Job Title: Employment Specialist – Connect to Work Salary: £28,383 – £31,683 per annum Hours: Full Time – 37 hours per week Contract: Permanent Location(s): Based in the North East Combined Authority Region – 1 x Newcastle & 1 x North Tyneside About us Groundwork NE & Cumbria is a long‑established environmental and community charity with over 30 years of experience creating greener, healthier and more resilient places across the region. Our mission centres on Creating Better Places, Improving People’s Prospects, and Promoting Greener Living, helping communities thrive no matter the challenges they face. We deliver hundreds of locally‑led projects each year, including initiatives that support young people into education, training and employment, helping them overcome barriers, build life skills, and reach their full potential. About the role We’re looking for an Employment Specialist to support the delivery of our Connect to Work programme. You’ll use the Individual Placement & Support (IPS) model to provide person‑centred IAG support to a caseload of around 25 clients, helping them move into and sustain meaningful employment. You’ll build strong employer relationships to source suitable vacancies and work closely with partners including health providers, mental health services, JCP, and other employment organisations to ensure joined‑up support. About you We’re looking for someone who is: * Passionate in supporting young people to overcome barriers and achieve their potential. * A strong communicator, confident engaging with clients, employers and partners. * Equipped with strong analytical and problem‑solving ability, able to assess needs and identify effective employment solutions. * Person‑centred, empathetic and passionate about helping others succeed. * Skilled at building positive, trusting relationships. * Highly organised with the ability to manage a varied caseload and meet deadlines. * Confident working independently and collaboratively. A full driving licence and the ability to work flexible hours when required would be beneficial. Closing date: Midnight on Tuesday 7th April 2026 Please note, should we receive a high volume of applications, we may look to close the role early, therefore we recommend an early application. Interested? If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position. This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure endorsed by the Disclosure and Barring Service. Make yourself at home: We want you to be yourself at Groundwork and we value everything that makes you unique. We recognise and celebrate your difference and together we make Groundwork a special and great place to work. As a Disability Confident employer we offer a guaranteed interview to applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role. At Groundwork we ensure that we provide a safe environment for adults, children and young people to take part in any activity or service that we organise. We are committed to creating a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk. Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and comprehensive process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all the people we appoint are suitable to work with our children, young people and adults This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract. No agencies please