Development Officer - Reading and Health Project Coordinator

Date: 10 Jun 2026

Location: Taunton, GB, TA1 4DY

Company: Somerset Council

Closing date 24 June 2026

Salary: \- ranging from £19,822 to £22,112 per annum for 22\.2 hours per week

*This is a two‑year, fixed‑term post, funded by Arts Council England, and may be suitable as a secondment opportunity, subject to agreement with your Line Manager*

30 days annual leave (additional to bank holidays)
Hybrid working in line with Somerset Council’s dynamic working arrangements

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a high‑profile health and literacy project that makes a real and lasting difference to the lives of children and families across Somerset. You will design and deliver inclusive, engaging activity that supports improved wellbeing, confidence and learning, working in communities where impact matters most.

Working collaboratively with libraries, schools, public health teams, community partners and volunteers, you’ll play a central role in bringing people together and turning ideas into meaningful action. This is a visible, outward‑facing role that combines strategic coordination with hands‑on delivery, offering the chance to see the direct impact of your work and contribute to Somerset Council’s priorities around health, equality and opportunity.

Role Summary

Reporting to the Senior Development Officer, you will lead the delivery of a Health and Literacy project across the Chard, Wellington and Taunton (Priorswood) communities. The role combines project management, partnership working and hands‑on delivery, and includes the coordination of weekly health and literacy activity, a year‑round reading and health challenge, volunteering opportunities, and engagement with schools and local partners.

You will work closely with libraries, Public Health, Children’s Services, schools and community organisations to design and deliver inclusive activity that responds to local need and supports wider council priorities around health, learning and equality.

What you’ll do – Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and delivery of a countywide health and literacy project across defined communities


• Deliver weekly health and literacy events and coordinate a year‑round reading and health challenge


• Build and maintain effective partnerships with schools, libraries, Public Health, Children’s Services and community organisations


• Manage day‑to‑day project activity, including budgets, resources and timescales


• Recruit, support and engage volunteers to contribute to project delivery


• Monitor, evaluate and report on project outcomes, ensuring funder and organisational requirements are met


• Use data, feedback and insight to inform project improvements and demonstrate impact


• Promote project activity and opportunities to increase engagement and participation


• Ensure all activity reflects equality, diversity and inclusion principles and reaches disadvantaged or under‑represented groups

Essential

• Knowledge


• Proven ability to make effective decisions with clear, outcome‑focused results


• Demonstrated commitment to a customer‑focused approach in service delivery

• Experience of developing and delivering innovative projects


• Practical experience of promoting services and/or events


• Experience of using a range of ICT applications e.g. social media; online learning platforms

• Educational qualifications to at least A‑level, HND/HNC or acquired knowledge to degree standard


• Evidence of work‑related continuing professional development


• Managerial skills, able to motivate others, often taking a lead role for specific elements of a project


• Excellent presentation skills able to talk to a diverse range of audiences including front line library staff, senior service managers, service users and partner organisations


• Strong report writing skills able to analyse and use management information to help inform and produce a coherent evidence‑based document


• Able to manage a diverse workload and prioritise whilst keeping to deadlines


• Excellent verbal and written skills and numeracy skills

Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. Candidates must already have the right to work in the UK without the need for visa sponsorship

For an informal chat about the role, please contact John Carter, Senior Development Officer at john.carter@somerset.gov.uk

Interviews will take place on 2nd July 2026 at Taunton LIbrary

*A full job description will be provided to shortlisted candidates or on request.*

*829/AMB*

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