Financial and general administrator jobs in Manchester

JOB TITLE: Retail Manager

LOCATION: Alderley Edge

DATE WRITTEN: May 2026

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Retail Area Manager

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

To manage an Age UK Cheshire Charity Shop located in the Cheshire area, ensuring efficient and effective management of colleagues, volunteers, premises, sales, and stock to provide a high-quality retail service in relation to agreed performance targets. 

To achieve the maximum potential of funds for Age UK Cheshire by achieving charity retail standards and community engagement.

To ensure all appropriate standards of security and health and safety are met. To organise and manage the day-to-day operations of the store including effective communication with the Head of Retail and reporting of relevant data.

Main Duties:

1. To ensure that the Age UK Cheshire Charity Shop achieves required standards of performance and agreed sales targets:

§  Maximisation of sales through stock rotation, correct pricing, brand awareness and merchandising, to use the full potential of the stock available to you.

§  To gain Gift Aid on eligible donations to Age UK Cheshire to maximise funds for the charity in line with HMRC guidelines. This includes signing up new donors to the scheme and selling stock accordingly.

§  Responsible for managing, training, and developing the Assistant Retail Manager to achieve pre-set objectives.

§  Support, train, and coordinate the work of volunteers in the shop as required.

§  Working with the Assistant Retail Manager to ensure that the shop complies with all the relevant legislation, trading standards and health and safety.

§  Ensuring stock from donors is correctly received and stored within the shop. Working with the Area Retail Manager to make certain of timely collections and suitable deliveries to merchandise appropriately and safely.

§  Administrative systems and working practices to include daily and weekly sales reports, charity log and financial information.

§  Identify stock which can maximise income when sold via e-commerce, auctions, or other sales opportunities.

§  To plan and prioritise special promotions, seasonal adjustments, and sale events.

§  Ensuring professional signage throughout the shop; to be clear and on brand.

§  Engage with the Retail Operations Manager regularly to create a cohesive working relationship with the wider retail team in order to gain support and advice

2. Maintain a high level of commercial awareness by staying informed of sales trends, stock position and local competition.

3. To work as a member of the wider retail team to ensure that all shops across the region are covered appropriately. Have a flexible approach to days worked and location, to provide support to other colleagues and providing holiday cover for the Assistant Retail Manager.

4. To participate in recruitment, induction, training and deployment of colleagues and volunteers. To work with other organisations when necessary to ensure compliance with all legislation and good practice.

5. To develop and manage “designated volunteers” through appropriate training and development, to ensure that they can take responsibility for the running of the shop in the absence of paid colleagues, including holiday cover if necessary.

6. Implement the highest standards of customer care and service.

7. To maximise income by participating in fundraising and trading opportunities.

8. To take responsibility for the shop to implement shop procedures, as follows: -

§  To act as a key holder at an assigned location

§  To prepare the shop for opening by the correct time

§  To close the shop at the correct time and ensuring the shop is secure before leaving

§  To assist in the acquisition of donations including furniture and to liaise with the Area Retail Manager on collection and delivery procedures

§  To sort, prepare and price stock to in line with charity retail processes.

§  To present stock in the sales area to the agreed standard

§  To recruit, train, organise, supervise, and care for the welfare of colleagues and volunteer helpers

§  To reconcile the cash register, banking and to work to Age UK Cheshire’s financial policies and procedures

§  To complete paperwork as necessary, to include use of information technology on computerised systems

§  To carry out Age UK Cheshire’s policy on Health and Safety of colleagues and customers, including all manual handling policies and procedures for goods and furniture, emergency and accident procedures, trading standard policy, refunds and exchange policy.

9. To use initiative to ensure any issues in the shop are resolved quickly and effectively. To follow the correct reporting procedure to inform the Health & Safety Manager of any problems or concerns.

10. To understand and achieve daily/weekly/monthly/annual targets which will be reviewed regularly with the job holder. To undertake performance related reviews with Assistant Retail Managers as required.

11. To be a role model for Age UK’s mission statement and values and to understand how the role of a Retail Manager complements this.

12. To undertake such duties as may from time to time be reasonably requested by management within the flexible definition of the post.

AGE UK CHESHIRE

RETAIL MANAGER - PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Criteria:

- strong communicator with the ability to deliver team messages, deal with customer issues and resolve problems with firmness and fairness.

- ability to understand and interpret financial information in order to manage shop performance outcomes.

- good administrative and organisational skills with the ability to undertake banking tasks, keep basic records and organise resources in a busy environment.

- the ability to recognise stock potential in order to generate income and the importance of attractive presentation.

- supervisory experience with the ability to motivate, inspire and lead a team.

- IT literate

- ability to travel freely between shops (ideally full driving licence and use of a properly insured vehicle during work hours).

Desirable Criteria:

- basic knowledge of Health & Safety and Fire regulations and ability to identify potential risks to include items that sold under Health & Safety regulations.

- proven retail experience

- experience of working with volunteers.

- general understanding/empathy with the aims of the organisation.

Processing stock deliveries will regularly involve carrying and moving heavy stock.  You will also be on your feet for long periods of time.  On occasions you may be required to work on your own within the shop.

AGE UK CHESHIRE

RETAIL MANAGER - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The organisation currently operates 9 charity shops and has ambitious plans to open more charity shops which all help to provide funds for the charity to deliver its services for older people in Cheshire, as well as being a location to promote Age UK Cheshire services.

All Age UK Cheshire shops sell unwanted household and personal goods donated by the public and other commercial companies. The success of the shops is dependent upon achieving a regular adequate supply of donations.  Age UK Cheshire shops have established a reputation for selling good quality items, well presented and at reasonable prices. 

The shop staffing structure is supported by volunteer helpers.  They do not receive any payment other than the reimbursement of their exact travel costs from their home to the shop. 

The shops are all expected to trade profitably. Their function is to provide income to the organisation. Each shop is given a weekly sales target to achieve to produce a targeted net profit once rents and other costs have been deducted.

Each shop has a mixture of staff and volunteers covering a 6- or 7-day working period.  The Retail Manager will be supported by an Assistant Retail Manager working flexibly to provide cover at the shop. At times you might be asked to cover other shops depending on staffing issues, so flexibility is a must. Volunteer support is key to the success of the operation and development of “designated volunteers” who can take responsibility for the shop, during some periods of staff absence. 

Location: Shop Base – Alderley Edge. You may be required to cover other shops on an ad hoc basis.

Hours: 36.25 hours per week, worked over 5 days Monday to Sunday.  Hours are required to be flexible to ensure that the shop is staffed appropriately.  There may be a requirement to travel between shops.  In exceptional circumstances you may be required to work 6 days per week. The role will require working over the Christmas period and potentially all bank holidays.

Salary:  £25452.03 per annum (£13.50 per hour).  Overtime payments can be paid for exceptional circumstances where additional days have been worked.

Pension: Age UK Cheshire has an automatic enrolment workplace pension scheme in place for eligible employees.

Leave: 25 days’ leave per annum (plus Bank Holidays) rising after 5 years’ continuous service by one day per year (pro rata) to a maximum of 30 days’ leave after 10 years.

Contract: All new staff are subject to a three-month probationary period. 4 weeks’ notice is required to terminate employment by either side i.e., the employee or Age UK Cheshire. During the probationary period, one week’s notice is required by either side.

Health Care: All staff will automatically join the Age UK Cheshire’s Health Care Cash Plan and will be entitled to receive healthcare benefits.

Criminal Disclosure:  Basic DBS Check applicable for this post.

Age UK Cheshire is a Mindful Employer and positive actions will be taken to ensure that people will not be excluded from working for Age UK Cheshire because of their age, race, ethnicity, faith, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, physical or mental health.

Registered charity no. 1091608

What does it take to lead the national voice for special schools at a time of real change?

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – National Association of Special Schools (NASS)

National – home-based, with regular travel across England and Wales, particularly London

£90,000–£110,000 per annum

Full-time, permanent.

About NASS 

The National Association of Special Schools (NASS) is the membership association for special schools in England and Wales. We bring together independent special schools, non-maintained special schools, special academies, maintained special schools and multi-academy trusts with specialist provision.

We exist to inform, support and represent our members, helping specialist schools improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND and secure the place of specialist provision within the wider education system. NASS is known for being accessible, responsive and personal, combining national influence with practical support that members value as timely, human and trustworthy.

This is a pivotal moment for the organisation. In February this year, the Department for Education published a major white paper on SEND reform which will require NASS to both influence national policy on behalf of our members and children and young people, as well as support them to navigate the changes. Our new CEO will need to review our strategy while building on our strong platform and momentum to further deepen our influence and strengthen our internal capacity.

As our next Chief Executive, you will:

• Strategy & Impact: Lead NASS through a period of policy and structural change, ensuring the organisation remains clear on purpose, responsive to members and influential in the SEND landscape.
• Governance & Finance: Work closely with the Board of Trustees to provide strong governance, prudent financial stewardship, robust risk management and clear strategic oversight.
• Operational Leadership: Provide confident leadership to a small, remote team, strengthening collaboration, accountability, resilience and a positive, high-trust culture.
• Income Generation: Oversee budgeting, planning and reporting while developing thoughtful opportunities to diversify income through membership, partnerships, events and related activity.
• Community & Partnerships: Build and sustain trusted relationships with government, parliament, regulators, sector bodies and member schools, ensuring NASS remains relevant and well connected.
• Member Services: Protect and enhance the practical offer to members, from briefings and special interest groups to conferences, webinars, training and peer-to-peer learning.
• Brand & Profile: Act as a credible public ambassador for NASS, helping to modernise communications and broaden the organisation’s voice beyond a founder-shaped model.
• Future Growth: Shape a distributed leadership profile and support a more varied, accessible and engaging approach to membership, advocacy and communications.
• A seasoned senior leader with experience in a charity, membership body, education or public sector setting, and a clear track record of leading through change.
• A strong strategic thinker, able to absorb complex information quickly and translate it into clear, practical direction.
• A confident communicator with the gravitas to represent NASS with members, staff, trustees, MPs, peers, media and national partners.
• A politically astute relationship-builder, comfortable navigating a complex and fast-moving external environment.
• Experienced in governance, with a sound understanding of working with boards or trustees and supporting effective decision-making.
• Numerate and commercially minded, with experience of budgets, financial planning, income generation or partnership development.
• Credible, approachable and resilient, with the emotional intelligence to lead well in a high-profile, remote and sometimes uncertain context.
• Direct SEND experience would be a significant advantage, alongside understanding of specialist education or similarly complex stakeholder environments.

Why NASS?

• This is a chance to lead a respected, member-led organisation with a strong national reputation and a clear public purpose.
• You will help shape the future of specialist education at a time when SEND reform is high on the agenda.
• NASS has a loyal, experienced and collegiate remote staff team, supported by an active Board of Trustees.
• The organisation offers a genuinely influential platform, with strong connections across the sector and with government.

Application

For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 8th June 2026

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Community Support Lead: Partnerships 

Reports to: Community Support Manager 
Contract: Full-time 

Role Purpose 

As Community Support Lead: Partnerships, you will play a key role in strengthening the relationships that underpin HOST’s work, ensuring every hosted partner (HP) receives consistent, responsive, and values-driven support. 

You will lead on partner onboarding, engagement, and ongoing support, ensuring needs are met with professionalism, empathy, and efficiency. This includes managing communications around invoices and payments, responding to general queries, and proactively identifying and escalating potential risks. 

Blending strong attention to detail with a people-first approach, you will shape and continuously improve the partner experience — from initial onboarding through to long-term collaboration — ensuring every interaction reflects HOST’s mission to support the world’s change-makers. 

Core Responsibilities 

1. Partner Engagement and Onboarding

• Lead Welcome, Onboarding, and regular check-in calls with hosted partners, building clarity, trust, and consistency in every interaction. 

• Provide clear guidance on HOST’s systems, processes, and expectations, ensuring each partner journey is well-defined and smoothly implemented. 

• Identify risks, issues, or emerging support needs during interactions, and promptly share these with the Community Support Manager. 

• Support escalations and follow-up actions to maintain a high-quality, responsive partner experience. 

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all communications, ensuring relevant information, issues, and risks are clearly documented and shared across the team. 

• Negotiate PAYF contributions, add-on pricing, and additional services, ensuring partner needs are met efficiently and effectively. 

Reporting cadence: Weekly summary and inclusion in monthly CS reporting. 

2. Query Resolution and Partner Care 

• Respond to general hosted partner queries with accuracy, clarity, and empathy, achieving a minimum 90% satisfaction score. 

• Ensure at least 90% of queries receive an initial response within 24 hours. 

• Maintain consistently high standards of written and verbal communication, reflecting HOST’s values of integrity, care, and responsiveness. 

• Collaborate with Finance and Operations teams to ensure partner needs are resolved promptly and effectively. 

Reporting cadence: Weekly dashboard updates and monthly performance reporting. 

3. Partner Relationship and Invoice Management 

• Work closely with hosted partners to amend invoices and resolve payment queries accurately and in a timely manner. 

• Ensure all payment-related communications and outcomes are clearly documented in ClickUp and Zendesk. 

• Monitor and report on invoice corrections, identifying trends and opportunities for process improvement. 

Reporting cadence: Monthly 

4. Risk Identification, Screening and Escalation 

• Identify and assess potential financial, operational, or reputational risks arising from partner interactions. 

• Conduct initial screening of partner-related concerns in line with HOST’s due diligence processes. 

• Escalate identified risks promptly to the Community Support Manager or relevant stakeholders for review and mitigation. 

• Contribute to monthly Community Support risk reporting and ongoing team learning. 

Reporting cadence: Real-time escalation of risks, with consolidated monthly reporting. 

5. Community Support Administration 

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date records across ClickUp, Zendesk, and internal systems. 

• Support the review and updating of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency and clarity across processes. 

• Contribute to internal administrative tasks, ensuring operational readiness for audits, reviews, and ongoing compliance. 

Reporting cadence: Monthly 

6. Community Support Resources and User Journey 

• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of Community Support materials, guidance, and onboarding resources. 

• Support the enhancement of the hosted partner user journey, ensuring all touchpoints are clear, consistent, and aligned with HOST’s values. 

• Work collaboratively with colleagues to identify gaps and opportunities to strengthen the overall partner experience. 

Reporting cadence: Quarterly reviews with recommendations for improvement. 

7. Growth and Learning Areas (Development Focus) 

• Take ownership of more complex hosted partners with advanced operational or financial requirements. 

• Support the development of new Community Support Leads through training, mentoring, and sharing best practice. 

• Deliver or support hosted partner Health Checks, ensuring all follow-up actions and documentation are completed effectively. 

Reporting cadence: As directed by the Community Support Manager. 

You Bring 

• Experience in operations, client service, or relationship management within HOST. 

• Strong organisational skills with a focus on accuracy, responsiveness, and care. 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with confidence engaging across cultures and time zones. 

• Familiarity with digital tools such as ClickUp, Zendesk, and cloud-based systems. 

• A proactive mindset — curious, calm under pressure, and committed to service excellence. 

Key Relationships 

Internal: Community Support Team, Finance & Operations, Communications, Partnerships, and Capacity Building teams. 
External: Hosted partners, funders, and service providers. 

Performance Indicators 

• 90% of hosted partner queries receive an initial response within 24 hours 

• Maintain a hosted partner satisfaction score of 90% or higher 

• Resolve invoice corrections and payment requests within agreed monthly timeframes 

• Escalate all identified risks within 8 hours of detection 

• Ensure SOPs and system records are reviewed and updated on a monthly basis 

• Demonstrate ongoing improvements in the hosted partner experience and overall journey design 

Community Fundraising Assistant - North 

Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research?

Brain Tumour Research is an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity. We are passionate about finding a cure for brain tumours through the establishment of dedicated Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence around the UK.​

After a successful 2025, we’re building on our momentum and looking ahead with ambition. As our work continues to expand, so does our impact. We are now looking for passionate people to join us on the next stage of our journey!

It is a fantastic time to be joining us and we are keen to share this with likeminded and talented individuals. We currently have an opening for a Community Fundraising Assistant - North, to join our Community and Digital Fundraising team.

• Do you want to make a difference in one of the most innovative and exciting medical research fundraising charities in the UK?
• Are you able to provide friendly and professional support to fundraisers and supporters?   
• Do you have experience in supporting events or community activities?
• Do you live in either Scotland, North East England, North West England or the East Midlands? 

​

Have you answered Yes to these questions?

Does this sound like the opportunity to really take the next step in your career?

Excited to learn more about this position? Then please take a read through our recruitment pack which is included within this advert.​​​

If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we are excited to receive your application.  We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!​

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process.  Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.

​

We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.​

We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.

​

Context and Background

The NSPCC’s purpose is to prevent cruelty to children across the UK and Channel Islands. The Policy and Social Change (PSC) and Strategy and Transformation (S&T) Directorates exist to help shape the world around us – and what the NSPCC does – so it reflects our evidence and learning about what works to ensure babies, children and young people are safe from abuse. 

The Directorates are responsible for:

-influencing public policies, laws and social change through research, policy and campaigning; and 

-leading the development of our organisational strategy, developing innovative services and managing our knowledge and information. 

Job purpose

The Executive Assistant provides proactive, high‑quality administrative and organisational support to the Directors of Policy and Social Change and Strategy and Transformation.. The role exists to:

·Provide effective support to Directors, ensuring the Directorates work at their best.

·Deliver high-quality customer care to both internal and external stakeholders.

·Develop, manage, and review administrative and information systems to keep processes smooth and reliable.

·Work with colleagues to solve challenges and improve systems and processes. 

By enabling effective leadership and upholding NSPCC values and safeguarding standards, the postholder plays a key role in supporting the Directorates’ work to keep children safe from abuse and neglect.

Key relationships - Internal

•Reports to the Director of Policy and Social Change as well as the Director of Strategy and Transformation, works closely with their respective Senior Management Team and attends SMT meetings.

•Builds and maintains working relationships with the other Executive Assistants, administrative and support staff, and all Directorates staff to enable the provision of high-quality administrative support and information.

Key relationships - External

•Maintains and builds relationship with NSPCC stakeholders, such as professional partners of the directorates, suppliers and other service providers.

Main duties and responsibilities

•To provide administrative support to the Director of Policy and Social Change and the Director of Strategy and Transformation, including but not limited to, diary management, travel bookings, meetings support and forward planning.

•To assist with the Directors’ cost centres and financial responsibilities (including raising purchase orders, handling supplier processes and contract set up), and holder of the Directorates’ purchasing card.

•To ensure information and material about the Directorates on internal communication channels are clear and up to date (including on Directorate Teams’ channels, on The Green and the Volunteer Hub).

•To be a source of expertise and support to the Directors on recruitment and onboarding of new colleagues.

•To organise regular Senior Management Teams and Directorate-wide meetings for each Director as required – including being responsible for agendas, notes and action logs. 

•To be an accessible and approachable member of the two Directorates, proactively sharing information when necessary and developing an excellent knowledge of NSPCC processes and procedures. 

•To coordinate and support projects relevant to the Directorates’ work, including projects on child sexual abuse, child safety online, strategy reviews and NSPCC Learning Services.

•To co-organise and facilitate internal lunch and learn sessions for colleagues across the Directorates.

•To act as a trusted member of the Executive Assistants forum.

Responsibilities for all Staff within Policy and Social Change and Strategy and Transformation

There are a set of responsibilities for all staff within each directorate. 

·To comply with all relevant NSPCC safeguarding policies 

·A commitment to applying NSPCC Values and Behaviours to all aspects of work 

·To maintain an awareness of own and other’s health and safety and comply with NSPCC’s Health and Safety procedures 

·A sound understanding of and commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. 

·To comply with NSPCC Diversity and Equality policies and practices and work in a manner which facilitates inclusion. 

·To maintain and develop competence in the use of IT systems. 

·To manage confidential and/or sensitive information in accordance with NSPCC policies and Data Protection and GDPR regulations 

A commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people

Person specification

1.Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to deal professionally with a range of internal and external stakeholders and colleagues.

2.Excellent written communication skills and the ability to understand, interpret and present complex information in a clear and accurate way for a range of audiences.

3.Exceptional organisational skills with the ability to balance multiple demands and prioritise, anticipate needs and forward plan accordingly.

4.Demonstrable experience of running meetings (both virtual and in person), including arranging, facilitating, minuting, organising action logs and necessary follow ups.

5.Strong problem-solving skills including the ability to think quickly under pressure to resolve unexpected issues alongside ability to research, analyse and present effective solutions to operational challenges.

6.Discretion and the ability to deal with confidential information sensitively and appropriately.

7.In depth experience of using Microsoft software packages (including Teams, Word, Outlook and Excel) 

8.​Demonstrable commitment to the NSPCC’s mission to prevent cruelty and stop child abuse and neglect.​ 

Safer Recruitment

As an organisation, we are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk. 

Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with our children and adults.

The recruitment and selection of our people will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance. 

Our principles: 

•Always seek to recruit the best candidate for the role based on merit including their skills, experience, motivation and competencies. Our robust recruitment and selection process should ensure the identification of the person best suited to the role and the organisation. 

•Committed to diversity and equality of opportunity and will interview all applicants (internal and external) who self-declare at application as having a disability and who meet the minimum requirements in the person specification of the vacancy they are applying for.

•We will make reasonable adjustments at all stages of the recruitment process in order to enable successful candidates who declare disabilities to start working or volunteering their time with us.

•Any current member of staff or volunteer who wishes to apply for vacancies and is suitably qualified will be considered and addressed fairly and objectively based on their merit.

•As an organisation committed to safeguarding, we will ensure all under 18’s joining the organisation will have ongoing risk assessments to ensure their role and activities are safe and appropriate.

•All documentation relating to candidates will be treated confidentially in accordance with the GDPR legislation.

An exciting opportunity has come up to oversee the operational management and delivery of our burgeoning volunteer-led music and mental health charity. We are looking for a new Community & Operations Lead who has a track record of working holistically and empathetically in line with best practice to effectively manage and grow our services at an operational level; support the ongoing safe recruitment and retention of volunteers through our volunteer pathway; build and support community engagement; manage our two studio sites; and design, develop and manage exciting projects informed by our community members’ vision in collaboration with the Strategy & Fundraising Lead.

Our new Community & Operations Lead will be a calm and reassuring presence with a track record of facilitating positive working relationships, co-productive and person-centred approaches, and intersectional working in order to support our work addressing local health inequalities and reducing the health, social and financial barriers to creativity and support that local people face.

Seed Studios is a music and mental health charity based at Old Trafford Wellbeing Centre and Broomwood Community Wellbeing Centre working with adults aged 18+. From our centres, we support positive mental health and culture in Trafford through...

• our weekly volunteer-led Community Music Wellbeing Workshops, in which adults learn new instruments and disciplines in sessions proven to improve confidence, skills, connections and mental & emotional wellbeing
• our 1-to-1 music tuition and peer support which compliments support that individuals receive from our Trafford, Manchester and Salford health partners
• our inspiring and community-building events such as Open Mics and our annual Celebrate Seed Studios event
• our innovative partnership programmes, like our monthly workshop series with older adults charity String of Hearts, and our fortnightly In Harmony workshops in partnership with Dementia Disco and Trafford Choices.

In 2025, We enabled over 800 hours of free volunteer-led sessions with an annual footfall of over 2500 as well as 24 hours of free, 1-to-1 music tuition support for referrals from our health partners every month.

ABOUT MUSTARD TREE

At Mustard Tree, we believe everyone deserves dignity, opportunity, and hope.

We work alongside people experiencing poverty, homelessness, and financial hardship, providing practical support, life-changing opportunities, and pathways towards greater stability and independence.

Our work addresses both the causes and consequences of poverty. We support people not only in crisis, but as they rebuild confidence, develop skills, improve wellbeing, and take meaningful steps towards a more secure future.

ROLE PURPOSE

This role provides person-centred employment and progression support to individuals facing barriers to financial wellbeing, including homelessness or risk of homelessness. Working with a managed caseload, this role will support participants to build confidence and employability skills, and progress towards meaningful, sustained employment, further education, or accredited training.

The role includes a blend of structured employability support, responsive frontline 121 work combined with corporate partnership skills.  This role will work directly with Freedom Trainees and Mustard Tree clients, supporting walk-ins, referrals, and longer-term participants. This role will represent our values through high-quality, compassionate, and professional service delivery.

This role combines direct participant support, employability delivery, employer engagement working with the Salford Area Manager. You will work across our Eccles and Little Hulton sites, helping create meaningful opportunities that enable participants’ progression.

Key Competencies

1. World Class Welcome and Customer Service

· Deliver Work Placement and Employment service across Salford appropriate to participants’ needs, through a welcoming, inclusive, and professional service that reflects a world-class customer experience.

· Networking and building relationships in Salford with new and existing corporate partners to deliver work placement opportunities to Freedom Project trainees, attendees to structured courses/clubs, and referrals from partner organisations (JCP and Elevate partners)

· Provide tailored, 1:1 employment and skills support, including caseload management, action planning, CV development, job search, and interview preparation.

· Adapt support to meet the diverse and complex needs of participants, demonstrating empathy and resilience.

· Manage referrals and signposting effectively, ensuring participants access appropriate internal and external services.

2. Proactive in Living and Sharing our Culture, Values and Behaviours

· Consistently model Mustard Tree’s values, culture and expected behaviours in all interactions with participants, colleagues and partners.

· Promote equality, diversity and inclusion by creating safe, welcoming and respectful environments for everyone by building positive relationships, challenge inappropriate behaviour appropriately, and reflect on feedback to continuously improve practice.

· Communicate in an inclusive, accessible and person-centred way, adapting approaches to meet participants needs.

· Demonstrate professionalism, integrity and accountability while maintaining boundaries and delivering on commitments.

3. Courage in Problem Solving and Embracing Change to Meet Needs

· Identify barriers affecting participant progression and respond to reduce/remove the barriers

· Adapt quickly and positively to changing priorities, service demands and participant needs while maintaining high-quality support.

· Demonstrate resilience when managing complex situations, setbacks or competing pressures, whilst taking ownership of actions and outcomes

· Embrace learning, feedback and change to continuously improve ways of working and support positive participant outcomes

4. Confident in Safeguarding and Incident Management

· Manage situations calmly and professionally, maintaining dignity and safety for all.

· Follow safeguarding, health and safety, and incident management procedures, escalating concerns appropriately.

· Work collaboratively with colleagues, contributing to case discussions and team meetings

• Complete and maintain accurate documentation, incident forms, and risk records.
• Attend required training, supervision, and reflective practice sessions and keep up to date with relevant legislation and local statutory and voluntary-sector provision.

5. Skilled in Reporting

· Monitor progress, record outcomes, and adapt support in response to individual needs, using TreeSalt, case notes, and case studies to evidence impact.

• Signpost and refer trainees and participants to appropriate internal services and external agencies, including housing, mental health, benefits, and specialist support.
• Track participant outcomes including engagement, training completion, volunteering, work placements, and employment progression to support internal reporting requirements and funder monitoring.

6. Positive Management of Stakeholders, Partners and Supporters

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with local employers, job centres, statutory services, charities, and third-sector organisations.

• Coordinate referrals and progression pathways into and out of the programme. Establish and maintain pathways into employment, education, training, and volunteering.

• Identify, develop, and maintain work placement and progression opportunities with employers and partner organisations.
• Match participants to placements aligned with their interests, goals, and support needs.

• Ensure placements are structured, safe, and provide meaningful learning and development. Escalate any placement-related issues promptly and collaboratively.

General Duties

• Work in line with organisational policies, procedures, and values.
• Support colleagues and provide cover across services and sites when required.
• Take responsibility for professional development and ongoing learning.
• Act as a positive ambassador for the organisation internally and externally.
• Contribute to environmental responsibility through day-to-day working practices.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role as required.

What we are looking for.

Person Specification 

Minimum of two years’ frontline experience supporting adults, including vulnerable individuals. - Essential

Experience supporting people facing multiple barriers such as poverty, homelessness, unemployment, or housing instability. - Essential

Experience of managing varied caseloads and achieving measurable outcomes with participants. - Essential

Experience of and/or ability to build and maintain partnerships with external organisations, local businesses or employers. - Essential

Understanding of employability pathways, training provision, and labour market opportunities. - Essential

Resilient, adaptable, with flexible enthusiastic approach. Able to work on their own initiative as well as contributing effectively as part of a team. - Essential

Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding, health and safety, and risk management. - Essential

Good interpersonal skills, including verbal and written communication skills. - Essential

Degree-level qualification and/or equivalent experience in responsible roles. - Desirable

Strong time management and administration skills, with the ability to multitask - Essential

Experienced in using IT systems including Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Excel, and Word - Desirable 

Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle and willingness and ability to travel regularly across our Salford hubs - Desirable

Why Work for Mustard Tree

Working at Mustard Tree is more than a job - it’s an opportunity to be part of a community that is changing lives every day.

Our Culture

• A values-led organisation where compassion, dignity, and respect guide everything we do
• A supportive and collaborative team environment where your voice matters
• A place where lived experience is valued and people are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work
• A strong sense of purpose, with the opportunity to see the real impact of your work

What We Offer

• A meaningful role where you can make a tangible difference in people’s lives
• Opportunities for learning, development, and progression, including access to training and mentoring
• A flexible and supportive approach to working, with consideration for work-life balance
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing with length of service), with additional bank holidays and a day off for your birthday
• Employer pension contribution
• Access to wellbeing support, including Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) Perkbox

We are committed to investing in our people and creating an environment where you can grow, feel supported, and do your best work.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and a supporting statement - telling us about your experience and why this role matters to you.

This job description is intended as a guide and may evolve as our work continues to grow and respond to the needs of our community.