STEP Community Lead

Salary:                       £37,310 pro rata

Location:                   Remote or Hybrid – 2 days a week in London office

Contract:                   Part time (17.5 hours /week) Fixed term contract to August 2026

Closing date:            17^th August 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. 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.