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Please apply online via the link provided.

Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

Crisis & Resilience Fund Lead

We have an exciting opportunity available for a motivated and experienced Crisis & Resilience Fund Lead, to join us as a key member of the Community & Partnerships team here at Wokingham Borough Council, on a full-time, 1 Year Fixed Term Contract / Secondment basis.

Are you passionate about tackling poverty, reducing inequality and helping communities build long-term resilience?

We're looking for a dedicated and experienced Crisis & Resilience Fund Lead to play a key role in delivering and developing our Crisis and Resilience Fund scheme. This is an exciting opportunity to shape local welfare support that delivers immediate help to residents while creating sustainable pathways out of hardship.

As Crisis & Resilience Fund Lead, you will support the design, implementation and continuous improvement of the Council's Crisis and Resilience Fund, ensuring support is accessible, needs-led and aligned with national guidance.

You will work across a broad partnership network including voluntary and community organisations, health partners, Town and Parish Councils, and internal services to strengthen local welfare provision and improve outcomes for residents.

This role offers the opportunity to influence how support is delivered across the borough, ensuring residents facing financial hardship can access timely and effective assistance. Through a preventative, cash-first approach, you will help shape services that not only respond to immediate needs but also build long-term resilience and financial wellbeing.

Working closely with colleagues and partners, you will use data, insight and local intelligence to identify emerging issues, evaluate impact and continuously improve service delivery. You will play a key role in ensuring that funding is targeted effectively and contributes to reducing inequalities across our communities.

This is an exciting time to join our Community & Partnerships team as we continue to strengthen local support networks and develop innovative approaches to helping residents thrive.

Benefits

Not only is this an excellent opportunity, but it's a fantastic time to join our team. You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:

⭐ A generous annual leave entitlement of 28 days (rising to 33 days after 5 years continued local government service), plus Bank Holidays

⭐ Enrolment to an excellent local government pension scheme

⭐ An employee assistance programme including 24/7 wellbeing helpline

⭐ A range of local & lifestyle discounts

⭐ Use of a free onsite gym (located at Shute End office)

⭐ Salary sacrifice car & cycle to work schemes

⭐ And much more!

Key Responsibilities

• Support delivery of the Council's Crisis and Resilience Fund in line with Department for Work and Pensions guidance.
• Develop and promote a preventative, cash-first approach to crisis support and financial resilience.
• Manage eligibility frameworks, assessment processes and performance monitoring arrangements.
• Monitor expenditure and support effective budget management to ensure funding is used appropriately and delivers maximum impact.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with voluntary and community organisations, health partners, commissioned providers, and Town and Parish Councils.
• Produce reports, briefings and performance information for senior leaders and elected Members.
• Use data, insight and evaluation to improve services and demonstrate impact in reducing hardship, poverty and inequality.

Candidate Requirements

• Experience delivering or managing welfare support, hardship funding, financial inclusion programmes or related services.
• Good knowledge of local welfare provision, poverty reduction initiatives and approaches to supporting vulnerable residents.
• Experience of working collaboratively with voluntary and community sector organisations and other stakeholders.
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement and partnership-building skills.
• Experience managing funding streams, monitoring performance data and reporting outcomes, with the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and drive innovation.

Experience of Local Welfare Assistance Schemes, Household Support Fund programmes, commissioning or grant-funded services would be particularly advantageous.

Our Area

Wokingham Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises of a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.

We're home to a range of high performing schools including 69 primary and 21 secondary, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. We have a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.

If you're interested in this exciting opportunity, click the link below and apply today!

Alternatively, for an informal discussion please contact: Sarah O'Connor, Head of Community and Partnerships at Sarah.OConnor@wokingham.gov.uk.

Closing date: Thursday 16th July 2026

Interview date: TBC

Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.

If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer.

Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Whilst this is a fixed term contract appointment, for anyone already employed by Wokingham Borough Council this would be classed as a secondment if successful. Therefore, the usual permission requests for secondments apply and you must speak to your line manager in the first instance before applying.

Additional Information

• Grade: G7
• Contract: 1 Year Fixed Term Contract / Secondment
• Location: Hybrid working with attendance at Shute End and community locations as required
• Enhanced DBS Check: Required

Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to every applicant individually.

If you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the application closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.

We appreciate your interest in joining Wokingham Borough Council and thank you for taking the time to apply.

Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.