Community development manager

The job of a community development manager is testing, varied and challenging. It’s about removing the barriers that stop people having a say about issues that affect their lives.

It involves coordinating teams that work with local people to improve their quality of life, often in socially and financially deprived areas.

From day to day, the job could involve anything from setting up a disease prevention programme to establishing training opportunities for excluded groups. A community development manager will take charge of identifying a community’s needs and problems, raise public awareness, build a network of contacts, organise events, broker agreements between opposing groups, develop strategies for change, manage budgets and raise funds.

Did you know?
Community development has been around for more than a century. Many of its roots are in the ‘settlement’ movement of the late 19th century, in which charities set up centres in Britain’s poorest areas. Britain’s oldest settlements, Oxford House and Toynbee Hall, were founded in east London in 1884.

Facts and Figures

  • Starting salary:

    Around £25,000

  • Senior level salary:

    Varied, but normally range from £35,000 to £40,000

  • Education:

    There are several ways to become a community development manager, and different employers will ask for different qualifications. Some may ask for a minimum number of GCSE grades, including English and Maths, while others may ask for A-levels and/or a degree. The degree may need to be in a related area, such as health studies or youth and community work. It may also be possible to train on the job and gain an NVQ in community work.

  • Skills:

    Previous experience of community or voluntary work is useful. Good maths skills are vital, as managing budgets is a central part of the job. You need to be a highly skilled communicator to deal with a extremely diverse range of people.

  • Likely employer type:

    Local authorities, housing associations, voluntary organisations and regeneration partnerships

  • Opportunities:

    This is a growing field with an expanding range of organisations employing community development staff - from sports clubs that want to promote social inclusion to prestige arts projects.

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