Job Title: Heritage Engagement Officer
Salary: £27,855 – £31,097 per annum, pro rata
Hours: Part Time – 22.5 hours per week
Contract: 2 Year Fixed Term
Location: Heritage Centre, Spa Well Rd, Winlaton Mill, Blaydon-on-Tyne, NE21 6RU
About us
Groundwork NE & Cumbria is a long‑established environmental and community charity with over 30 years’ experience creating greener, healthier and more resilient places across the region. Our mission focuses on Improving People’s Prospects, Creating Better Places, and Promoting Greener Living, supporting communities to thrive no matter the challenges they face.
A key part of our work is the Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre in Winlaton Mill, a unique visitor hub set in the beautiful Derwent Valley. Operated by Groundwork, the centre showcases the area’s rich natural, industrial and cultural heritage, hosts year‑round events and activities for all ages, and features a café and community space that directly supports local environmental and heritage projects.
About the role
The Land of Oak & Iron is a unique landscape filled with centuries of industrial history, vibrant woodlands, cultural traditions and iconic wildlife. With support from National Lottery Heritage funding, we are delivering an exciting programme that will strengthen heritage connections across the valley.
As our Heritage Engagement Officer, you will play a central role in capturing stories, developing engaging resources, enhancing the Heritage Centre experience and building strong connections with volunteers, community groups, artists, schools and heritage partners.
This role is perfect for someone who loves working with people, is passionate about storytelling, and is excited to help preserve and promote local heritage for future generations.
About you
We’re looking for someone who is:
* Passionate about heritage, community storytelling and local history.
* Confident engaging with people from all backgrounds.
* Creative, organised and able to lead on heritage interpretation projects.
* Experienced in working with volunteers or community groups.
* Comfortable working flexibly, including some evenings and weekends.
Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 5th April 2026
Please note, should we receive a high volume of applications, we may look to close the role early, therefore we recommend an early application.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
Make yourself at home
We want you to be yourself at Groundwork and we value everything that makes you unique. We recognise and celebrate your difference and together we make Groundwork a special and great place to work. As a Disability Confident employer we offer a guaranteed interview to applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role
At Groundwork we ensure that we provide a safe environment for adults, children and young people to take part in any activity or service that we organise. We are committed to creating a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk. Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and comprehensive process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all the people we appoint are suitable to work with our children, young people and adults.
This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.
No agencies please
