Training and Employment Manager – Skills Connect

The Cedar Foundation is seeking to recruit the following staff member:

Training and Employment Manager – Skills Connect

Job Ref:             25-135-SM-SC-ECI-WEB

Job Role:           Training and Employment Manager – Skills Connect

Location:          Base Location to be agreed.

• The Cedar Foundation, I Upper Lisburn Road, Belfast BT10 0GW
• The Cedar Foundation, 1a Woodside Road Industrial Estate, Ballymena, BT42 4QJ,
• The Cedar Foundation,  An Storas, Ballybot House, 28 Cornmarket, Newry, BT35 8BG (with agile working options)

Salary:               Starting on £38,220 per annum, pro rata.

Hours:               37 hours per week (Mon – Fri) & 30 hours per week (pattern to be agreed)

Contract:          Until March 2029 (Please note this post is funded via the Peace Plus Programme.  Continuation of employment beyond this date is subject to funding)

The Service

The Skills Connect project is a cross community/cross border initiative to support urban and rural communities to address the significant skills gaps, disparity in education attainment and employment outcomes for people with disabilities and long term health conditions.  It aims to develop a strategy and action plan for sustained inclusive, labour-market responsive training options for people who fall outside traditional pathways.

Skills Connect will deliver academy-based training in the following sectors: Hospitality and Tourism, Health and Social Care and the Green Economy  through a curriculum of qualifications to reduce skills gaps and increase employability of participants. The project will work collaboratively with employers to build capacity to engage with a more diverse workforce.

Skills Connect is supported by the European Union’s PEACEPLUS Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).  The project is led by the NOW Group in partnership with the Cedar Foundation (Cedar), Open College Network NI, Ulster University and Dundalk Institute of Technology.

The Role

As a Training and Employment Manager you share is responsibility for the overall management, monitoring and front-line delivery of the Skills Connect project.  The will include management of  the development and delivery of high-quality training for Skills Connect participants to support positive progression as wells as overseeing the development, delivery and management of all areas of participant recruitment, participant progression, upskilling  and employer engagement within the project. The post holder will also manage front-line staff and resources ensuring that the project achieves all deliverables and budget compliance. The Employment Training and Employment Manager you will engage effectively with all stakeholders in a professional manner to ensure the optimum opportunities and outcomes can be achieved by the participants.  This is an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of people  with disabilities and neurodivergence.

Benefits

• 23 days annual leave and 12 statutory days pro rata. Annual leave entitlement increases to 28 days (pro rata) after 5 years’ service, and 30 days (pro rata) after 10 years’ service.
• Enhanced auto-enrolment pension scheme consisting of 5% employee contribution and 4% employer contribution.
• Occupational Sick Pay Scheme.
• Agile Working Options.
• Investor in People Platinum accredited organisation with commitment to development of the staff/ team through training and learning opportunities.
• Staff recognition & reward incentives aligned to high standards of performance.
• Health Cashback Scheme.
• Special offers at over 600 leading high street and online retailers.
• Cycle to work scheme.

Essential Criteria

1. Professional Qualifications:

• RQF level 6 (e.g. Bachelor’s Degree) or equivalent level professional qualification.

AND

• Minimum of 3 years’ paid experience in the project management of services for people with disability or other vulnerable groups.

OR

• Minimum RQF 5 or equivalent.

AND

• Minimum of 5 paid years’ experience as above.

2. Leadership and management skills with the ability to lead a team and work as part of a team.
3. Detailed knowledge of Employability & Skills services  and the ability to develop new ideas and initiatives to promote sustainable employability and inclusion outcomes.
4. Excellent communication skills both verbal and written, relationship building, negotiation and interpersonal skills to communicate with various stakeholders and young people.
5. Proficiency in IT skills, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook. 

Apply Online: https://cedar-foundation.getgotjobs.co.uk/home

Closing Date: Tuesday, 20th May 2025 at 10am

THE CEDAR FOUNDATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER.

Please Note – At present The Cedar Foundation does not offer sponsorship.