Forces Families Employment Specialist (Maternity Cover)

The Poppy Factory; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity is seeking a Families Employment Specialist for a maternity cover role. This home-based position involves significant travel to support veterans' families in achieving employment goals. The ideal candidate will have lived experience within the armed forces community and possess strong communication and adaptability skills. Join a dedicated team committed to making a positive impact on the lives of veterans and their families.

Benefits

Generous holiday

Pension contributions

Team connecting opportunities

Variety in the role

Qualifications

• Lived experience of being a family member of serving military or veterans.
• Experience of supporting people with complex challenges.

Responsibilities

• Helping families and carers of veterans gain and retain employment.
• Building rapport with diverse backgrounds and supporting individuals in challenging circumstances.

Skills

Empathy

Collaboration

Communication

Adaptability

Emotional Resilience

Job description

Job Title: Families Employment Specialist – Maternity Cover

Location: Home-based with significant travel

Salary: £32,208

Hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week (part time or flexible working options considered)

Contract: 12 months fixed term with possibility of extension

Would you like to be inspired every day in a highly rewarding role? Whether it’s the family members we support, your colleagues or the other services that we collaborate with, you will be working with an exceptional group of people. The successful candidate will be helping the families and carers of veterans with health conditions gain and retain employment and develop their careers.

Launched two years ago with pilot funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund this service has expanded with additional funding secured until 2027.

We are looking for people who place importance in values such as empathy, collaboration and adaptability and are especially interested in applicants who have lived-experience within the armed forces community as a spouse or family member.

We believe in second chances and the transformative power of compassionate care. We are committed to providing comprehensive support to all individuals, regardless of their criminal record or background.

This role will be home-based with all necessary IT equipment provided therefore applicants will need an appropriate space to work at home. The families services is delivered mainly online with flexibility required for occasional evening / weekend working to meet the needs of the families we support.

Regular travel will be required to attend events and visit partners to spread the word about the service and build referral pathways nationwide. There will be occasional travel required for national team meetings in Richmond. These currently take place 3 times a year and require an overnight stay. There will also be periodic in-person meetings with colleagues which can take place at a convenient location locally.

What do we need from you?

• Lived experience of being a family member of serving military or veterans.
• Empathetic and effective communicator. You will be comfortable building rapport and trust with people from a diverse range of backgrounds.
• A collaborative mindset: You will enjoy working as part of a team with colleagues based across the UK who support each other in what can sometimes be a challenging role. You will also work closely with many other organisations for the benefit of the veterans you will be supporting.
• Motivation and commitment: It takes hard work, tenacity and time to help people reach their employment goals. You will sometimes be helping people in challenging circumstances who need intensive support to move forwards.
• Adaptability: This is hugely varied role and no two days are the same. You will often need to balance competing priorities or quickly shift focus depending on the needs of the people you will be supporting.
• Experience of and confidence in supporting people with complex challenges such as, health issues, substance use, insecure housing, criminal records, or other barriers to employment.
• You will be an emotionally resilient individual who can effectively navigate challenging circumstances by applying sound judgement and making reasoned decisions based on available information.
• Strong sense of shared purpose with The Poppy Factory’s mission and values.

Why should you apply?

• A chance to give back to our armed forces community and make a positive and lasting impact to the lives of veterans and their families.
• Competitive salary and benefits package including generous holiday and pension contributions.
• A welcoming and empowering culture, with regular opportunities for team connecting and shared learning throughout the year.
• Variety in the role, a mix of travelling in your area, home working and occasional visits to the historic Poppy Factory in Richmond, London
• The opportunity to develop the families service and build relationships with employers and other support services that best meet the needs of the people you’re supporting.
• Be part of an iconic charity with a 100+ year history

For further information, including the full job description for the role,please refer to the candidate pack.

How to apply

To apply for this position please prepare your CV and a covering letter clearly outlining how you meet the essential criteria in the person specification as set out above and submit via the online application process. Please address your covering letter to Kirsty Gronow, Services Manager.

For an informal conversation to find out more about this role, please contact Kirsty Gronow.

The closing date for this vacancy will be1 June 2025. Please note, we cannot accept late or incomplete applications. Only applications submitted through the online process will be considered.

Interviews will take place week commencing: 9June 2025

No agencies please.