Are you passionate about making a difference for young people? Do you thrive on building relationships and creating opportunities? If so, this role is for you!

As an Employer Liaison Officer, you'll be the vital link between Barnardo's Works Highland and local employers, helping young people aged 14–24 take their first steps into the world of work. This is more than a desk job – it's about being out in the community, opening doors, and changing lives.

What You'll Do

• Connect & Collaborate: Build strong partnerships with employers and turn them into real opportunities.
• Know Your Market: Understand the local job landscape and spot chances for growth.
• Champion Young People: Support them into work placements, jobs, and apprenticeships that last.
• Make Things Happen: Organise networking events, job clubs, and employer engagement activities.

What We're Looking For

• Excellent communication and networking skills.
• A proactive, people-focused approach.
• Experience in employability or youth work is great – but passion and drive matter most!

Why Barnardo's Works?

Join a small, dedicated team making a big impact. Every day is different, and every success story starts with you.

Interested?

Find out more at barnardos-ets.org.uk or check out our Facebook page: Barnardo's Works Highland.

For questions, contact Barbara Brown at barbara.brown@barnardos.org.uk or call 07738 262843.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Pay & Reward Framework

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values. We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay.

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours. More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application.

Benefits

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our HolidayPlus scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

About Barnardos

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Our basis and values

Benefits:

• 29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays, with up to 5 additional days for continuous service and option to buy or sell leave
• Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities
• Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages
• Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover
• Staff discount portal and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailers discounts.

Vulnerable children in the UK need your help

Wherever you work in the Action for Children family, you'll be helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK.

Last year, we helped more than 687,000 children and families across the UK. From direct work in communities to national campaigning, we are focused on making sure every child has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.

Why Action for Children?

Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It's the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children's lives.

A bit about the role

You will be joining the team in our Employability Service. It provides support to young people aged 16-24, who have a range of barriers or needs.

Youthbuild (a construction training programme) works to tackle the underlying issues that might be preventing young people from entering and sustaining employment and capitalises on opportunities available. (is a construction training programme)

As an Employment Facilitator you'll be motivating, inspiring and directly supporting and delivering a range of both practical and vocational employability programmes aimed at young people to access, maintain and sustain future employment and further educational opportunities through the provision of a comprehensive in-house training programmes and work placements.

Key responsibilities will be:

• Managing and co-ordinating a caseload of young people, providing tailored interventions through group, coordinated or individual support.
• Delivering a range of group preparation for work modules that contribute to our overall employability programmes, promoting inclusion and allowing for individual learning styles.
• Adopting a key worker approach to support young people for up to 6 months from securing employment.

How you'll help to create brighter futures

Join us as an Employment Facilitator to help change the lives of young people in Edinburgh. You can grow your career by helping others to start out in theirs.

We are open to a variety of backgrounds. This could be your own first role after gaining a recent qualification. Or you could be looking to build on the experience you already have in youth work or employability. Either way, this is a great opportunity enhance life chances in local Edinburgh communities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Organising, coordinating, and leading the delivery of construction training sessions
• Delivering and/or coordinating practical 1–2-day sessions, examples, intro trades, taster sessions on practical skills and using tools and equipment.
• Working closely with colleagues to monitor the progress of trainees and plan training accordingly.
• Organising and implementing workload, including up to date records of activity, risk assessments and learner packs/certifications.

Let's talk about you

• It would be great if you have an SVQ 3 in Social Care, Guidance or equivalent – but we are very open to relevant or lived experience, rather than a qualification.
• You will be used to working in group settings with young people facing multiple barriers.
• You will have knowledge and understanding of young people facing unemployment.
• You need a full driving licence and access to a car to use for business.

We understand that there are a lot of jobs out there just now but if this role connects with you, and you really want to make a difference to the lives of young people, then we'd love to see your application.

Join our Board of Trustees at Space @ The Broomhouse Hub.

At Space, we believe in creating opportunities that bring people together, build confidence, and strengthen our community. Across more than 20 projects, we support people of all ages and backgrounds to learn, work, connect and thrive. From our community café and kitchen training programmes, to youth work, employability, carers support, and wellbeing services — everything we do aims to make life better in Broomhouse and beyond.

Our Mission

To build a thriving, inclusive and resilient community where everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential.

Our Values

• Respect: Welcome and listen without judgment.
• Integrity: Deliver value-based work with kindness and consistency.
• Collaboration: Connect with people and partners.
• Creativity: Take an innovative approach to resolve social challenges.
• Empowerment: Nurture talent and encourage self-development.

Why join us now?

It’s a really exciting time to become a Trustee. We’re currently delivering our 2024–2027 Strategy, focused on strengthening our community impact, growing sustainable enterprises, and supporting our brilliant team to make lasting change.

You’ll join a passionate, skilled and supportive board helping guide the next chapter of Space’s story.

The Role of a Trustee

Our Trustees play a vital role in three key areas: Strategy, Governance and Risk Management.

You’ll work with the leadership team as a critical friend — supporting, questioning, and inspiring us to stay true to our mission while continuing to innovate and grow.

Each trustee also “adopts” one of our services or projects, acting as a link between the Board and front line staff. This helps Trustees stay connected to the people and communities we serve, and brings valuable insight back to board discussions.

Trustees with specific professional experience engage in one of our four subgroups – Finance, Governance, People, Enterprise.

Right now we’re particularly keen to add to the existing financial skills of our Board, ideally welcoming someone with Management Accounting expertise, especially within SMEs or social enterprises. Someone with experience of being a charity treasurer would be highly beneficial.

That said, we’d love to hear from anyone who shares our values and brings experience in areas like fundraising, communications, enterprise, wellbeing, or facilities management.

Do I have to live in Edinburgh?

Not at all! We welcome applications from potential Trustees living anywhere. However, there is a requirement to attend an in-person Board meeting in Edinburgh once every two months. Attendance online can be arranged under special circumstances.

Our Trustees fall into two categories:

• Local Trustees: People living in South West Edinburgh, or within three miles of EH11 3RH.
• Business Trustees: People who do not live locally who join the Board to offer specific skills, expertise or professional experience.

Your Commitment

We truly value your time and experience, and we keep the commitment meaningful but manageable:

• Board meeting every two months in Edinburgh (2hrs in person)
• Sub-group meeting every three months (60-90 mins online)
• Annual General Meeting in Edinburgh (90mins in person)
• One Trustee Strategy Building Day per year (5-6hrs in person

Trustee Induction & Training

We provide a comprehensive induction and ongoing training programme to support all trustees in their role. This includes sessions on our governance structure, key policies, finance & budgeting, health & safety, safeguarding, and an overview of our current projects and strategic priorities.

Trustees also take part in regular development sessions throughout the year.

All new trustees have the option to be buddied up with an existing trustee while they find their feet.

Remuneration/Expenses

This is an unpaid role, however reasonable expenses associated with the role may be reimbursed.

Sound like something you’d be interested in?

If you share our values, believe in community-led change, and want to make a real difference — we’d love to hear from you.