Rural Housing Enabler

Salary:32164 FTE (17624 pro rata for 20 hours)

Hours of work:20 hours per week including some evenings and weekends (Open to Job share or associate)

Contract:Fixed term until the end of March 2027 with possible extension

A bit about us:

Community First has been supporting Wiltshire and Swindon communities for 60 years. Our team goes the extra mile to create brighter futures for those living and working in the county. Putting people first is at the heart of everything we do.

We are looking for an enthusiastic facilitator who can bring together professional stakeholders and communities to help plan for a better future through appropriate small-scale housing development.

You will be working in partnership with local communities and Local Authorities to achieve affordable rural housing across rural Wiltshire. You will engage with communities housing organisations Parish Councils Local Authorities landowners developers agents planners other partners and community leaders to bring forward sites and solutions to meet local need through the provision of affordable housing projects on rural sites.

Main Duties:

• Support advise and steer communities and town and parish councillors from their initial interest in providing affordable housing through scheme inception and pre-development phases to completion.

• Contribute to the delivery of the Action with Communities in Rural EnglandRural Housing Enabler (RHE) programme through active cooperation and consultation across the network including participation in meetings and knowledge sharing (with a focus on collaboration with neighbouring Counties such as Dorset and Somerset)

• Attend training and development activities contribute to policy consultations and provide timely advice and support in response to requests from network members.

• Assist communities identify the nature and extent of affordable local housing need in their community including where appropriate through a Housing Needs Survey.

• Support rural communities to choose a delivery option that best suits their capacity and in the knowledge of the availability of local technical support.

• Assist communities identify a deliverable site for development of affordable housing and/or secure affordable housing as part of market led schemes.

• Work with communities to build and maintain support for the scheme ensuring the community is meaningfully engaged throughout the pre-development process including during scheme design.

• Work collaboratively with Wiltshire Community Land Trust (WCLT) where appropriate to support the development and delivery of community-led housing initiatives and affordable rural housing schemes.

• Building collaborative partnerships with key partners to provide a clear pathway to a successful planning application and delivery. Partners may include but are not limited to local communities parish councils housing association staff officers from the Local Housing Authority and the Local Planning authority and local developers.

• Act as an honest broker between the different parties providing informed and impartial advice.

• Support Neighbourhood and Community Plan groups implement their proposals and policies for delivering rural affordable housing.

• Create a supportive policy and political environment for rural affordable housing by providing training and advice to key stakeholders.

• Due to the nature of the work you will be required to undertake a satisfactory DBS check.

Find out more and apply:
If you would like to find out more about this position please contact Harry Tipple Deputy CEO:or

To apply please download the application formand click below to upload your completed application form and covering letter online.
CVs will not be considered.

Closing date (and time): Midday on 1st of June 2026

Interview date: 9th of June 2026

Commencement date: As soon as possible

Recruitment Pack