Community Development Team Leader

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UPPER HUTT CITY COUNCIL | POSITION DESCRIPTION – COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR 1 Last reviewed November 2019

Position Description

Position:

Community Development Advisor

Department: Community Services

Division: Community Development Team

Responsible to: Community Development Team Leader

Direct reports: Community groups, funders, government and non-government agencies, local iwi, local residents and other Council business units

OUR PURPOSE:

WE’RE ONE TEAM // We work together to enhance the quality of life in Upper Hutt by providing leadership, support, and services to our community.

OUR VALUES:

WE’RE APPROACHABLE // We are respectful, honest and open with each other and our community. PEOPLE MATTER // We operate with integrity, respecting diversity and each other’s needs.

WE’RE COURAGEOUS // We’re ambitious, speak up, and are accountable.

WE’RE ONE TEAM // We cooperate and engage with each other, share the workload, and recognise a job well done.

WE HAVE FUN // We embrace each day and take on each challenge with positivity and enthusiasm. OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

WE KEEP IT REAL // We are transparent, honest, and fair, and do what we say. WE ‘CAN DO’ // We are proactive, creative, resourceful, and responsive.

WE WORK TOGETHER / / We collaborate, communicate, and take pride in who we are and what we do. WE ARE PEOPLE MINDED // We serve our community, customers, and each other, respecting diversity and culture.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Community Development Team provides services and support that enables development of a safe, informed, connected and resilient community. The primary function of the Community Development Advisor role is to:

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2 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR | UPPER HUTT CITY COUNCIL Last reviewed November 2019

• Respond to local issues and support community and organisation-led activities and initiatives, share knowledge, support community participation in services and decisions, and foster feelings of connectedness across the Upper Hutt Community

• Support national strategies including, but not limited to, the New Zealand Positive Ageing Strategy, Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa and Te Rito: New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy

• Support the capacity building, effectiveness and connectedness of community groups • Enable programmes and initiatives that improve safety and support a city free from crime and

injury

_________________________________________________________________________________________ CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Policies and Procedures.

• Comply with Council’s Code of Conduct and Staff Manual including its policies and procedures at all times • Uphold the Council Values

2. Customer and Community Relations:

• Observe and promote the Council’s Customer Service Charter

• Present a positive image of Council by ensuring an efficient, courteous and professional service to customers at all times • Work with other staff members to resolve customer queries and issues

3. Information Management

• Work collaboratively by ensuring all business documents and information are made accessible for staff to use. • Manage and secure our knowledge and information as a key organisational asset in line with our Information

Management strategy, relevant policies and best practice.

• Manage electronic documents and records using our approved Electronic Document and Records Management System (SHED).

4. Continuous improvement and innovation

• Evaluate and review work practices and processes within all areas of responsibility to ensure that they are effective and efficient and implement improvements where appropriate

• Identify and propose additional business or service opportunities that enhance Council’s existing capabilities

5. Health and safety

• Ensure all work is performed in accordance with the requirements of the Health and Safety policies, procedures and legislation

• Report all incidents, hazards and risks to the immediate supervisor

6. Teamwork

• Actively contribute to the team by looking out for others, supporting and empowering them and celebrating the success of others

• Build successful workplace relationships by working cooperatively with others

7. Training and development

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8. Participate in Council’s civil defence emergency response

• Participation in relevant emergency response training and duties as requested by the Chief Executive

9. Perform other duties as may be directed from time to time

• All duties must be carried out to the satisfaction of the Manager

______________________________________________________________________________________ SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

Bold text = responsibility

Bullet Point = associated performance measure(s)

1. Lead and support the planning and implementation of projects, initiatives and events which contribute to a safe, informed, resilient and connected community.

• Identify and collate evidence that highlights community need

• Lead, develop, execute and evaluate initiatives, projects or events that improve the health, safety and wellbeing of the Upper Hutt community

• Actively lead and /or participate in “working together” groups to develop and implement city safety and wellbeing projects

• Establish collaborative partnerships with local and central government agencies, NGO’s and community organisations and facilitate joint planning and projects

• Support and assist colleagues as required 2. Engage with the community as appropriate

• In depth knowledge of the local community, ability to identify local issues and engage with the community in facilitating solutions

• Ability to connect, engage and collaborate within the community

• Organise community and public training, forums, meetings or focus groups as required

• Manage appropriate platforms for engaging with the community and community groups as required

3. To liaise with community groups and other external stakeholders and facilitate community response to local issues

• Establish and maintain contact with community organisations and other external stakeholders operating in Upper Hutt, actively building positive relationships with key partners

• Provide advice to individuals and organisations as appropriate

• Ensure all communications with stakeholders align with Council values, principles and guidelines • Work closely and collaboratively with other community services departments that connect, engage,

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• Develop a good working knowledge about the different departments and roles within Council and use this knowledge to facilitate connections between the different departments and appropriate community groups and organisations

• Represent the Upper Hutt Community’s interests at internal and external meetings as required

4. Receive and respond to enquiries from the public • Respond to enquiries as follows:

o Verbal enquiries within 1 working day o Written enquiries within 3 working days

5. Co-operate with colleagues to ensure the effective delivery of Council’s Community Services

• Actively participate in regular team and individual meetings and carry out assigned tasks arising from proceedings

• Actively support colleagues in the delivery of Community Development programmes as required • Provide support at Community Development events

_________________________________________________________________________________________ PERSON SPECIFICATION:

Education/Qualifications/Relevant experience

• Relevant tertiary qualifications or equivalent experience in a related field • Successful experience in community development and project management • Proven experience in developing and managing events

Professional and Technical Skills

• Have strong relationship management skills and a demonstrated ability to collaborate appropriately with others to meet clear outcomes

• Able to facilitate meetings or groups to reach common understanding or consensus

• Outstanding written, verbal and presentation skills, with an ability to convey concepts or information with clarity and accuracy

• Ability to manage social media platforms

• An ability to make sound recommendations based on evidence and community knowledge • Have an understanding of the role of local government

• Demonstrated analytical and critical reasoning skills, with the ability to identify, assess and control unacceptable risk

• Excellent computer skills in the Microsoft Office Suite

Personal Attributes:

• Respectful, honest and open

• Have a passion for working within the Upper Hutt Community • Operates with integrity, respecting diversity

• High degree of motivation and a willingness and ability to accept responsibility and to exercise initiative appropriately

• Ambitious, takes on challenges with positivity and enthusiasm • Takes accountability for own actions

• Cooperative and engages with others, shares the workload • Is an effective team player.

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Licences

• A current full motor vehicle driver’s licence or the ability to obtain one within three months of accepting employment

From time to time it may be necessary to consider changes in the job description in response to the changing nature of our work environment – including technological requirement or statutory changes. Such change may be initiated as necessary by the manager of this position. This Job Description may be reviewed as part of the preparation for performance planning for the annual performance cycle.

Signed:

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Director/ Manager Date

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