Community Improvement Programme Officer
| Posting date: | 03 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £44,075 to £47,181 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 05 March 2026 |
| Location: | Reading, Berkshire |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Reading Borough Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | RES0780 |
Summary
Are you passionate about creating positive change in local communities? Do you have the drive to build strong relationships, empower residents, and help shape programmes that tackle inequality? If so, this is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the Council’s objective of creating more equal communities within Reading.
As a Community Improvement Programme Officer, you’ll help deliver our innovative Place‑Based Programme, focused on improving outcomes for residents within specific areas of the borough. Working closely with local partners, voluntary groups, community organisations and internal services, you’ll act as the central point of coordination to support real, sustainable improvement in areas that need it most.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the role
In this role, you’ll act as a trusted presence within the community, connecting residents, partners and Council services to ensure activity in the area is aligned, informed and effective. You’ll also help shape and monitor improvement programmes using a Theory of Change approach.
You will:
Build relationships with local residents, voluntary groups, partners and internal teams
Coordinate activities within the pilot wards to support the Tackling Inequality Strategy
Engage with the community, including leading targeted work with young people
Gather, analyse and use local data to understand needs and track impact
Map local assets and identify opportunities for regeneration and service improvement
Plan and deliver community and stakeholder engagement events
You'll also play a key role in promoting inclusive and collaborative working across all partners.
About you
We’re looking for someone who is motivated by improving outcomes for communities experiencing deprivation and who thrives in a role centred on people, partnership and proactive problemsolving.
The ideal candidate will bring:
Experience delivering communitybased projects from inception to completion
The ability to build trust and work positively with a diverse range of stakeholders
Strong analytical skills, able to gather and interpret community intelligence
A proactive, cando attitude and confidence working independently
Political awareness and experience working with elected members
Background experience in community development, youth work or similar
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
Closing Date: Sunday 27th February 2026
Interview Date: Week Commency 16th March 2026
Interview Process: To be confirmed
As a Community Improvement Programme Officer, you’ll help deliver our innovative Place‑Based Programme, focused on improving outcomes for residents within specific areas of the borough. Working closely with local partners, voluntary groups, community organisations and internal services, you’ll act as the central point of coordination to support real, sustainable improvement in areas that need it most.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the role
In this role, you’ll act as a trusted presence within the community, connecting residents, partners and Council services to ensure activity in the area is aligned, informed and effective. You’ll also help shape and monitor improvement programmes using a Theory of Change approach.
You will:
Build relationships with local residents, voluntary groups, partners and internal teams
Coordinate activities within the pilot wards to support the Tackling Inequality Strategy
Engage with the community, including leading targeted work with young people
Gather, analyse and use local data to understand needs and track impact
Map local assets and identify opportunities for regeneration and service improvement
Plan and deliver community and stakeholder engagement events
You'll also play a key role in promoting inclusive and collaborative working across all partners.
About you
We’re looking for someone who is motivated by improving outcomes for communities experiencing deprivation and who thrives in a role centred on people, partnership and proactive problemsolving.
The ideal candidate will bring:
Experience delivering communitybased projects from inception to completion
The ability to build trust and work positively with a diverse range of stakeholders
Strong analytical skills, able to gather and interpret community intelligence
A proactive, cando attitude and confidence working independently
Political awareness and experience working with elected members
Background experience in community development, youth work or similar
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
Closing Date: Sunday 27th February 2026
Interview Date: Week Commency 16th March 2026
Interview Process: To be confirmed
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.