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: Midnight on Tuesday 24th 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.
Registered Charity 
101 - 500
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
The two regional roles currently available are fundamental to the delivery of the third phase of the Seed Sovereignty Programme across southern and western England.
Working alongside the north east based England Lead, each role involves supporting seed networks across a dedicated region (southern or west of England- see regional map) through training, mentoring, and routes to market, as well as engaging with a range of groups and individuals through events, workshops and talks. The role involves collaborating with the rest of the Seed Sovereignty Programme team remotely to share best practices and develop the delivery of the work nationally.
Key Responsibilities for the role:
Seed knowledge: Understanding agroecology, small-scale seed production, seed sovereignty, and open-pollinated varieties.
· Has a good understanding of seed saving and agroecological seed systems.
· Supports outreach and communications to share knowledge on seed saving and agroecological seed systems.
· Assists in the identification and development of new regional opportunities.
Collaboration: Building strong, respectful relationships.
· Works closely with the Regional Leads and Coordinators through team meetings, working groups and collaborative projects to ensure smooth communication and delivery.
· Is the “go to” person for enquiries regarding activities within the region.
· Builds and maintains strong relationships with regional network partners.
· Develops new collaborations opportunities within the network and beyond it where strategically appropriate.
Training & Facilitation: delivering training sessions (in-person and online) for diverse groups.
· Supports the design, organisation, and delivery of training sessions and workshops (both in-person and online) for diverse participants at a range of levels.
· Assists with the coordination of regional training logistics and participant engagement.
Project Coordination: supporting events, and multi-stakeholder projects across regions.
· Works with the Programme team to deliver the bi-annual Seed Gathering and Seed TV webinars.
· Actively takes part in regional initiatives such as variety trials, mentoring programmes, seed production projects, and collaborative networking events.
· Liases with partners and participants to track progress and maintain project momentum.
Monitoring & Reporting: Collecting and presenting data.
· Monitor and track progress for the region in order to inform learning, evaluate success and report to funders.
Communication
· Confident with social media, websites and online working platforms in order to communicate the work and engage with the network effectively.
· A confident writer who can capture and express stories from the work and network in a variety of mediums, from blogs to social media posts to narrative funding reports.
Our shared way of working (core competencies)
Collaboration
Works collaboratively, valuing colleagues and partners as complementary parts of a whole. Builds strong, respectful relationships rooted in trust, care, reciprocity, and mutual respect.
Communication
Communicates with openness, kindness, and integrity. Uses language with care and intention, demonstrating strong written and verbal communication that reflects compassion and care.
Initiative & Adaptability
Proactive and self-motivated, able to work autonomously while valuing collective strength. Flexible and responsive to change, embracing learning and reflection to remain agile.
Problem Solving
Tackles problems thoughtfully and effectively, Approaches challenges with curiosity and creativity, involving others to find practical, ethical, and workable solutions. Thinks things through from different angles, balancing immediate needs with longer-term impacts.
Community Engagement
Committed to inclusive, compassionate practices that empower communities, networks, and individuals.
Cultural Awareness
Works sensitively and respectfully across diverse communities, recognising difference as a source of strength. Practice is informed by listening, learning, and humility
.jpg){kind=logo}
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Join Kaleidoscope Trust as our Communications and Events Officer and help bring global LGBTI+ advocacy to life.
Kaleidoscope Trust (KT) is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to advancing the rights of LGBTI+ people internationally. Founded in 2011, we aim to create a world where all LGBTI+ individuals are free, safe and equal.
We are looking for a Communications and Events Officer to help support powerful storytelling and strategic communications that amplify the voices and priorities of our partners around the world.
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is organised, creative, and motivated by social justice to play a hands-on role across communications, events, and stakeholder engagement. You will work across a range of high-impact projects, including supporting the delivery of the Global LGBTI+ Rights Commission and key advocacy and partnership events.
If you’re keen to grow your skills while contributing to a collaborative and mission-driven team, we would love to hear from you. Download the full job description for full details and information on how to apply.
Salary: £35,150 per annum plus pension
Location: Remote (UK-based), with occasional travel
Closing date: Monday 16 March 2026, 23:59 (London time)
Interviews: Week commencing 16 March 2026
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.