Office manager jobs in houghton le spring, county durham

Funding Officer – Thematic and missions focused aligned to It starts with Community

We’re looking for four Funding Officers to support a range of initiatives across England. These are 12-month fixed term contracts.

This is a great opportunity to take a mission-driven approach to funding while working flexibly across different programmes and priorities.We’re looking for people who are collaborative, adaptable, and passionate about putting communities first.

As outlined in our It Starts with Community strategy and the England story, we are committed to placing community agency, power, and control at the heart of our England funding portfolio. We aim to stand alongside communities supporting them as they tackle challenges and fulfil their potential.

We strongly encourage applications from individuals with lived or working experience within underrepresented communities. One of the initiatives to be supported, addressing health inequity, requires a good understanding of equity-based practice, community engagement, and the lived realities of historically excluded populations.  

Role Purpose 

You will be expected to be open to work in different initiatives across our England portfolio.As a funding officer you will assess applications for funding and manage grants using best practice, thematic expertise, and the experience of customers and stakeholders to improve our grant making and inform our decision making. You will also ensure that both grant management and assessment play an effective part in contributing to the Fund’s knowledge and learning as a grant maker.

Key Responsibilities 

• To review and assess funding applications.
• Provide clear, constructive feedback to applicants. 
• Engage with applicants and stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to reporting and learning. 
• Support due diligence and fair risk assessments. 
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of our funding processes.

Location: Hybrid: we have a hybrid approach to working. Work pattern and location will be agreed with the successful candidate. Our England offices are Birmingham, Exeter, Leeds, London, Manchester and Newcastle

Contract Type: Four 12 Months Fixed Term (open to secondment subject to agreement).

Interview Date: 11th September - virtual

On application, please align your supporting statement to the criteria below

Essential Criteria 

• Experience in grant making, community development, and/or public health.
• A strong commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Relational skills: an ability to nurture, develop and promote effective relationships and communication with colleagues, community. organisations and partners.
• Good analytical, written and verbal communication skills.
• Organisational skills: an ability to use your initiative and manage your own workload, dealing with competing priorities and deadlines.
• Demonstrable sound IT skills, in particular Microsoft Office products and the ability to learn detailed processes quickly and accurate.

Desirable Criteria  

• A good understanding of equity-based practice, community engagement, and the lived realities of historically excluded populations.
• Knowledge of health systems or the social determinants of health. 

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.) 

Job title: Co-Director

Status: Fixed Term Contract for 12 months

Location: Home based in London area

Report To: Founder of The Black Economists Network

Hours: Part Time – commitment of 8 hours per week which must include at least 4 hours on Fridays

Salary: Based on experience; £23- £25 per hour.

Full time salary                      £45,000-48,100 per annum:

Pro-rata’d to                           £9,568-10,400 per annum

Benefits: Pension, holiday scheme

About us:

The Black Economists Network (TBEN) is a dynamic and progressive organisation dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive community for professionals and students of African and Caribbean descent in economics and related fields. We provide a platform for networking, collaboration, idea sharing, and mutual support. Additionally, TBEN aims to address the underrepresentation of Black individuals in economics and related fields by partnering with other organisations to drive diversity strategies and increase the visibility of Black economists.

Do you:

• Have a passion for our mission and have a commitment to social impact?
• Proven leadership or management experience
• Have the drive and experience to help us to develop our long-term strategy?
• Have strong decision making skills?
• Think strategically with the capability to develop and execute strategy, especially related to economic policy or research
• Enjoy working with people from a range of different backgrounds?
• Want to make a difference?

Would you

• Like to be part of an organisation that is striving to increase the visibility of Black economists?
• Be comfortable dealing with legal, financial and regulatory requirements?

Are you:

• An inspirational leader with lots of proven experience managing a team from an analytical, research or policy focused environment?
•  A strong communicator who can break down barriers and build relationships?
• An engaging public speaker who can represent TBEN in front of a variety of audiences
• An experienced people manager who can build a successful, collaborative and supportive team environment?
• Flexible and adaptable and happy working in a range of different environments?

If so, this is the role for you……..

The opportunity:

We are looking for a Co-Director to join the team and be responsible for the overall leadership and strategic direction of the organisation.  The successful candidate will work with the Founder and stakeholders to ensure that TBEN fulfils its mission, but also ensuring that it maintains financial sustainability and delivers impactful programs.

This is a brand new role for TBEN and we are looking for someone who can join us and make a real difference to what we are able to deliver.

If you have:

Essential:

• Proven experience as an Economist or a field related to economics and related fields;
• Proven experience as a people manager who has recruited, nurtured and developed a successful team;
• Proven leadership and management experience
• Clear experience managing budgets, understanding funding cycles and financial reporting
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills;
• An in-depth understanding of – and a passion for – promoting diversity and inclusion;
• Experience of working collaboratively and making strategic decisions;
• Excellent organisational skills, multi-tasking and prioritising across multiple projects
• A minimum of a Degree in Economics or closely related within the economics field or relevant transferable qualification in Economics
• Commitment to TBEN’s mission; a deep understanding and passion for promoting racial equity and economic empowerment within Black communities
• Right to work in the UK.

Desirable:

• Organisational experience within a non-profit organisation, think tank or research organisation or an organisation focused on economic development or social justice
• Fundraising or partnership experience
• Experience securing grants
• Building strategy partnership
• Public speaking
• Strong financial acumen and understanding of non-profit funding models;
• Experience in event planning and management;
• Experience of working in the charity sector;
• Economics related qualification.

Does this sound like you?  We would love to hear from you. 

We encourage applications who may not have followed a traditional route into economics, but bring relevant lived experience, insight, or transferable skills that align with TBEN’s mission

Closing date: Friday 22nd August 2025

Head of Institutional Relations and Governance

About Charity Right
At Charity Right, we are a focused and passionate international food charity on a mission to free people from the devastating effects of hunger. Since our founding, we have provided over 40 million meals across 7 countries, serving those who need it most with dignity and care.

Our Mission
We believe that no child should go to school hungry. Our single-cause focus allows us to be exceptionally effective at what we do best: providing nutritious school meals that keep children in classrooms and give them the opportunity to break free from poverty through education.

About the Role

This is a newly created leadership role responsible for developing and embedding the governance infrastructure and strategic partnerships that will position Charity Right as a credible and competitive organisation for institutional funding. The Head of Governance and Institutional Relations will be responsible for cultivating relationships with institutional funders, multilateral agencies, and foundations, while also leading internal governance and capacity-building efforts to ensure Charity Right is fully prepared to secure and deliver such partnerships.

The role will build and oversee the development of international branch offices where appropriate, ensuring alignment with partner eligibility requirements and regulatory frameworks. This role is cross-functional and high-impact, sitting at the intersection of compliance, strategy, fundraising, and programme delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Institutional Fundraising & Relationship Management

• Identify and engage potential institutional funders and foundations both in the UK and internationally.
• Lead the full lifecycle of institutional donor relationships—from prospecting and due diligence through to application, stewardship, and renewal.
• Build a comprehensive pipeline of funding opportunities aligned with Charity Right’s mission and delivery capacity.
• Work closely with Programmes, Finance, and Fundraising teams to coordinate compelling funding proposals and aligned delivery models.

Organisational Governance & Capacity Building

• Lead the development and continuous improvement of Charity Right’s governance framework to meet international standards for institutional funders.
• Identify and implement structural, policy, and procedural enhancements that elevate Charity Right’s readiness to enter and sustain institutional partnerships.
• Conduct periodic organisational assessments and produce recommendations to close capacity gaps identified by funders or prospective partners.

International Presence & Localisation Strategy

• Design and oversee the establishment of Charity Right branch offices in key geographies.
• Ensure all international branches are compliant with local laws, reporting requirements, and brand/mission alignment.
• Collaborate with legal and operational advisors to manage entity registration, governance structures, and oversight models in each country.

Strategic Partnerships and Alliances

• Develop and implement a formal institutional partnering strategy.
• Identify and vet strategic implementation partners that complement Charity Right’s delivery capabilities.
• Negotiate, draft, and manage partnership agreements ensuring alignment with Charity Right’s values and strategic objectives.

Monitoring, Reporting & Evaluation

• Develop and implement a framework to monitor the performance and outcomes of institutional partnerships and funded projects.
• Ensure robust reporting mechanisms, including narrative and financial reporting, are in place.
• Regularly brief the CEO and Board on the status of funder relationships, branch development, and institutional readiness.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Significant senior-level experience in institutional fundraising, partnership management, or international development.
• Strong understanding of governance frameworks, compliance standards, and operational due diligence requirements for international NGOs.
• Demonstrated success in securing and managing funding from institutional donors.
• Experience in establishing and managing international offices, branches, or subsidiaries.
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across departments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strategic thinker with strong project management and execution capability.
• Values-driven, with a commitment to transparency, accountability, and inclusion.
• Familiarity with safeguarding frameworks, donor audits, and risk registers.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Experience working in humanitarian or faith-inspired development contexts.
• Legal, compliance, or public policy background.
• Existing network within institutional funding or global development sectors.

Success Indicators

• Institutional Fundraising & Relationship Development
• Number of institutional funder relationships established (UK and international)
• Number of funding applications submitted per quarter
• Total value (£) of secured institutional or foundation grants annually
• Application success rate (%) across funding proposals submitted
• Donor retention and re-engagement rate (%)

Governance & Organisational Capacity

• Completion and implementation of key governance policies
• Improvement in organisational assessments conducted by external funders or partners
• Internal audit readiness and compliance rate
• Number of governance or compliance gaps resolved each quarter
• Staff training or briefings delivered on governance-related improvements

International Branch Development

• Number of international entities registered or formalised in target geographies
• Time taken from initiation to legal establishment of each branch
• Compliance rate with local registration, reporting, and governance requirements
• Annual cost-to-benefit ratio of each registered branch (qualitative + financial assessment)

Strategic Partnerships

• Number of partnership MOUs or contracts formalised
• Partner performance satisfaction score
• Number of co-designed or co-delivered proposals with partners submitted per year
• Strategic alignment index – measured via internal SLT reviews

Reporting & Monitoring

• Reporting compliance rate (%) with donor reporting deadlines and formats
• Timeliness and quality score of narrative and financial reports submitted
• Quarterly internal partnership performance reports delivered to SLT/CEO
• Monitoring framework adoption rate across new institutional projects

Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Location: Remote Working
Salary: £48,000 – 54,000 per annum, depending on experience
Reports to: CEO

Head of New Developments  

£56,254 per annum, with a London Weighting Allowance of £4,530 for those living within a London Borough (32 local authority districts plus the City of London) 

Ref: 09REC 

Full Time 37.5 hours per week – happy to talk flexible working 

The role 

Sustrans is the UK’s leading active travel organisation, working to make it possible for people across society to walk, wheel and cycle.  We have a new strategy for the next five years, a key strand of which is to unlock active travel in new housing developments, and we are recruiting a Head of New Developments to lead this work.

This is a new position in which you will draw on your experience in the housing delivery sector to grow Sustrans’ contribution to the creation of new communities that have active mobility at their heart.  As well as leading our influencing work aimed at organisations in housing delivery, you will develop and promote an offer to partners, drawing on Sustrans’ existing infrastructure, behaviour change and advisory services.  You will connect with, inform and inspire professionals and decision makers involved in delivering new homes to adopt the actions required to increase active travel in their developments.  Through collaboration with our Commercial team and subject experts across Sustrans, you will develop a pipeline of funded work from public, private and third sector organisations, ultimately enabling more households to walk, wheel or cycle for their day-to-day journeys.

The role can be based in any Sustrans office and will involve frequent in-person meetings and site visits, particularly (but not exclusively) in the Midlands and South of England. 

About you 

You’ll have significant experience contributing to the delivery of new developments through work for or with organisations such as developers, housing providers, consultancies, local authorities or government.  We’re looking for applicants with a professional network in housing delivery, and significant experience securing new commissions from and/or influencing organisations involved in delivering new developments.  You’ll have a strong understanding of the development process, including the spatial planning system, and of the roles of the parties involved in delivering new developments, the power dynamics between them, and the opportunities and appetite each has for taking action to increase active travel.  Naturally, you’ll have deep knowledge of the challenges, opportunities and hot topics in housing delivery – for new towns, urban extensions and urban intensification schemes.

You’ll have exceptional external-facing leadership skills, and be a strategic, creative thinker, able to solve problems and convert new ideas into practical actions.  Your outstanding communication skills will enable you to engage with stakeholders at a senior level, including on contentious subjects and on high-profile projects.  You’ll have strong business acumen to secure new commissions and deliver effectively for clients, and the skills to influence decision-makers.

You’ll have experience of engaging meaningfully with communities to ensure that new developments respond to the challenges and aspirations of local residents and stakeholders.  And you’ll have good knowledge of how active travel can be embedded into new developments to maximise the number of routine journeys that are walked, wheeled or cycled.

We’re looking for exceptional collaboration and people management skills and a commitment to fostering an inclusive and high-performing organisational culture. We welcome Chartered membership of a relevant professional body. 

About Sustrans 

We work in urban and rural areas, making it possible, safe and appealing for people to people to walk, wheel and cycle.  We address the barriers that prevent people from travelling actively – barriers that disproportionately affect people who live in deprived areas, those who are disabled, people who are older or younger, and women and girls.

We’re a practical, can-do charity, designing award-winning infrastructure solutions in streets and across neighbourhoods, and working with communities to give people the skills, confidence, motivation and equipment to travel actively.  We’re experts in community and stakeholder engagement, carefully navigating the sometimes heated territory of our work to tackle traffic dominance and car dependency.  And we provide data, insight and advice to decision-makers, helping them invest effectively in transport, place-shaping and their communities.  We work with government, to support wider work to improve mobility, and to advocate for changes to policy and funding.  And over the last 30 years, Sustrans has developed the National Cycle Network from scratch, working with supporters, volunteers, governments and stakeholders to create 16,500 miles of traffic-free and low-traffic routes, loved and enjoyed by communities across the UK. 

We are now embarking on a new chapter for our charity, with a refreshed strategy.  The Head of New Developments will play a key role in growing our impact in this new chapter. 

What we offer 

Sustrans has a long-term commitment to being a charity for everyone - reducing inequality, valuing diversity, enabling inclusion and ensuring all people are treated with dignity and respect. We aim to be a truly inclusive employer and welcome applications from people from all parts of the community, in particular from under-represented groups.

In return we can offer true hybrid working to suit individual circumstances and a flexible, supportive and rewarding working environment.

Wellbeing 

• 28 days’ leave per annum plus bank holidays for full-time working
• Ability to buy an extra week of annual leave (pro-rata for part-time staff)
• Staff volunteer days
• 24/7 free, impartial and confidential support service
• We are members of the Green Commute Initiative and Cycle Scheme who both offer cycle to work schemes 

Financial 

• Group Personal Pension scheme with a 6% or 7% of basic salary contribution being matched by Sustrans
• Bike, computer and season ticket loans
• Discount benefits
• London Weighting Allowance of £4,530 for all those living within a London Borough (32 local authority districts plus the City of London)
• Death in service benefit – 3 x annual salary 

Family Friendly 

• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Flexible working practices (full time hours are 37.5 per week, Monday - Friday) 

Additional information 

• Closing date for the receipt of completed applications is 23:59, 10th August 2025.
• Interviews are expected to take place in person in London week commencing 18th August 2025.
• Applications are invited in the form of a CV and covering letter. 

Service Support Engineer

Salary: £33,000-£44,000
Location: Home-based
35 days annual leave, generous pension, enhanced carer & disability leave, tech allowance

I'm working with a national charity undergoing major digital transformation to recruit a Service Support Engineer to join their IT operations team. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with a passion for technology, great communication skills, and experienced in 1st and 2nd line IT support.

You'll be part of a collaborative, mission-driven organisation that’s committed to delivering great technical support to staff across the UK. In this role, you'll support day-to-day IT operations, solve problems, manage support tickets, and help maintain critical systems – all while working with cutting-edge tools like Microsoft Intune, Office 365, and Active Directory.

What you’ll be doing:

• Delivering excellent 1st and 2nd line support for staff across multiple locations
• Managing incidents and service requests through the ticketing system
• Installing, configuring, and troubleshooting hardware and software, including laptops, printers, mobile devices, and network equipment
• Supporting Office 365, Active Directory, and remote access tools
• Assisting with onboarding/offboarding, asset management, and MDM setup
• Travelling to offices and service sites to provide face-to-face IT support when needed

Skills required for the Service Support Engineer:

• Hands-on experience with Microsoft Intune, Office 365, and Active Directory
• Knowledge of ticketing and asset management systems (e.g. FreshService)
• Understanding of basic networking and remote desktop tools
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Calm, helpful, and approachable—able to support non-technical users
• Organised, with strong attention to detail and process-following skills
• A demonstrable passion for tech—whether through education, training, or self-learning

Understanding Recruitment is acting as an employment agency for this vacancy.

IT Support | 1st Line | 2nd Line | Microsoft 365 | Intune | Active Directory | Remote | Field Engineer

The Methodist Church is committed to ensuring its churches are safe spaces for all. We work hard to ensure compliance with legal requirements, develop good practice, provide effective training and give professional advice on individual cases.  We have an exciting opportunity to join our new safeguarding regional team operating in the north east region and take this forward supporting Methodist churches and work. The post holder will join a team of safeguarding officers who will carry specific responsibility for individual cases, undertake risk assessments, lead training and advise churches. The post will be aligned with specific Methodist districts and provide support to colleagues across the regional area requiring regular travel.

Hours of work: 24 hrs per week. (salary will be prorated to the hours worked)

The successful candidate will hold a relevant professional qualification, experience in child and/or adult protection or significant demonstrable relevant work experience.

Our Culture, Values and Benefits

Thank you for considering joining our inclusive and welcoming team that strives for excellence and values employee wellbeing.

We value and support all those who join our team through a positive work-life balance augmented by generous annual leave (plus an extra 3 days over Christmas/New Year), TOIL, flexi-leave and an on-site Wellbeing Adviser service. We offer a generous occupational pension scheme with pensions matched up to 8%.

The Methodist Church is an inclusive and supportive employer. We are actively committed to encouraging applications from people of all backgrounds. We welcome applications from people of Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic groups.

If you require reasonable adjustments to made at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact HR team.

Closing date:  28 August 2025

Interviews will take place on (in person): 10th September 2025

N.B. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible

We are Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking.

We want to create a nation where walking is the natural choice for everyday, local journeys; free from congested roads and pollution, reducing the risk of preventable illnesses and social isolation. We want to achieve a better walking environment and to inspire people of all generations to walk and wheel more.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join the team as our Commercial Sales Assistant. In this varied and exciting role, you will support the sales and operations processes behind our range of products and services, including WOW – the walk to school challenge, our award-winning offer for primary schools. The postholder will work within our trading subsidiary, Living Streets Services Ltd, helping deliver both commercial goals and charitable purpose.

What you’ll be doing:

·Act as the first point of contact for sales enquiries via phone and email.

·Support the full sales process, from preparing quotes and proposals to managing client accounts.

·Assist with order processing, fulfilment, invoicing and resolving delivery or service issues.

·Maintain accurate CRM/database records and ensure smooth communication with clients.

·Help organise outreach events and support the coordination of our annual WOW badge competition.

·Deliver exceptional service to schools, local authorities and other stakeholders.

What we’re looking for:

·Experienced in handling enquiries and providing administrative or sales support.

·A strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills.

·Highly organised with great attention to detail and time management.

·Confident with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and ideally familiar with CRM/e-commerce systems.

·Passionate about social enterprise and supporting sustainable, active lifestyles.

Closing date: 25/08/2025 (midnight)

Interviews: 04/09/2025 online via Teams

World Jewish Relief created the Specialist Training and Employment Programme (STEP) for refugees in 2016 and today we are the largest provider of specialist employment support to people who have experienced forced migration in the UK.STEP aims to support and empower people through a tailored employment programme that addresses the complex barriers that they face when preparing for and ultimately finding work in the UK.   

We support all people who have experienced forced migration, regardless of their proximity to the labour market, to develop the skills and access the opportunities they need to secure sustainable and meaningful employment. We run STEP online and in person programmes across the UK.  Our work now includes specific programming for women refugees, Afghan nationals, Ukrainians and those who have come through the asylum system

We are now expanding our work to deliver (in partnership with the British Council) an English Language and Employment Support Programme for up to 4,000 Ukrainians and Hong Kong BNO status/visa holder (50% of each community) over the next 12 months.

In order to succeed, participants need more than just training and job search support. They need to feel connected, informed, and welcomed into the communities they live in.

We are now recruiting a Community Lead to play a key role in delivering that wider support. You will lead community engagement and outreach activities, help participants understand and access local services, and ensure that support is culturally appropriate and inclusive. You will also help build partnerships with local groups, promote volunteering, and run events that support social connection and reduce isolation. You will contribute to our social value commitments and play a crucial part in shaping how the STEP programme responds to local needs and participant feedback.

About you

We are looking for candidates who have:

• Proven experience in community engagement, outreach or partnership work
• Understanding of the issues and challenges faced by people who have experienced forced displacement accessing employment and of the challenges faced by people who are resettling in a new country and community
• Experience of delivering and supporting events, webinars or community activities
• Experience producing accessible, culturally sensitive written materials or communications
• Experience working with or within community organisations or VCSEs
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills. 
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Confident writing skills (newsletters, social content or short reports)
• Proficiency in Cantonese and/or Ukrainian would be desirable to support webinar delivery and community engagement

Candidates must be UK based and have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the contract

​Benefits

We offer a range of benefits including:

• 23 days holiday pro rata plus bank holidays and Jewish holidays.
• Pension scheme – we contribute 5% to the World Jewish Relief pension scheme.
• Life Insurance – up to 3 times salary to nominated beneficiaries.
• Health Cash Plan – cash back to cover the costs of dental treatment, optical care, specialist consultations and a range of complementary therapies.
• Employee Assistance Programme – free, confidential advice or support with any personal or work. related concerns or free counselling if needed.
• On Friday the office closes at 3pm.
• We encourage flexible working and offer a range of flexible working options.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

World Jewish Relief promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We invite and welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds. We encourage applications from candidates of different ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation and of faith or none that meet the criteria set out for this role.

You don’t need to be Jewish to work for us, but you must but you must be committed to our faith-based values of Justice, Kindness, Repairing the World and Welcoming the Stranger. We are inspired by these values to work beyond our community, recognising the dignity and potential of all people.

We are striving to build a team reflective of the communities we work with. People with refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds are experts by experience and are particularly encouraged to apply for this position. If you have first-hand experience of forced migration, please let us know in your application. Additionally, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all the requirements that are listed within the person specification. 

We respect that people’s identity is not defined by their past experiences and do not expect candidates to describe their lived experience during the interview process unless they wish to do so. 

To apply

Please upload your CV and a cover letter explaining how you meet the criteria in the person specification. Please refer to the person specification which shows which criteria will be assessed in your CV and cover letter.

Interviews will be held remotely on 21st August 2025.

Expected start date will be 9th October 2025.

World Jewish Relief created the Specialist Training and Employment Programme (STEP) for refugees in 2016 and today we are the largest provider of specialist employment support to people who have experienced forced migration in the UK.STEP aims to support and empower people through a tailored employment programme that addresses the complex barriers that they face when preparing for and ultimately finding work in the UK.   

We support all people who have experienced forced migration, regardless of their proximity to the labour market, to develop the skills and access the opportunities they need to secure sustainable and meaningful employment. We run STEP online and in person programmes across the UK.  

We are now expanding our work to deliver (in partnership with the British Council) an English Language and Employment Support Programme for up to 4,000 Ukrainians and Hong Kong BNO status/visa holder (50% of each community) over the next 12 months.

We are recruiting Senior Employment Advisors to join the STEP team delivering this new programme, working directly with participants who have specialist careers. The Senior Employment Advisors will have expertise in one or more of the following areas of recruitment: education, accounting and finance, health, and IT.

You will prepare participants for competitive employment and help them to achieve their chosen training and employment objectives in line with their previous career. You will provide an exemplary level of support to STEP participants working towards a variety of performance targets based on the progression outcomes of participants including successful completion of training courses, voluntary and work placements, and achieving and sustaining paid employment. 

The Senior Employment Advisors will work remotely and can be based anywhere in the UK.

About you

We are looking for candidates who have:

• Proven experience or knowledge within the employment sector
• Experience of support and recruitment into one or more of the following sectors: education, accounting and finance, health, and IT.
• Understanding of the issues and challenges faced by unemployed people to finding work, including those whose first language is not English
• Knowledge of adult learning/vocational training
• Experience of delivering 1:1 advice and guidance and supervising a case load of clients
• Experience delivering workshop activities around job search, work readiness and information, advice and guidance
• Experience of business engagement/intervention to facilitate access to placement and job opportunities
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Cross-cultural sensitivity
• Good admin and IT skills (CRM database, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Advanced level of English
• Competency in Cantonese or Ukrainian would be desirable

Candidates must be UK based and have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the contract

​Benefits

We offer a range of benefits including:

• 23 days holiday pro rata plus bank holidays and Jewish holidays.
• Pension scheme – we contribute 5% to the World Jewish Relief pension scheme.
• Life Insurance – up to 3 times salary to nominated beneficiaries.
• Health Cash Plan – cash back to cover the costs of dental treatment, optical care, specialist consultations and a range of complementary therapies.
• Employee Assistance Programme – free, confidential advice or support with any personal or work. related concerns or free counselling if needed.
• On Friday the office closes at 3pm.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

World Jewish Relief promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We invite and welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds. We encourage applications from candidates of different ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation and of faith or none that meet the criteria set out for this role.

You don’t need to be Jewish to work for us, but you must but you must be committed to our faith-based values of Justice, Kindness, Repairing the World and Welcoming the Stranger. We are inspired by these values to work beyond our community, recognising the dignity and potential of all people.

We are striving to build a team reflective of the communities we work with. People with refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds are experts by experience and are particularly encouraged to apply for this position. If you have first-hand experience of forced migration, please let us know in your application. Additionally, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all the requirements that are listed within the person specification. 

We respect that people’s identity is not defined by their past experiences and do not expect candidates to describe their lived experience during the interview process unless they wish to do so. 

To apply

Please upload your CV and a cover letter explaining how you meet the criteria in the person specification. Please refer to the person specification which shows which criteria will be assessed in your CV and cover letter.

Interviews will be held remotely on 26th and 27th August 2025.

Expected start date will be 9th October 2025.

Home based in North East England and Yorkshire

East Riding of Yorkshire · North Yorkshire · Middlesbrough · Northumberland

About the role

Our passionate Regional Casework Coordinators are SSAFA’s front line of support for members of the armed forces community in need. They are the first point of contact for all beneficiaries into the Regional Office, assessing needs and allocating the case to one of our volunteer caseworkers.

You will sometimes handle complex problems from individuals who may be distressed, identifying the presenting and potential underlying needs to determine the best way to support the beneficiary. You will have ownership of cases from beginning to end, coordinating the casework process in a timely manner and ensure that the beneficiary journey is at the centre of the Service. You will have the opportunity to shape processes and procedures within the office which will lead to improvements in the service offered to clients.

To help you establish yourself in this new post you will receive excellent training and induction to SSAFA.

Whilst the post is homebased, to be eligible for this role you are required to live in the North East England or Yorkshire region, which includes North, South, East and West Yorkshire, Teesside, County Durham, Tyne & Wear and Northumberland. There will be occasional travel around these areas, and you may be required to travel at short notice for face-to-face meetings.

About the team

The team work remotely and pride themselves in maintaining a close working bond which ensures the smooth operation of the office. You will work closely with volunteers from the eight SSAFA branches in the Northeast and Yorkshire, supporting them to administer casework for SSAFA beneficiaries. The successful candidate will work as part of a team 8, which includes a Regional Casework Manager and a Regional Manager for Casework and Community Engagement.

About you

To carry out this role successfully you will have a track record of providing welfare advice in key areas such as housing, benefits, debt, disability, mobility or immigration issues. You will have knowledge of safeguarding and GDPR and experience in dealing with sensitive information and people in vulnerable situations. You will be able to provide excellent customer service by telephone, e-mail and face to face. You will have used Microsoft Office 365 to a high standard. It is important that you have experience of planning and managing your own workload, with minimal supervision.

It would be advantageous if you have an understanding of the way of life for today’s Armed Forces, veterans and their families and if you have experience of recruiting and supporting volunteers. An understanding of the voluntary sector and preferably the military charity sector landscape across the Northeast and Yorkshire would be valuable.

About SSAFA

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing practical, emotional, and financial support to our Forces and their families since 1885. SSAFA, is a trusted source of support for the Armed Forces community in their time of need; last year our trained teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 53,000 people in need, including veterans, serving personnel (regulars and reserves) and their families.

SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. We are here for that person and their family – any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us.

Diversity and Inclusion at SSAFA

SSAFA exists to support a diverse range of beneficiaries within the armed forces community, and we believe diversity within our teams is key to ensuring we can deliver our services effectively. We thrive on differences and believe it is critical to our success as a worldwide charity. SSAFA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business.

SSAFA is committed to using the Disclosure & Barring Service to ensure we, as an employer, safeguard those we serve.

No agencies please. Any unsolicited submissions from agencies will be accepted as a direct application from the candidate and no fees will be payable.

How to apply

For more information and to apply, please click on the Apply button.

If you need any adjustments to support you with the application process, please contact us.

Closing date: Midnight on Tuesday 12 August 2025.

Interviews: TBC

The Network Lead plays a central role in helping us achieve our vision to end the need for food banks in the UK. This is a varied, proactive and fast-paced role leading work to support our food banks to deliver a warm welcome, emergency food, and access to tailored support and advice for people experiencing poverty in communities across Northern Ireland, while we work together for long-term structural changes to tackle drivers of food bank need.

The role involves line management of Area Managers working directly with Food Banks, and the coordination of projects and partnerships to support food banks in our network to reduce the need for their services locally.

You will need to live in Northern Ireland or be planning to relocate as the role involves regular travel to visit our Northern Ireland food banks.

Role responsibilities

· Food Bank Support: Manage the delivery of support to food banks in Northern Ireland ensuring our community of food banks remain resilient and can provide a compassionate service to people in need of emergency food for as long as services are needed.  

· Strategic Leadership: Coordinate the delivery of strategic programmes of work that are part of Trusell’s five-year strategy to end the need for food banks, including through developing and delivering Northern Ireland specific priorities.

· Projects and partnerships: Build partnerships with organisations to develop and build services and systems that help end the need for food banks in Northern Ireland, including with national government, elected representatives, churches, community organisations and research bodies.

· Team Leadership: Provide leadership, support, coaching, development, and line management to the area managers.

· Risk Management: Ensure consistent quality assurance of food banks across Northern Ireland, in line with the risk framework and support area managers to deal with complaints and manage food banks with high risks.

· Cross-organisational working: Act as a liaison between the area team, other teams within the Food Bank Resilience Programme, and other Programme colleagues, managing the flow of ideas and feedback to positive effect. 

Person Specification

Technical skills and minimum knowledge:

· Confidence in representing Trussell with a range of stakeholders, including community and church leaders, civil servants and elected representatives, to enable the effective roll-out of the organisational strategy in Northern Ireland.

· Knowledge and experience of community development or local service provision and a good understanding of local systems of support relied upon by people experiencing poverty.

· Experience of managing projects and partnerships, from inception to evaluation, to achieve strategic goals.

· Experience of team leadership including line management and supervision, including dealing with performance issues and using coaching skills.

· Competent and efficient use of IT, including the main Microsoft Office programmes and database management.

Behaviours and competencies:

· Demonstrates a commitment to Trussell values and our vision and mission

· Demonstrates empathy for people from disadvantaged, marginalised or socially- excluded backgrounds 

· Role models inclusive behaviour, values and leadership

· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, particularly listening skills.

· Confident, resilient and self-motivated team player

· Well-organised and able to juggle competing priorities.

· The ability to build effective relationships in contexts where Christian faith plays a major part, and in which people of all faiths and none collaborate to make a difference together.

The vacancy

We are seeking to appoint one lay member to sit on our GOC Council.

About the GOC

We are the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Our purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education, performance and conduct.  For more information about us please visit our website:optical. org.

About the Council

The role of Council is to lead on the GOC’s mission to protect the public by upholding high standards in eye care services.  The Council is composed of six lay members (including the Chair) and six registrant members (i.e. registered optometrists and dispensing opticians).  At least one member of the Council must work wholly or mainly in each of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.  One Council member acts as a Senior Council Member whose role is to carry out the Chair’s appraisal as well as provide a sounding board for the Chair and serve as an intermediary for Council members, Executive and stakeholders as necessary. 

The successful candidate will contribute to Council by exercising oversight, ensuring effective corporate governance, and making high-level policy decisions. They will be able to operate strategically and impartially; listen, communicate, and influence effectively; exercise judgment; and inspire confidence and support amongst our stakeholders. 

Remuneration and time commitment

Council members are remunerated in accordance with our member fees policy (£13,962 per annum plus reasonable travel and subsistence expenses).  The member fee includes time for reading and preparation.

The appointed member will be expected to commit approximately 2-3 days per month.  Meetings will usually take place via MS Teams but may on occasion be held at the GOC Offices at Level 29, One Canada Square, London, E14 5AA. There are occasional online catch-up meetings - these are currently scheduled on a Tuesday evening every 6-8 weeks, from 5.30pm – 6.30pm.

How to apply:

Please email the the following to appointment@optical. org

· your CV outlining your employment history, any relevant voluntary work, public service or other experience; together with any relevant professional, academic or vocational qualifications;

· the application form, stating how your experience matches the criteria for the vacancy you are applying for; and

· complete the EDI monitoring form linked in the candidate pack (this is an online form and does not need to be included in the email with your CV and application form).

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  midnight on Sunday 10 August 2025.

Online interviews will be held on between Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 October 2025.

If you have any questions, please email them to appointment@optical. org and we will aim to respond to you within 48 hours. 

We welcome applications from individuals who are disabled and from diverse ethnic backgrounds as these are currently under-represented on our council and committees.

We strive to be as diverse as the public we protect and welcome applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity and geographical locations outside of London.

Location: North Tyneside and Northumberland (Hybrid)

Reports to: Prevent & Cope Team Coordinator 

Job Type: Part-Time – 18.5-20 hours per week

Salary: £23,690 - £25,235 per annum (pro-rata for part-time hours).

Are you passionate about supporting children and young people affected by domestic abuse? Do you want to make a real difference through therapeutic support in a trauma-informed, child-centred environment? Join Acorns as a Mental Health & Wellbeing Project Worker.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and empathetic Mental Health & Wellbeing Project Worker to contribute to the development and delivery of flexible support services which address the psychological and emotional needs of children, young people and families living with the effects of domestic abuse, in North Tyneside and Northumberland. You will help to develop, organise and facilitate key aspects of the service as requested by the Team Coordinator such one-to-one support interventions, group work, and youth participation opportunities in a variety of settings including in-house, schools and community venues.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver flexible one to one support sessions, using a range of interventions to assess and positively contribute to the individual wellbeing needs of children and young people impacted by domestic abuse.
• Support service users, particularly within the 11-16 age group to develop personal and life skills, promoting self-esteem and independence, and raising awareness of other support services and opportunities available to them and their families.
• Contribute to the planning and delivery of group work, activities and events, including the continued development of service user participation
• Work in partnership with statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure coordinated care and refer service users to additional sources of help and protection as needed.
• Adhere to safeguarding, confidentiality, and equal opportunities policies while maintaining accurate and confidential records, reporting appropriately, and complying with organisational guidelines.
• Participate in training, supervision, and team activities, contributing flexibly to service development and supporting broader organisational goals as required by management.

About You

• Holds qualifications and relevant experience in social care, childcare, youth work, or a therapeutic field
• Experience working directly with children and young people with an excellent understanding of common issues relating to child development, mental health and wellbeing
• Experienced in one-to-one casework, group facilitation, youth programmes, and multi-agency working, with a proven ability to assess needs and connect individuals to appropriate support services.
• Effective communicator with the ability to engage sensitively and non-judgementally with service users, demonstrating empathy, professionalism, and a commitment to empowering individuals.
• Skilled in managing workloads, maintaining accurate records, writing reports, and meeting deadlines under pressure, with strong time management and attention to detail.
• A motivated, flexible team player who values equality and diversity, and brings creativity and initiative to their practice.
• Driver (essential) with access to a reliable vehicle for work purposes.  This role involves frequent travel to and from locations across North Tyneside and Northumberland to meet the varied needs of service users.

Why join us?

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a positive, compassionate and impact-driven team. You’ll enjoy flexible working arrangements and autonomy in your role, opportunities for professional development and training, a supportive environment, reflective supervision, and the chance to help shape our systems for the better.

We warmly welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to equal opportunities.

Please note that a DBS check will be necessary for this role

If you are committed to empowering children and young people and want to be part of a team making lasting change, we’d love to hear from you.

Programme Officer for Europe & Eurasia

About the role:

The Programme Officer will provide programmatic support to a portfolio of Internews Europe’s projects in the Europe & Eurasia (E&E) Region. The role will be part of Internews’ Regional E&E Team and report to the UK-based Regional Programme Manager. The role will support the project teams in the E&E region as they conduct their project activities and ensure effective programme implementation, particularly related to project reporting, work planning, and monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL).

The role will coordinate with diverse international donors to contribute to development opportunities that support E&E media and journalists to safely provide good-quality information. The role supports the design and development of innovative programmes and serves as the point of contact for E&E projects within Internews Europe and for some project donors. The role may also be asked to represent Internews at partner and donor meetings. The role will also contribute to Internews’ knowledge management and improvement of Internews systems.

Key responsibilities:

• Support the project teams across all programmatic and operational aspects of European-funded grant programmes to implement high-quality projects on time, according to the budget, and to the highest technical standards, and in a way that positions projects within a broader regional or thematic portfolio and contributes to organisational impact
• Monitor progress towards project deliverables and provide guidance to project teams
• Support project openings/start-ups and closeouts
• Advise on project team composition and support with hiring key project personnel
• Guide the project teams on rules and requirements of European donors and Internews’ internal policies and procedures
• Work closely with the E&E Business team on business aspects of project delivery, including budget management and financial tracking
• Review and revise donor narrative reports, workplans, and MERL plans to ensure their high quality
• Review and provide feedback on relevant programmatic and monitoring aspects, including MERL reporting, external project evaluation, and other research and studies
• Solicit, draft, and edit success stories, briefers, and other communications materials for E&E projects in coordination with project teams
• Contribute to or draft scopes of work, programme descriptions, etc. for subgrants or contracts as needed
• Coordinate and contribute to various aspects of proposal development, including research, writing, and editing
• Provide input and support for organisation-wide initiatives as needed
• Travel within the E&E region as necessary
• Represent Internews in official meetings as necessary
• Other duties as reasonably assigned
• In all duties, uphold Internews’ Core Values and demonstrate commitment to fostering a culture of Belonging, Dignity, and Justice.

Qualifications:

Required:

• 5+ years of relevant experience
• University degree in a related field;
• Familiarity with the E&E region and/or media-related issues
• Native-level fluency in written and spoken English, with superb writing and text-editing skills. Proven ability to convey complex ideas with clarity and precision
• Excellent research and analytical skills and relevant experience
• Ability to set priorities and manage time effectively
• Willingness to roll up sleeves and do any task required to get the job done
• Self-starter and dynamic with a strong level of self-awareness. Assertive, with the ability to work on own initiative with little supervision
• Strong teamwork experience and proven track record of a collaborative approach to problem-solving
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including diplomacy, tact, and the ability to negotiate
• Proven ability to operate effectively in a multicultural environment
• Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office programmes
• Ability to travel internationally.

Desirable:

• Proficiency in Russian (written and spoken) and/or other languages spoken in the E&E region is an asset, but not required
• Solid understanding of and/or interest in media development and other civil society development issues in the E&E region
• Experience supporting donor-funded projects and contributing to proposals for donors (particularly EU-funded projects).