Adjustmentswww.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk@commactionsuffcommunity-action-suffolk@communityactionsuffolkEquality, Diversity and Inclusion CASis an equal opportunitiesemployerwhichwelcomesapplications from allsections of the community. Everyone can expect to be treated with consideration and respect and CAS iscommitted to providing an inclusive environment for all. Good working relationshipsenable the full potential, creativity and productivity of each individual, in anatmosphere where everyone can learn and work without prejudice, discrimination orharassment. The application pack contains an Equal Opportunities Form which we encourage youto complete and return with your application. Please be assured that this form is notpart of the application process and it is removed prior to the shortlisting process.The data we obtain from these forms is analysed to support our commitment to equalopportunities and the information will be used to help guide our recruitment strategies.www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk@commactionsuffcommunity-action-suffolk@communityactionsuffolkBenefits of working for CAS Our people are passionate about what we do and the difference it makes to thecommunities we work in and the people that live in Suffolk. Working in theVoluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector has never been moreinteresting, offering talented people the opportunity to innovate, use their skillsand expertise to make a difference. We recognise that our people are central to what we do and the services weprovide. We are committed to creating positive and fulfilling roles and providingenvironments where people flourish, develop and have the opportunity to make areal difference in delivering good quality services. The benefits we offer to colleagues to support them in delivering their crucial roleincludes the following:Blended working where role allowsFlexible working options to support work/life balance33 days increasing to a maximum 36 (FTE) annualholiday which includes an allowance for bank holidaysUp to 4% matched pension contribution 2 days pro rata volunteering days to support volunteering in SuffolkStaff Discounts Scheme for a range of retailers including; shopping,holidays, insurance, eating out and health and leisure activitiesCompany Sick Pay SchemeContinued Professional Development for job related developmentFamily Friendly policies and practices Tailored induction www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk@commactionsuffcommunity-action-suffolk@communityactionsuffolkWhy work for Community Action Suffolk?Here's what our staff have to say... "When I started working at Community Action Suffolk, I was taking a leap from part time work around my young family toworking full time. They assured me that flexible working was in place and now, nearly two years on, I wish I had joined sooner!CAS ensures there doesn’t have to be a choice between being a parent, or working, by allowing for there to be a healthywork-life balance. The team is amazing, everyone supports each other, it really is a joy to come to work and see colleagues.Everyone is valued and, as an organisation, the staff really are kept at the heart of the work they do. Training opportunities,personal CPD and staff progression are encouraged, which allows for personal and professional growth at your own pace.The projects that CAS run are really varied, but everyone supports each other and genuinely takes interest in what is going onwithin the community. I feel fortunate to be part of a fantastic organisation who I am proud to represent and work for."  I recently moved from working in the intense investments industry to Community Action Suffolk. I have really appreciated thechange in working environment, and the care CAS gives their employees. From my first day, I felt welcomed and part of theteam. The inductions provided to me, gave me an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of how CAS operates, andeverything that it has to offer. Being a Support Services Assistant and part of the Reception team, I enjoy meeting such avariety of people and everyday has something new to offer. I would describe CAS as a very open, welcoming and friendlyplace to work. "Having worked in the corporate world for over 30years. Working for CAS has been like a breath offresh air. I received a very warm and professionalinduction. The staff are extremely helpful, friendly andnothing is too much trouble. A thoroughly enjoyableplace to work."“Well, what can I say! I’ve been here since 1998 and I can honestly say I fell into my first job here purely by chance. I didn’tknow anything about the charity or what it did at that point, and I applied on a whim! I liked the sound of it. I started as a part timesecretary and librarian (for the smallest library ever!). Since then, I have undertaken various roles at CAS and within one of itspredecessor organisations, varying from working with Village Halls, being the Rural Transport Partnership Officer, QualityStandards Officer, Reception and Buildings Supervisor and Community Oil Buying Co-ordinator! Pretty varied roles I’m sure you’llagree. Currently my work is around undertaking Research and supporting our Network Membership scheme. The one consistentthing throughout my time with CAS is the lovely people you get to meet and work with. That is the overriding comment madewhen people join or leave the organisation, that everyone here is lovely and that we all work as a team. Though many of us workin different areas, on different projects and at different times of the day and week and from different locations, there is alwayssomeone around who you can bounce ideas around with, ask for help from or simply have a chat with.”“Every day is different at CAS because the services we offer are so varied, and you never quite know what ideas or challenges ourcustomers will want support with. This provides lots of opportunities to connect and collaborate with colleagues across theorganisation, who may be working with the same people, or have relevant knowledge or skills to support you with your work.Working in this way is a great way to get to know colleagues across different teams and to share ideas and experiences, and staff arevery supportive of each other.As an organisation, CAS enables staff to have an effective work life balance, through blended working policies, and flexibility withworking hours when needed. Due to this, I have been able to move from part time working into a full time role that fits around mycommitments as a parent.In the 6 years I have worked for CAS I have been able to progress through variety of roles. Having started at CAS as the receptionist,this gave me a great understanding of the wide range of services and support that CAS provides. I have been given the opportunity toundertake training, learn new skills and work on a variety of projects over the years and now co-ordinate 2 projects within theorganisation.” "CAS show they care for their employees. As I had dedicated 10years to customer service at XXXX, I was nervous about moving onto a new career, but CAS has definitely proved most beneficial forme and my family. My health and wellbeing have improvedmassively and the work environment, including all the staff, havebeen most welcoming – it’s a joy to be at work." www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk@commactionsuffcommunity-action-suffolk@communityactionsuffolkGet intouchTo find out more about CommunityAction Suffolk please visit ourwebsitewww.communityactionsuffolk.org.ukCall us on 01473 345400or emailinfo@communityactionsuffolk.org.ukwww.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk@commactionsuffcommunity-action-suffolk@communityactionsuffolk