Job Title: Administrative and Communications Support Officer
Hours: Part-time
Approximately 2 days per week. 8 hours each day, including an hour for lunch, with flexibility to work on other days (please read more in Working Arrangements below).
Location: Office-based in Dedham
Reporting to: Rodney Appleyard Salary: £31,000 – £34,000 (pro rata)

Purpose of the Post

This post is intended to provide practical administrative, reporting and communications support to Catalyst Staff and the Catalyst Board. The postholder will play a key in presenting high-quality, clear and consistent information to the Board, while helping the organisation strengthen its profile, impact reporting and stakeholder engagement.

By taking on time-intensive administrative work, this post will enable senior staff to focus on the charity’s strategy, partnerships and long-term impact.

The postholder will also have the opportunity learn new skills as the position develops and grow with the job.

Key Responsibilities

• Liaise with applicants over providing critical information, evidence and clarity for the Catalyst Board.
• Collate, organise and quality-check application paperwork.
• Support application scoring, scrutiny and tracking processes.
• Maintain records of applications approved, deferred or rejected.
• Help condense detailed information into clear, concise Board papers.

Impact and Reporting

• Gather evidence and data from funded projects.
• Support the presentation of impact information in accessible formats.
• Assist with visuals and summaries.
• Contribute to the annual report, including case studies and imagery.

Communications and Profile

• Support updates to the website and social media channels.
• Help draft case studies, short articles and press releases.
• Assist in sharing success stories with stakeholders and local media.

AGM and Stakeholder Engagement

• Help plan and deliver the AGM.
• Maintain and update stakeholder and contact lists.
• Support invitations, attendance tracking and follow-up.
• Capture photos, quotes and content at events.

What Success Looks Like

• The provision of clear and concise Board papers that are easy to navigate.
• Ensuring applications are well-evidenced and consistently presented.
• Providing a deep level of scrutiny of applications for Directors.
• Making sure impact and success stories are easily shareable.
• Increasing work capacity for the rest of the team.

Skills and Experience

Essential Interpersonal Skills

• Strong written communication skills.
• Strong office administration skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and organisation.
• Ability to summarise complex information clearly.
• Confidence chasing information and following up with others.
• Good IT skills and experience working with documents and data, especially with using Word software.
• Ability to manage multiple admin tasks and deadlines.
• Experience with managing Social Media and channels and writing posts.
• Experience of visualising board reports.
• Experience of measuring the impact of projects.
• Strong proofreading skills.

Desirable

• Experience working in a charity or public sector environment.
• Experience preparing reports or papers for senior decision-makers.
• Familiarity with writing content for websites and other communications material.
• Experience of working on Annual Reports.
• Experience of working on design projects.
• Experience of using design software, such as using Canva.
• Experience of producing marketing materials, such as leaflets.
• Experiencing of working with design and print agencies to manage the delivery of communications projects.
• Experience of writing Press Releases and working with Press.
• Experience of audio and video production.
• Experience of managing marketing campaigns.
• Experience of working on events.

Personal Attributes

• Clear, confident, dynamic and professional communicator.
• Comfortable working independently and as part of a small team.
• Proactive, creative, innovative, enthusiastic and solutions focused.
• Interested in charities, community impact and partnership working.
• A desire to help others in the charity sector.
• Willing to grow with the post as capacity and opportunities develop.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an interest in establishing new relationships with stakeholders.
• A desire to help others in the charity sector.

Working Arrangements

• Part-time post, approximately 2 days per week – 8 hours each day, including an hour for lunch.
• Preferred working days are Monday and Tuesday. However, these hours will also be flexible, to help occasionally with AGMs and other events/meetings during other days of the week
• Office-based, with support and training provided.
• Scope for the post to develop over time in line with organisational needs.
• Mileage will paid for attendance to meetings.
• At times, the postholder will need to cover the office for other members of staff.

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Please email: rodney.appleyard@colchestercatalyst.co.uk, if you have any questions about this position.
Apply here.

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