Job Overview
The Place Development and Funding Officer will lead place-based investment and regeneration across the Black Country Network, helping children, young people, and community-led organisations access resources, influence decisions, and shape outcomes.
Charging Up Change is a place-based initiative strengthening collaboration across the Black Country to address inequality, amplify youth voice and enable long-term systems change. Bringing together VCSE organisations, cultural partners, public bodies, funders and decision-makers, the network improves alignment, shared learning and collective impact.
The role will unlock equitable investment, strengthen network members’ economic resilience, and embed community voice in regeneration, cultural, and infrastructure strategies. Working with the Network Manager, the post holder will help make the Black Country a hub for inclusive, youth-led growth.
Duties
- Develop and implement strategies for place enhancement projects in collaboration with community partners.
- Identify and pursue funding opportunities through grants, sponsorships, and partnerships to support ongoing initiatives.
- Oversee the planning, execution, and evaluation of development programmes aimed at improving local neighbourhoods.
- Manage social media platforms to promote projects, increase visibility, and engage the community effectively.
- Lead and supervise project teams, volunteers, and interns to ensure objectives are met efficiently.
- Coordinate marketing efforts to raise awareness of programmes and attract potential supporters or donors.
- Maintain administrative records related to funding applications, project progress, and stakeholder communications.
- Foster relationships with public health organisations, educational institutions, and community groups to support holistic development efforts.
- Provide guidance on public health initiatives relevant to community development projects.
- Organise events and workshops to educate the community on project goals and gather feedback for continuous improvement.
Place-Based Funding & Place Development
- Lead the development of place-based investment opportunities aligned to the needs and ambitions of children, young people and responsible organisations/individuals communities across the Black Country.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with funders, commissioners, philanthropists, businesses and anchor institutions.
- Identify, research and pursue funding, commissioning and investment opportunities that support long-term regeneration and systems change.
- Support the design of collaborative funding models, consortia bids and shared investment approaches across the Network.
Economic Readiness & Capacity Building
- Strengthen the economic readiness of network members through advice, mentoring, workshops and 1-to-1 support.
- Support organisations and individuals to develop investment-ready propositions, business models and sustainability plans.
- Promote community wealth-building approaches that prioritise local leadership, ethical investment and reinvestment in place.
Influence & Regeneration Strategy
- Represent Powered by CAN and the Black Country Network in regeneration, planning and investment forums, ensuring children and young peopleʼs voices are reflected.
- Influence masterplans, town centre strategies, cultural strategies and local investment frameworks.
- Embed co-design and community voice into regeneration processes, ensuring local people help shape outcomes that affect their lives.
Research, Insight & Impact
- Research and map regeneration activity, investment flows and economic opportunities across the Black Country.
- Gather evidence of the social, cultural and economic impact of investment and regeneration activity supported through the Black Country Network.
- Work with the Network Manager and external evaluators to contribute insight to Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning MEL.
Desirable Knowledge & Experience
- Experience of place-based funding or regeneration programmes in post-industrial or high-deprivation areas.
- Knowledge of local authority, combined authority or regional investment frameworks.
- Experience of consortium building or collaborative investment models.
- Experience evidencing social, cultural and economic impact of funding and investment.
- Experience working alongside children and young people or youth-led organisations.
- Lived experience that brings insight into inequality, exclusion or barriers to economic opportunity.
This role offers an exciting opportunity for a dedicated professional passionate about community development, capable of leading impactful initiatives while fostering sustainable growth within neighbourhoods.
Pay: £28,288.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Financial planning services
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
