Wickham Market Parish Council is set to introduce a new employee structure designed to strengthen governance, improve community services and provide greater long-term resilience for the village.

The changes come as the Council’s Deputy Clerk retires, creating an opportunity to review how a growing range of responsibilities are managed. Rather than recruiting directly into the existing post, the Council will redistribute duties across three specialist roles: a Marketing and Events Officer, a Cemetery Operations and Land Management Officer, and a Deputy Clerk focused on governance and council administration.

Importantly, the overall staffing commitment will remain broadly unchanged. Instead, the new structure aims to align responsibilities with specialist skills, ensuring that increasingly complex areas of work receive dedicated attention.

The Marketing and Events Officer will lead community engagement, communications, social media, village markets and events, helping to promote Wickham Market and support local businesses. The Cemetery Operations and Land Management Officer will oversee key community assets including the cemetery, allotments, footpaths and playing fields, ensuring they are managed effectively and sustainably. Meanwhile, the Deputy Clerk will focus on governance, project management, committee administration, volunteer coordination and strategic support for the Council.

Council leaders believe the new arrangement will improve service delivery, strengthen compliance and governance, and reduce risks associated with relying on a single officer to manage a wide range of responsibilities. The structure is also expected to increase the Council’s capacity to secure external grants and funding opportunities for community projects.

Described as an evolution rather than an expansion of existing resources, the new model is intended to provide a more efficient, resilient and sustainable framework that reflects the growing scale of the Parish Council’s work and supports the needs of Wickham Market residents for years to come.

Love Your Community? Help Put Wickham Market in the Spotlight!

MARKETING & EVENTS OFFICER

Part-Time | Flexible Hours | Wickham Market, Suffolk

Wickham Market Parish Council is looking for an enthusiastic, creative and organised individual to help showcase everything that makes our village special.

This varied and rewarding role combines:

📢 Marketing & Communications
📱 Social Media & Website Content
🎪 Events & Seasonal Markets
📸 Photography & Promotion
🤝 Community Engagement

You’ll help organise popular village markets and events, produce the bi-monthly Village News Magazine, create engaging online content, and work closely with local businesses, organisations and residents.

We’re looking for someone who:

✅ Has excellent communication and organisational skills
✅ Enjoys working independently and creatively
✅ Has experience in marketing, social media, events or communications
✅ Is passionate about supporting local communities

Location: Wickham Market, Suffolk
Hours: Flexible, Part-Time 33 hours per month
Salary: Dependent on Experience

Join us and help celebrate, promote and connect our vibrant community.

To apply:
Send your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role to clerk@wickhammarket-pc.gov.uk.

CEMETERY OPERATIONS & LAND MANAGEMENT OFFICER

Part-Time | Flexible Hours | Wickham Market, Suffolk

Do you enjoy working independently, taking pride in local spaces, and making a positive difference to your community?

Wickham Market Parish Council is seeking a practical, organised and community-focused individual to help manage and protect some of the village’s most important assets, including:

🌳 Open spaces and playing fields
🌼 Cemetery grounds and biodiversity projects
🥕 Allotments and community land
🚶 Public footpaths and village gateways

This varied role combines administration, environmental stewardship, contractor liaison and site management, offering the opportunity to contribute directly to the appearance, sustainability and wellbeing of the parish.

We’re looking for someone who is:

✔ Organised and reliable
✔ Environmentally minded
✔ Comfortable working independently
✔ A confident communicator with residents, volunteers and contractors

Hours: Flexible, Part-Time 18 hours per month
Salary dependent on experience

Make a lasting difference to the places that matter most.

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role to clerk@wickhammarket-pc.gov.uk.

Help Make a Difference in Your Community

DEPUTY CLERK

Part-Time | Flexible Hours | Wickham Market, Suffolk

Are you organised, proactive and passionate about supporting local communities?

Wickham Market Parish Council is looking for a motivated Deputy Clerk to play a key role in the administration, governance and future development of the Council. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with local government experience, or an individual looking to build a rewarding career in parish and town council management.

Your role will include:

✔ Supporting council meetings and committees
✔ Assisting with governance, policies and compliance
✔ Coordinating community projects and volunteers
✔ Managing website content and council communications
✔ Identifying funding and grant opportunities
✔ Helping shape future improvements within the Council

We’re looking for someone with:

✅ Excellent organisational and administrative skills
✅ Strong communication and minute-taking abilities
✅ A professional and confident approach
✅ The ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities

A Role with Real Potential

The Council actively supports professional development, including CiLCA training, and the position offers the opportunity to develop into a future Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) role.

Salary: Dependent on qualifications and experience
Hours: Flexible, Part-Time, 18 hours per month

Join us and help shape the future of Wickham Market.To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role to clerk@wickhammarket-pc.gov.uk