Coordinator

Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A community support organization in Tees Valley is seeking a Coordinator to lead the Regional Refugee Forum. You will develop partnerships aimed at improving the lives of refugees and people seeking asylum in the North East. Responsibilities include strategic management, stakeholder engagement, and ensuring service sustainability. The ideal candidate has strong leadership skills and experience in community development. The closing date for applications is 19 January 2026.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading community initiatives.
• Skills in developing partnerships and engagement strategies.
• Knowledge of the voluntary and community sector.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of the Regional Refugee Forum North East.
• Manage stakeholder relationships and funding contracts.
• Develop and maintain partnerships across the region.

Skills

Leadership

Partnership development

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Job description

We are here to support , promote and develop voluntary and community action in Middlesbrough

The Regional Refugee Forum North East are recruiting for a Coordinator to lead a refreshed and invigorated Regional Refugee Forum to address the issues facing refugees and people seeking asylum across the northeast.

RESPONSIBLE TO

The Trustees of the Regional Refugee Forum North East.

JOB PURPOSE

To lead and manage the development of the Regional Refugee Forum North East, with delivery responsibility for strategic working and partnership development to benefit refugees and people seeking asylum living in the northeast of England more generally.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS

Monday 19 January 2026.

MAIN DUTIES

1.0 Organisational and service development

• To act as the lead officer for the development of local representation and infrastructure support work in northeast England, including developing and co‑ordinating service improvement activity.
• Develop our collaborative work with other organisations, as agreed with the trustees.
• Lead the development of bids and tenders to secure income in support of the sustainability of the Regional Refugee Forum North East, its service provision and agreed strategic priorities.
• Develop new proposals for service development in line with the strategic priorities.
• Establish, develop and maintain relationships with a wide range of key stakeholders across the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS), Public and Private sectors in support of the Regional Refugee Forum North East and other work as agreed.
• Represent the interests of refugees and people seeking asylum, and the voice of Refugee‑led Community Organisations in a range of planning and partnership forums as agreed with the trustees and stakeholders with lived experience of the asylum system in the UK.

2.0 Management

• Facilitate the process to develop a team work plan with regular monitoring and evaluation of the work of the Regional Refugee Forum North East.
• Ensure all commitments are met in relation to funding agreements (grant agreements, contracts etc) as directed by the trustees and prepare monitoring reports for funders as required.
• Develop a collegiate and collaborative system of organisational management, and team that includes RCOs, trustees and staff.
• Act as the Regional Refugee Forum’s lead officer in the core areas of strategic development and support to VCSE organisations, community development activity, and representation.
• Office management and line management of staff, including induction, development, supervision and support.
• Undertake the full range of project management activities for both new and existing initiatives as agreed.
• Prepare and manage budgets relevant to areas of responsibility and contribute to financial management of the organisation more generally.

3.0 Partnerships and sector engagement

• Develop and maintain appropriate and relevant partnerships with services and organisations across the region and key stakeholders.
• Develop a clear engagement strategy that facilitates engagement of refugees and people seeking asylum living in the Northeast of England and facilitates better understanding of the needs and aspirations. Help to engage with and build networks that help RCOs to be recognised as a valued partners that can contribute to the design and delivery of local services.
• Develop and implement systems and processes to ensure appropriate RCO representation at key strategic partnerships, forums and meetings and for transmitting information to and from them.
• Develop and maintain mechanisms for strategic engagement, ensuring the team is well connected to community issues and those of local RCOs.
• Develop, support and maintain a range of forums, networks and other groups that enable the voice of RCOs to be heard, maximising influence locally, regionally and nationally as appropriate.

4.0 Information and resources

• Overall management of information systems and processes to ensure RCOs are kept aware of local developments, initiatives and projects, as well as the services we provide and how to access them.
• Maintain awareness of policy and other developments relevant to your work through reading, attendance at meetings, conferences etc.
• Keep abreast of local issues, initiatives and projects.
• Contribute to the production of information materials, including website content, bulletins, social media posts etc.

5.0 Other

• Undertake training in line with Regional Refugee Forum North East requirements and personal development plans agreed with the trustees.
• Participate fully as a member of the staff team, attending meetings, sharing information and covering other posts during staff sickness etc.
• Contribute to organisational planning and policy at Regional Refugee Forum North East.
• Carry out work with the trustees to support the development of a solid platform of policies for the Regional Refugee Forum North East, its procedures and values.
• Contribute to the maintenance of a working environment in which diversity is respected and equality of opportunity is promoted.
• Undertake other duties as required by the trustees.

The closing date for this job is 19 January 2026 - 5:00pm.