Employment and training manager jobs

First Step Trust is a charity and social enterprise with over 30 years’ experience supporting people who are furthest from the labour market to gain skills, confidence and move into employment.

We combine social impact with commercial enterprise, delivering training programmes, social enterprises and innovative virtual reality learning tools that create real opportunities for disadvantaged learners.

We are now looking for a Head of Commercial to lead the next stage of our growth.

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for driving commercial income across our social enterprises and developing new revenue streams, including the commercial licensing of our virtual reality training products.

You will oversee a portfolio of social enterprise businesses, supporting project managers to increase sales, improve performance and ensure the businesses are operating effectively. Alongside this, you will identify and develop new commercial opportunities, partnerships and routes to market.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will play a key role in shaping the organisation’s strategy and helping us achieve our ambition that 60% of our income will come from commercial activity by 2030.

We are looking for someone who brings strong commercial acumen and a proven track record of generating income, alongside the ability to lead and develop teams. You will be comfortable working at both a strategic and operational level, with the confidence to drive growth while maintaining a clear focus on social impact.

This is an exciting opportunity to take on a leadership role where you can shape commercial strategy, grow innovative services and make a real difference to people’s lives.

For full details of the role and how to apply, please see the recruitment pack.

This is an exciting new leadership role within User Voice’s London team, responsible for delivering two major programmes at the intersection of Health Justice and forensic mental health services.

The Project Manager will lead the planning, delivery, and evaluation of these initiatives, ensuring they meet strategic objectives and deliver meaningful impact for participants and stakeholders.

This role is ideal for someone with lived experience of the criminal justice system who is already leading complex projects and managing teams and partnerships.

Alongside submitting your CV, please use your cover letter to answer the following questions: 

1. Your lived experience of the criminal justice system, how it informs your work at all levels & why you want this job.

2. Your project management experience (minimum two years).

3. Your experience supporting or leading volunteers, peer workers, or lived experience roles.
4. Your skills in facilitation, co‑production, engagement, and working with vulnerable groups.

5. You experience of working within complex systems such as prisons, NHS services, and/ or forensic mental health.

6. Your experience of being a line manager.

7. Your safeguarding and risk management experience.

About the team​

The Investment Team is responsible for selecting portfolio partners, managing our charity investments and supporting our portfolio partners to improve and scale their impact.

The Investment Team also leads the Impetus Leadership Academy, a leadership development programme to support talent from ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK youth sector to progress into senior leadership roles.

The team is made up of 19 people, including former teachers, charity chief executives, charity impact leads, management consultants, social investment portfolio managers and impact consultants.

The team is led by a Portfolio Director who sits on the Senior Management Team. The Portfolio Director has 5 direct reports: a Deputy Portfolio Director, three Sector Leads (who lead our work in School engagement, School attainment and Employment Sectors) and an Impact Lead. Sector Leads line manage 6 Investment Directors. Investment Directors line manage Investment Managers (currently 6). Investment Directors and Investment Managers tend to primarily focus on a sector but might have mixed portfolios, depending on need, experience and interest.

The Investment Team has a good track record of role progression. All four Leads and a number of our Investment Directors were promoted from within the team.

The team is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We come from a range of backgrounds and bring a broad mix of perspectives.  We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.

​About this role

We believe that all young people deserve to succeed in school and in work, whatever their background. We are pleased to be able to expand our team to support our growing portfolio of charity and non-profit partners, in order to reach and impact more lives. The role of Investment Manager presents an exciting opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the organisations we serve, the team itself, and the whole of Impetus.

We support a portfolio of 23 high potential charity and non-profit partners in the youth sector, helping them deliver benchmark-beating employment and education outcomes for young people, and to grow.

We believe the strength of our approach resides in three things:
1. Building deep, trust-based sustainable relationships with charity leaders by, investing time, kindness, integrity and honesty
2. Providing our charities multi-year, unrestricted funding to help them become sector-leading organisations and scale their impact
3. Offering tailored advice to charity leaders’ most pressing and strategic questions, including their mission, programme design, performance management, growth planning, and financial resilience.

Working with our portfolio partners is a privilege. The leaders we support are incredibly talented, passionate and keen for external advice, and the issues we work through with them are stimulating and stretching. Our senior management relationships are some of the most fulfilling relationships many of us have had in our careers. The growth and impact performance of our partners are testament to their commitment to disadvantaged young people and the influence we have on their development.

Partners and funders often comment on the quality of our people. Our team is analytical and data driven; we are deeply relational, low-ego and collaborative. We actively invest in our colleagues holding regular training and community of practice sessions, and use skills-based assessments to tailor development.

As an organisation we seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work and actively challenge our assumptions to better deliver change. Over the past two years we have taken action to help reduce racial inequality in the youth sector. In 2021 we launched our Connect Fund to support diverse leaders and their robust solutions to the entrenched employment gap faced by young people from ethnic minority backgrounds compared with their white peers. We have also built a highly regarded Leadership Academy for emerging youth sector leaders from ethnic minority backgrounds, with generous from Bank of America and State Street Foundation.

If you are looking for a role combining strategic thinking, analytical insight and influencing emerging leaders, as well as the opportunity to work with a supportive team to transform young lives, I hope you will apply to work with us.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sebastien Ergas
Portfolio Director

Key responsibilities

Finding high potential charities and non-profit organisations to join our portfolio

• Supporting the annual cycle of identifying new investments - mapping the landscape of charities in thematic areas (e.g. Apprenticeships and Skills), conducting structured analysis of key impact and financial data and reviewing the current evidence base to identify high potential charities and inform options for Investment Directors.
• ​Contributing to due diligence of new organisations by reviewing quantitative and qualitative charity information ) and preparing clear assessments of suitability for investment; This includes considering impact and scale potential, financial stability and summarising risks and recommendations for senior review. Requires strong relationship management, in co-ordination with Investment Directors, when engaging with potential charity partners.
• ​Supporting Investment Directors in developing, preparing and presenting high quality investment propositions to our Investment Committee.

Supporting and managing relationships with portfolio partners 

• Working closely with Investment Directors to support portfolio partners across all areas of our work - leadership, impact and sustainability – owning defined(e.g. impact management or financial analysis).
• ​Building trust-based relationships with portfolio partners including senior leaders and  delivery staff, acting as a valued advisor on practice improvement contributing insight and support while escalating strategic issues to Investment Directors and Programme/Impact leads.
• ​Working with Impact teams at portfolio partners to develop and refine impact management practices; including data collection, dashboard development, performance review meetings, programme design and evaluation.
• ​Supporting portfolio partners functional leads (e.g. Director of Impact) to develop as leaders by contributing insights and tools to help drive and strengthen impact-led approaches within their organisations.
• ​Coordinating pro- bono projects leveraging our large network of corporate volunteers to provide targeted support for our portfolio partners in key areas (e.g. strategy, marketing advice, financial analysis).
• ​Supporting Investment Directors with the design and delivery of theory of change workshops, conducting preparatory analysis of charity impact data developing and analysing pre-workshop surveys and co-facilitating workshops.
• ​Supporting the coordination and delivery of Impetus’ quarterly peer learning forums for our portfolio partners, in particular the Impact Forum.
• ​Supporting investment governance by preparing clear and accurate reports for Investment and Steering Committees.

Support to Impetus​

• Developing knowledge and expertise in Education and Youth Employment domains, staying up to date on relevant sector developments and applying this insight to support analysis and decision making.
• ​Working collaboratively on Impetus’ public affairs and philanthropy objectives by contributing evidence, insight and content to case studies, research, policy campaigns, donor reports and events.
• ​Sharing the learning from our work across the team and organisation and supporting communication of insights externally where appropriate.
• ​Working within Impetus strategy, policies and procedures.

Person specification

​Essential​

• A commitment to Impetus’ mission and values
• ​Able to build productive, trust-based relationships internally and with senior external stakeholders including portfolio partners and co-investors, escalating strategic issues to Investment Directors as needed
• ​Strong relationship building and management skills
• ​Highly analytical and numerate, able to draw insights from a range of data sources, with good command of Excel or similar tools
• Clear and strategic thinker; able to clearly and concisely communicate insights and key messages via a range of mediums, including PowerPoint and Word
• ​Proven ability to work independently, within a defined scope and escalate risks promptly
• ​Clear and analytical thinker; keen to work collaboratively with Investment Directors and contribute evidence based insights to team discussions and decision making
• ​Strong planning and time management, able to balance between priorities 
• ​Displays tenacity and initiative in progressing work within agreed frameworks
• ​Growth mind-set; seeks out and acts on feedback
• ​A strong interest in partnering closely with organisations, supporting them to strengthen delivery and impact.
• ​A commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in our work and our organisation

If you don't tick all these boxes, but still feel that you fit the profile, please apply anyway.

Desirable​

(candidates with one or more of the following may be particularly well suited to the role)

• Experience in consulting, investment management, or other in-depth grant making and capacity building work
• ​Previous experience working with charities. Could be in a previous role, pro-bono volunteer or Trustee capacity
• ​Experience in charity impact management or monitoring, evaluation and learning
• ​Experience working in, or deep understanding of, UK education and youth employment sectors 
• ​Experience facilitating workshops or presenting to larger groups
• ​Financial acumen – including experience supporting financial analysis and modelling, fundraising pipeline development and review of financial information e.g, annual accounts, to assess and identify financial risk
• ​Project Management experience  

​About Impetus

At Impetus, our focus is on helping young people achieve positive education and employment outcomes to increase their chance of leading fulfilling and successful lives, irrespective of their background.​

We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today: ​

• Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school
• Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths
• The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment ​

We use our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits working in these sectors the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact on the young people they serve.​

Through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change, we work towards a society where all young people can thrive in school, pass their exams and unlock the doors to sustained employment, for a fulfilling life. ​

We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.​

You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.​

Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.​

Our Values​

In 2022 the Impetus staff agreed the following set of Values to act as our guiding principles as an organisation and help us to remain focused on achieving our mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We are brave and curious

We are bold and brave in our pursuit of better outcomes for young people. We lead with curiosity and stay open to new perspectives. We support one another to take considered risks and learn together.

We bring high trust, high challenge

We build strong, long-term relationships through honesty, kindness, integrity, and respect. We create the space for open, constructive challenge, where colleagues, partners and supporters feel safe to speak up, hold each other to account, and bring their best in pursuit of our mission.

We are evidence led and results driven for young people

We pursue excellence for the young people we work with, are wholly committed to better outcomes, unapologetically results driven, and accountable for our actions.

We thrive through diversity

We seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work. We are open, thoughtful and proactive in better understanding and challenging our assumptions to better deliver the change we seek.

We always seek collaboration

We will not succeed alone. We seek meaningful, productive partnerships with others to achieve our mission and drive systems change for young people.

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.​

We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.​

We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.​

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.​

Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

​Our employee benefits ​

Impetus appreciates the invaluable contribution made by all employees and wishes to encourage and reward loyalty, motivation and experience. We therefore offer a range of benefits and policies which aim to assist employees during various stages of their lives and careers. For more information on these, please download the job information pack from our website.

How to apply

Please click on the "Apply for this job" button.​

You will need to:​

• Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form)
• Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.​

The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.​

You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.​

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.​

The deadline for applications is Sunday 29th March 2026, 11:59pm.​

Interviews:​

1st Interviews will take place on w/c 13th April 2026.

2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 20th April 2026.​

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Employment Specialist to play a pivotal role in our Complex Needs Service in Waltham Forest.

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

Employment Specialists provide personalised support to set career goals, overcome barriers to work, and navigate every stage of the job search—from CV writing and interview preparation to engaging with employers and understanding how employment may affect benefits. The team also offers ongoing in-work support to help individuals stay in their roles and thrive in the workplace.​

What do I need to bring with me?

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

You need to have experience of working in a target driven environment where you achieved or exceeded your targets as well. A good understanding of mental health and supporting those in times of need along with a positive and empathetic manner. It would be beneficial if you have knowledge of the IPS model and have worked in that function. Ideally you would have worked in this sort of position before or in a recruitment role where you were supporting applicants in improving there chances of success.

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.

HEAD OF TRAINING AND IMPACT
Salary: £50,000–£55,000 (subject to experience)
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full time, 9am–5pm, hybrid with minimum 3 days in the office, or on site at projects in prison, or in the community.
Location: Our Head Office is in Herne Hill, SE24 London
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged. The closing date is Friday 3 April at 09:00am.

ABOUT THE CLINK CHARITY

The Clink Charity, founded in 2009, aims to prevent and reduce reoffending through training, rehabilitation, and support. We deliver hospitality and horticulture training behind the prison walls and in the community by creating an environment where our students are supported to gain the skills, confidence and qualifications they need to rebuild their lives.

Since that time, we have trained approximately 5,000 people in prison and delivered 2,600 City & Guilds qualifications in a variety of hospitality and food courses.
What makes The Clink unique is our post-release support and mentoring programmes that rehabilitates an offender back into society through assistance with health mental health issues, housing, employment, family connections and friendships.
The charity operates an award-winning fine-dining restaurant open to the public inside HMP Brixton, training kitchens in the prison estate, horticulture projects at HMP Send and HMP Erlestoke, a commercial bakery in Brixton, and a bespoke delivery service, Catered by Clink.

Additionally, Clink Events is our social enterprise catering business with food produced by the women at HMP Downview and also in additional kitchen at Herne Hill and then served by alumni in front of house at some of the best venues in London including: the Guildhall, the Science Museum, Cutty Sark, Kew Gardens and the Camden Roundhouse. In 2024, across 218 events, The Clink fed 36,000 people.
More information can be found on our website and social media channels

ABOUT THE ROLE

Our Head of Training and Impact is a vital and high-profile role within the organisation, responsible for overseeing the implementation of all training projects at The Clink Charity across our portfolio, both in prisons and out in the community, evaluating the outcomes and impact of our work for our beneficiaries.

This is a broad and varied role allowing the incumbent to work across catering, hospitality and horticulture training projects, delivering nationally accredited and high calibre City & Guilds qualifications to vulnerable learners.
Having oversight of the projects, and working closely with our team of expert project leads in our restaurant, bakery, gardens and in our youth café of South London, this role offers the opportunity to develop exceptional training programs, rigorous quality assurance processes, and reflective practice in evaluation work.

As we scale our youth projects to a second site in Guildford, this role also comes with the wonderful opportunity of mobilising a brand new project to meet the needs of a NEET community of 16–25 year olds in a café based at Guildford County Court.

The Head of Training and Skills will onboard referral partners, design the delivery program and impact framework, and work alongside a skilled support team to ensure the success of the site, with a view to opening more of these projects in 2027.
If you are committed to the mission of The Clink Charity to reduce reoffending by changing attitudes, transforming lives and creating second chances, and you have great experience and passion for using education, skills and training to be the tool to generate this rehabilitation, we want to hear from you.

A LITTLE ABOUT YOU

You could be a great fit for our Head of Training and Impact role if you bring a strong background in hospitality and a passion for developing others. Perhaps you’ve led hospitality training in a college or cookery school, delivered City & Guilds qualifications within an FE setting, or built your career as a Chef or hospitality professional in a busy restaurant, hotel or catering environment.

You may have combined industry experience with teaching, or progressed from the kitchen into education and leadership. We welcome applications from a wide range of professionals across the hospitality and training spectrum who are ready to use their expertise to drive quality training, inspire our learners and shape meaningful outcomes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and line management

• Work with the CEO, ELT and Board to achieve The Clink’s mission, vision and strategic objectives.
• Lead the design and implementation of a skills and training strategy which delivers the agreed vision and goals, and to communicate its effectiveness to project leads via KPIs, targets, and regular briefings.
• Lead the design and implementation of effective and robust systems and processes for the operational delivery of training programmes in achieving required delivery outputs.
• Lead on the embedding and implementation of an effective Quality Assurance programme for all project delivery across the Charity.
• Provide line management support for the programme leads in the Restaurant, Bakery, Gardens and Café, providing wider leadership to the staff team on all matters connected to delivering training and measuring the outcomes and impact of our work.
• Line manage the Data and Compliance Manager and support him with preparation of data driven insights informing strategic decisions.
• Conduct 1:1s with your direct reports, manage appraisals and oversee performance management processes.
• Ensure the learning and development needs of all delivery staff are met.

Project delivery

• Oversee all project delivery work at The Clink Charity, ensuring consistent, quality delivery and effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting of all projects.
• Manage the recruitment, training and development of our training staff continuously reflecting on improvements to the roles that can more effectively achieve project outcomes.
• Own the design and implementation of our work based on insight and learnings, lead on reviewing existing services and assessing new services or approaches.
• Make operational delivery decisions to ensure quality projects and provision – oversight of logistics, staffing, and resource management.
• Provide cover and support for staff delivering projects across our portfolio as/when needed.
• Ensure the CPD needs of staff delivering projects are met – including tracking completion of IHASCO courses for mandatory training.

Qualifications, assessing and verification

• Act as the lead link to City & Guilds for the delivery of the charity’s training courses across all projects ensuring that the content of the training programmes enables learners to achieve their qualifications and meet the high standards of City & Guilds NVQs.
• Work with the project leads on preparing portfolios for hospitality, catering and horticulture projects ready for assessment and verification.
• Oversee all verification of these courses. Act as one of a team of IQA’s for The Clink Charity and facilitate the EQA (External Qualification Assessor) visits, and HMPPS/HMI inspections across all sites.
• Host standardisation meetings with colleagues to build a collaborative training culture.
• Regularly monitor qualification outcomes against targets.

Monitoring, evaluation and insight

• Work with the project team in prisons and in the community to develop measurement and evaluation processes to assess the impact and outcomes of The Clink’s training programme, inform future decisions about programme development, and enable robust reporting to stakeholders.
• Attend quarterly reporting meetings with the MoJ to share the outcomes of our projects, preparing reports for those meetings and working with colleagues at New Futures Network who monitor our work for the MoJ.
• Regularly review impact methodology and implementation to ensure The Clink’s impact is measured and demonstrated in the most effective way, showing the full impact of our programmes.
• Develop efficiencies in collecting and analysing data.
• Be impact-driven and use data and results to ensure the planning and delivery of high-quality programme to drive continuous improvement.

Safeguarding

• Champion safeguarding in all the work that you deliver in and out of prisons, ensuring processes are adhered to and a culture of safeguarding is sustained throughout the organisation.
• Act as a DDSL – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Approve updates to related policies and procedures annually.
• Ensure all staff working in our projects are appropriately trained in safeguarding practice at The Clink Charity.

New business, income generation and programme development

• Lead on strategic planning for delivery and programme development across all sites, seeking opportunities to grow/scale our impact by exploring new opportunities with our partners.
• Build and develop relationships with all relevant stakeholders, including MoJ and HMPPS colleagues, referral agencies for our community work, and strategic funding partners to increase our reach and deepen our impact on beneficiaries.
• Build and develop The Clink’s network of potential delivery partners including HMPPS, DWP, DfE, local authority, social care, schools, and other third sector organisations who work with us in supporting our beneficiaries.
• Provide expert content surrounding programme delivery and development for funding bids and proposals.
• Support the work of the CEO and Grants Manager in raising funds for the charity, including through attending pitches and meetings with current and prospective funders.

Finance

• With the support of the Director of Finance and Resources, prepare and oversee budgets for project delivery and track spending against forecasts ensuring good fiscal management of projects.

General Duties

• Report on delivery to the Board of Trustees, prepare papers for and attend subcommittee and full board meetings every quarter as requested.
• Carry out other duties as required by The Clink Charity.
• Act in a manner that is in keeping with The Clink’s values and promote inclusive practices.

PERSON SPECIFICATION – DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE

• Experience of leading projects and training and developing a team made up of staff members of differing levels of seniority.
• Experience of working in: social justice, education, youth work, or criminal justice projects, or having worked in hospitality or horticulture before, or having lived experience that reflects the lives of the beneficiaries that we serve.
• Have an IQA qualification or be willing to complete the course to become accredited.
• A track record of excellent project management skills (accuracy, attention to detail, scheduling, problem solving and monitoring) at a national level and have a strong working knowledge of GDPR.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and experience of building relationships with various stakeholders at a senior level.
• Experience of contributing to the development of overall strategy as part of a senior management team, and ability to translate this into operational strategy and plans that help deliver the organisation’s vision and mission.
• Knowledge of implementing quality assurance systems and the ability to objectively assess the performance of partners and colleagues against an agreed competency matrix.
• Knowledge of report writing and extrapolating data to inform decisions.
• An understanding of the catering, hospitality or horticulture courses (NVQs) provided by City & Guilds.
• Proven experience and working knowledge of safeguarding principles and practices and investigation / reporting protocols.
• Proficient IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office programmes.
• Can work flexible hours when necessary and is willing to travel between our South East projects.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Demonstrable belief in The Clink’s mission and passion for our work.
• High levels of self-awareness, humility and flexibility, as well as an open and collaborative leadership style.
• Personal integrity, kindness, warmth and sound judgement.
• Good communicator: orally and in writing.
• Proactive, adaptable and can use initiative and find solutions to problems.
• Positive, entrepreneurial, energising and adopts a “can do” mentality.
• Values driven and promotes inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA).

REPORTING LINES AND MANAGEMENT EXPECTATIONS

You will report to our CEO and to the MD of Clink Events. You will line manage and support members of the delivery team across projects.

GENERAL CLINK CHARITY INFORMATION

All staff are expected to comply with all current legislation, comply with prison operational policies, comply with The Clink Staff Handbook and undertake such other duties within the scope of the post as may be requested by your manager.

Special requirements include passing the prison security vetting process to be able to draw keys and holding a valid driving licence.
Benefits include 28 days holiday plus bank holidays, a company pension scheme, and free meals on duty when based in a restaurant or visiting for business.

HOW TO APPLY

If you would like to apply for this post, please send your CV and a supporting statement (maximum 2 sides of A4).

In your supporting statement you should ensure that you try to address the desirable criteria set out in the person specification for the role. Make sure you give evidence which shows how you meet the criteria, not just telling us that you did it.

Interviews will be arranged on a rolling basis for this role, so early applications are encouraged. The deadline for applications is Friday 3rd April .

We do not send individual acknowledgment of applications due to the high volume we receive, and we will only contact candidates who are shortlisted for an interview. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, your application has not been successful on this occasion.

If you would like an informal chat about this role, we can offer a call with a member of The Clink Team. Even if you feel you do not meet some of the criteria listed above, we would still welcome applications from passionate candidates who are keen to make a difference.

Appointment process

Applicants who have demonstrated that they meet the desirable criteria set out in the person specification will be contacted and interviews arranged on a rolling basis.

Interview
If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be invited to a selection process. A panel of two or more, including the recruiting manager conducts all interviews. If there are any special arrangements associated with the selection process e.g. tests or presentations, you will be informed accordingly.

Interview outcome
If you are invited to attend an interview, you will be informed either verbally or in writing of the outcome. The successful candidate will have the decision confirmed in writing as an offer of employment. Unsuccessful candidates will be offered the opportunity for feedback.

References
If you are successful in your application, you are asked to provide us with the details of two referees. We only contact referees with your permission after an offer of employment has been made.
All offers of employment are conditional upon the receipt of references that are satisfactory to The Clink Charity, verification of right to work in the UK and where applicable, verification of qualifications and Disclosure and Barring Service (where required).

Personal information
The personal information that you have supplied will only be used for recruitment and selection purposes. You should refer to the Privacy Notice on our website, which sets out how The Clink Charity will deal with the personal and sensitive data you have provided in your application form and supporting information.

EDIA
We welcome all applicants and are keen to enhance our team to reflect the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve. We would like to encourage applications from disabled people, those from LGBTQIA+ and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and those experiencing other forms of marginalisation, as they are underrepresented at this level. In addition, as this role works directly with people in prison and those at risk of offending, those with lived experience are encouraged to apply.

Accessible recruitment
The Clink Charity is committed to making our recruitment process and workplace accessible to all. If you are an applicant with a disability and/or have any specific needs or adjustments that you would like us to consider, at application, interview, or appointment stage, please make us aware in your application.

Job Title: Employment Specialist – Connect to Work
Salary: £28,383 – £31,683 per annum
Hours: Full Time – 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location(s): Based in the North East Combined Authority Region – 1 x Newcastle & 1 x North Tyneside

About us

Groundwork NE & Cumbria is a long-established environmental and community charity with over 30 years of experience creating greener, healthier and more resilient places across the region. Our mission centres on Creating Better Places, Improving People’s Prospects, and Promoting Greener Living, helping communities thrive no matter the challenges they face.

We deliver hundreds of locally-led projects each year, including initiatives that support young people into education, training and employment, helping them overcome barriers, build life skills, and reach their full potential.

About the role

We’re looking for an Employment Specialist to support the delivery of our Connect to Work programme. You’ll use the Individual Placement & Support (IPS) model to provide person-centred IAG support to a caseload of around 25 clients, helping them move into and sustain meaningful employment.

You’ll build strong employer relationships to source suitable vacancies and work closely with partners including health providers, mental health services, JCP, and other employment organisations to ensure joined-up support.

About you

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Passionate in supporting young people to overcome barriers and achieve their potential.
• A strong communicator, confident engaging with clients, employers and partners.
• Equipped with strong analytical and problem-solving ability, able to assess needs and identify effective employment solutions.
• Person-centred, empathetic and passionate about helping others succeed.
• Skilled at building positive, trusting relationships.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage a varied caseload and meet deadlines.
• Confident working independently and collaboratively.

A full driving licence and the ability to work flexible hours when required would be beneficial.

Closing date: Midnight on Tuesday 7th April 2026
Please note, should we receive a high volume of applications, we may look to close the role early, therefore we recommend an early application.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure endorsed by the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Make yourself at home:

We want you to be yourself at Groundwork and we value everything that makes you unique. We recognise and celebrate your difference and together we make Groundwork a special and great place to work. As a Disability Confident employer we offer a guaranteed interview to applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role.

At Groundwork we ensure that we provide a safe environment for adults, children and young people to take part in any activity or service that we organise. We are committed to creating a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk.?Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and comprehensive process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all the people we appoint are suitable to work with our children, young people and adults

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

No agencies please.

RNCSF enables hundreds of vulnerable children each year to access the care, stability and education that prepares them for success in life--join our small and dedicated team to run the SpringForward programme for care-experienced post-18 success through university preparation and employment opportunities leveraging resources from the UK's top independent schools.

Community Employment Consultant

We are seeking a Community Employment Consultant to support people with convictions into employment by working with prisons, employers and community partners.

Position: Community Employment Consultant

Location: London, Hybrid

Salary: £30 - £35k per annum

Contract: Permanent, full time 37.5 hours per week

Closing Date: Thursday 2nd April

About the organisation:

This is an Employment Consultancy role with a difference; you will be working for a unique, award-winning organisation that helps people that have served a prison sentence to re-enter the workplace by:

• Training serving prisoners as Peer Recruiters, who then provide a Candidate pipeline and work closely alongside the Community Team.
• Take employers into prison to interview Candidates. Some job offers are made there and then.
• Provide caseworker support to Candidates in the community with the primary aim of removing their barriers to work and supporting them into meaningful, sustainable employment.

About the role:

As a Community Employment Consultant, you will support the senior team and work alongside the prison peer-led team, helping Peer Recruiters in custody to identify and support Candidates.

Key responsibilities include:

• Build strong relationships with the relevant prison staff.
• Support the Head of the Inside Job programme to engage employers and plan monthly interview days.
• Develop relationships with local and national employers and to promote the service and create employment opportunities for participants.
• Work with the team to develop and implement a strategy to identify and target local and national employers.
• Build relationships with local Probation offices and staff, DWP and Local Authority initiatives and Police & Crime Commissioner/Violence Reduction Unit and other relevant statutory and voluntary sector organisations.
• Maintain accurate and up to date records to monitor the effectiveness of the programme using our in-house portal (CRM system). Provide effective case management for participants, ensuring tailored and consistent support.

About you:

To be successful in the role of, you will need the following skills and experience:

• Be able and willing to work in Prisons and Youth Offender Institutions, this includes a vetting process which you will need to pass in order to be successful in the role.
• An empathetic and understanding approach when working with Candidates.
• A good understanding of the barriers faced by people with convictions in accessing employment.
• An interest in employment, The Local Labour Market and Industry trends.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels, including the ability to motivate and inspire others.
• Strong administration skills with IT (MS Office) and well organised.
• You will have strong writing skills and will be able to write good CV’s and Disclosure Letters.

Although not essential, experience of Recruitment or Case Management would be desirable.

In return:

As well as a great job with competitive pay and benefits, you will have the opportunity to be part of something that has potential to become ground-breaking.

The team comes from a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds. As well as employing serving prisoners within the team as Peer Recruiters, we also work with Community Consultants who have served a sentence. Where possible, the charity are keen to prioritise those with lived experience of the criminal justice system.

Recruitment Process:

Step one: If you are interested in the role, please send over a basic CV & one page cover letter. In the letter, please include details of why you think you are a fit for the role. You should also include details of why you are interested in working with the prison population.

Step two: An informal Q&A before putting more time into applying for the role. This will be an online, 15 minute meeting with one of the team.

Step Three: Formal interview. This is possible online or in person. You will be set a short task prior to the interview.

Step Four: As a final part of the process, you’ll be invited into the office for coffee with the team in London.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Employment Advisor, Employment Consultant, Employability Advisor, Resettlement Worker, Case Worker, Job Coach, Recruitment Consultant, Prison Resettlement Advisor, Community Support Worker, Work and Skills Advisor.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client – Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

This is a new post that responds to a clear and pressing need. Over many years of working alongside people recently granted refugee status, we have seen how the moment of transition, when someone leaves asylum accommodation and tries to find a home of their own, can significantly impact the opportunity to build a stable life. Too often, people face this period with little support, or relying on friends, volunteers and organisations who want to help but aren't always sure how, especially in such a rapidly changing environment. This role exists to change that.

Through our Refugee Homelessness Prevention Project we want to build on the learning and experience we’ve gained over the last 20 years and increase our impact in local communities across Greater Manchester. We are therefore looking for an experienced trainer who is proactive, well‑organised and able to build strong relationships in local communities.

This is a varied and community‑focused role, suitable for someone who is comfortable facilitating training, enjoys meeting people in a range of settings and is keen to help others feel confident in offering housing‑related guidance.

In accordance with the Christian ethos and values of Boaz Trust, the Housing Access Training and Development Officer is responsible for developing and delivering a training and resources programme that builds the capacity of organisations and communities across Greater Manchester to support people recently granted refugee status in accessing private rented accommodation.

The post holder will:

• develop and deliver practical, accessible training for a range of audiences which could include faith communities, VCSE organisations and mainstream homelessness services
• develop and maintain our suite of housing resources and tools that equip non-specialist supporters to help refugees navigate the private rented sector with knowledge and confidence
• build positive and productive relationships with organisations, networks and partners across al ten Greater Manchester boroughs as a representative of Boaz Trust. 

For a full Job Description and Person Specification as well as more details about the role and the organisation download our 'recruitment pack'. The deadline for applications is 9am on Thursday 2nd April 2026. We look forward to hearing from you!

The Hepatitis C Trust (HCT) is the UK patient-led charity for hepatitis C. The arrival of highly effective drugs allows us to cure almost everyone who has access to them. We now have an unprecedented opportunity to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030.

We are looking for a passionate and skilled manager who has excellent communication and organisational skills. Working under the guidance of the Southern Regional Manager, you will oversee an expanding network of peer programs and staff in London.

Experience of healthcare working with disadvantaged groups and an understanding of providing services to vulnerable people is essential, alongside an understanding of how lived experience can support this work.

Your work will involve maintaining and monitoring our existing HCT peer projects across London. This will involve providing support and supervision to existing staff, managing operational issues on a day-to-day basis and overseeing the management of separate projects. 

This post also involves regular liaison with external partners across the region, including key stakeholders such as Operational Delivery Network (ODN) managers for each area, alongside senior NHS colleagues, drug and alcohol services etc.

About Spear

We launched the award-winning Spear Programme over 20 years ago, and there are now 18 Spear Centres across the country, equipping unemployed 16–24-year-olds facing barriers to employment with the skills and mindset they need to secure work and thrive in the workplace.

Spear operates a joint venture model with churches across the UK to run our Spear Centres. Some Centres operate in collaboration with independent charitable trusts, while others are run directly with the local church (both referred to below as ‘Spear Church Partners’ or ‘Church Partners’) As a result, the Spear Partner Fundraising Manager role requires raising funds for both churches and charitable trusts.

About the role

Spear is in an exciting time of growth, as we expand our work nationwide. You will play a pivotal role in equipping new and existing Church Partners to build sustainable, thriving Spear Centres that transform young people’s lives. 

With an annual fundraising target of £125k, you will combine strategic insight, relationship-building and hands-on application writing, as well fundraising advice to help Church Partners grow diverse and resilient fundraising streams. Working closely with Trustees, Church leaders and Spear’s Central teams, you will strengthen funding pipelines, unlock new opportunities and ensure partners are supported every step of the way. 

Key information

• Salary: £37,000
• Contract: Full time (4 days considered) permanent. Monday – Friday with some out of hours work needed for events such as Spear Celebration. Ad hoc regional travel required to deliver training and support to partner churches.
• Annual leave: 28 days annual leave (including Christmas gift days) plus bank holidays
• Closing date: Friday 27th March, 09.30am (We are interviewing on a rolling basis and might close the application early if we find the right candidate)

For more information please read through our Job Specification and Work with Us Pack.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know.

Person Specification

• A practising Christian, passionate about personally representing the values and beliefs of Spear, and our mission to equip and support young people facing barriers to employment.
• Creative, self-motivated forward planner who exercises initiative, with the ability to prioritise workload, including working well under pressure
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce persuasive, high-quality fundraising applications
• Effective interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence, with the ability to relate confidently to a range of stakeholders both, internally and externally
• Experience in fundraising, Trust and/or community fundraising desirable, with good working knowledge of other fundraising streams is desirable but not essential
• Strong quantitative skills including ability to work with and interpret impact data, fundraising pipelines and basic financial information 

We are an office-based organisation and value the collaboration and opportunities to work creatively and build community that this offers us, with staff spending time in the working week both at home and in the London office.

Job title: Employment Coach – Northern Futures
Salary: £25,229 – £27,885 per annum
Hours: Full Time – 37 Hours per week
Contract: Fixed term until 31 March 2027
Location: Available posts within the North East Combined Authority region (Co Durham, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland & Gateshead)

About us

Groundwork aims to be the UK’s leading regeneration charity, working through partnership to create communities in which people are proud to live and work. This programme will deliver Groundwork’s mission of supporting people to improve their prospects and reach their full potential.

About the role

As an Employment Coach, you will manage a caseload of participants aged 18-24 years old, and provide them with 1:1 support, helping them overcome barriers to employment and training. You will be responsible for supporting them through every stage of their journey, enabling participants to address their barriers and realise their aspirations.

Within this role you will be required to source new referrals who are predominantly economically inactive; complete the enrolment paperwork, including development plans and eligibility checks. You will also be required to attend events and present the delivery model to referral sources to attract additional referrals.

Successful employment coaches believe in the potential of every individual they work with.

A bit about you

We want someone like you with the confidence to positively engage and motivate people from a wide range of backgrounds. We’re in search of individuals who have prior experience in employment coaching, case management, or related fields, ideally with a focus on economically inactive individuals. You will have strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport whilst being empathetic, patient, and proficient in communicating with individuals from various backgrounds.

You will be passionate about empowering others to recognise their strengths, overcome obstacles, and achieve their goals. Believing that with the right support and guidance, individuals can take control of their own futures and succeed in the labour market.

Closing date: Midnight on Tuesday 31st March 2026
Please note, should we receive a high volume of applications, we may look to close the role early, therefore we recommend an early application.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the Apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure endorsed by the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Make yourself at home

We want you to be yourself at Groundwork and we value everything that makes you unique. We recognise and celebrate your difference and together we make Groundwork a special and great place to work. As a Disability Confident employer we offer a guaranteed interview to applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role.

At Groundwork we ensure that we provide a safe environment for adults, children and young people to take part in any activity or service that we organise. We are committed to creating a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk. Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and comprehensive process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all the people we appoint are suitable to work with our children, young people and adults

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

No agencies please.

Job Title: Regional Operations Manager 
Location: Midlands (flexible – with travel across delivery areas)
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer  
Contract Type: 2 years fixed term contract, Full-Time
Salary: £40,000 pa
Start Date:  March / April 2026 
 

Role Purpose 
The Regional Operations Manager will be responsible for the effective day-to-day delivery of The Skill Mill programmes, ensuring seamless coordination between The Skill Mill Supervisors, local Youth Justice Services, Pathways Advisors, and the Commercial Sales Manager. The role will focus on operational excellence, stakeholder engagement, and the smooth running of activities that contribute to The Skill Mill’s social impact. 
 

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Coordination 

- Oversee and support The Skill Mill Supervisors to ensure the delivery of high-quality, safe, and impactful work programmes. 
- Act as the central point of contact between Supervisors, Youth Justice Services, Pathways Advisors, and the Commercial Sales Manager. 
- Monitor daily operations and resolve any operational challenges quickly and effectively. 
- Ensure all work complies with organisational policies, procedures, and health & safety regulations. 

Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management:

- Build strong, collaborative relationships with local Youth Justice Services and Pathways Advisors to support young people’s progression. 
- Work closely with the Commercial Sales Manager to align operational delivery with commercial project requirements and client expectations. 
- Represent The Skill Mill at operational and partnership meetings. 

Performance Monitoring & Reporting:

- Track and monitor project progress, ensuring that targets for social outcomes and commercial delivery are met. 
- Prepare and present operational performance reports to the Senior Management Team. 
- Implement systems to measure quality, efficiency, and impact. 
 

Team Support & Development 

- Support and mentor Supervisors to maintain high standards of practice and delivery. 
- Identify training needs and facilitate professional development opportunities. 
- Foster a positive, collaborative, and accountable team culture. 
 

Person Specification:
Essential 

- Experience in operational or project management, ideally in a social enterprise, youth justice, or community development setting. 
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills. 
- Proven ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders and workstreams. 
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and work under pressure. 
- Knowledge of safeguarding, youth justice, and/or working with vulnerable young people. 
- Competent IT skills, including Microsoft Office and project management tools. 
- Commitment to The Skill Mill’s mission and values. 

Desirable 

- Experience managing commercial contracts or community-based service delivery. 
- Understanding of outcomes-based commissioning. 
- Health & Safety qualification or equivalent experience. 

Key Relationships 

- The Skill Mill Supervisors 
- Youth Justice Services 
- Pathways Advisors 
- Commercial Sales Manager 
- Senior Management Team 
- External partners and clients 
 

About The Skill Mill:

The Skill Mill is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of background.

The Skill Mill is an innovative social enterprise dedicated to transforming lives and communities. We provide employment opportunities for young people with criminal convictions, equipping them with skills and experience through delivering high-quality environmental services, such as grounds maintenance, horticulture, and flood prevention. Our mission is to reduce reoffending, enhance employability, and create sustainable social and environmental impact.

Job Title: Employment Specialist – Connect To Work
Salary: £28,383 – £31,683 per annum
Hours: Full Time – 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location(s): Roles across Cumbria, including Barrow in Furness, Copeland, Allerdale & Carlisle

About us

Groundwork NE & Cumbria is a long‑established environmental and community charity with over 30 years of experience creating greener, healthier and more resilient places across the region. Our mission centres on Creating Better Places, Improving People’s Prospects, and Promoting Greener Living, helping communities thrive no matter the challenges they face.

We deliver hundreds of locally‑led projects each year, including initiatives that support young people into education, training and employment, helping them overcome barriers, build life skills, and reach their full potential.

About the role

We’re looking for an Employment Specialist to support the delivery of our Connect to Work programme. You’ll use the Individual Placement & Support (IPS) model to provide person‑centred IAG support to a caseload of around 25 clients, helping them move into and sustain meaningful employment.

You’ll build strong employer relationships to source suitable vacancies and work closely with partners including health providers, mental health services, JCP, and other employment organisations to ensure joined‑up support.

About you

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Passionate in supporting young people to overcome barriers and achieve their potential.
• A strong communicator, confident engaging with clients, employers and partners.
• Equipped with strong analytical and problem‑solving ability, able to assess needs and identify effective employment solutions.
• Person‑centred, empathetic and passionate about helping others succeed.
• Skilled at building positive, trusting relationships.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage a varied caseload and meet deadlines.
• Confident working independently and collaboratively.

Closing date: Closing date: Midnight on Tuesday 7th April 2026
Please note, should we receive a high volume of applications, we may look to close the role early, therefore we recommend an early application.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure endorsed by the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Make yourself at home:

We want you to be yourself at Groundwork and we value everything that makes you unique. We recognise and celebrate your difference and together we make Groundwork a special and great place to work. As a Disability Confident employer we offer a guaranteed interview to applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role.

At Groundwork we ensure that we provide a safe environment for adults, children and young people to take part in any activity or service that we organise. We are committed to creating a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk. Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and comprehensive process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all the people we appoint are suitable to work with our children, young people and adults

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

No agencies please.