Volunteering Leader

About the Trust We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?

Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.

Join Our Team: Volunteering Leader - National Collections Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive. Help unlock the potential of volunteers supporting one of the UK's most significant waterways heritage collections. This is a unique opportunity to work alongside volunteers who help care for, document, conserve and share the Canal & River Trust's National Collections. From collections audits and digitisation projects to historic vessels, steam engines and conservation activities, no two days are the same.

Working Hours & Location This is a full-time role working 37 hours per week. The Volunteering Leader will be based at Ellesmere Port, home to the National Waterways Museum and a significant part of the Trust's National Collections. Regular travel will be required to support volunteers and activities at our other National Collections sites, including Gloucester and Stoke Bruerne. A full UK driving licence is essential.

Role Overview As Volunteering Leader, you will lead, coordinate and support a growing community of volunteers who make a vital contribution to the care, conservation and interpretation of the Canal & River Trust's National Collections. Working closely with Collections Officers, Technicians and the wider Heritage & Collections team, you'll spend much of your time working directly alongside volunteers, providing practical support, guidance and supervision while helping to create a positive, rewarding and inclusive volunteering experience. Our volunteers bring a wide range of skills and experience, supporting everything from collections documentation, audits and digitisation to collections care, conservation, historic vessels and the operation and maintenance of historic steam and diesel engines. You'll help ensure these activities are well planned and delivered safely, with a strong focus on volunteer wellbeing, health and safety, safeguarding and compliance.

Key responsibilities: Lead, support and supervise volunteers across a varied programme of National Collections activities. Organise volunteer rotas, communications, briefings and day-to-day support, including volunteer welfare and pastoral care. Build positive relationships with volunteers, recognising their individual skills, experience, interests and aspirations. Support volunteer recruitment, induction, training, development and retention. Work with Collections colleagues to plan volunteering activities that support National Collections priorities. Promote a strong culture of health, safety and wellbeing, ensuring volunteer activities are appropriately planned, risk assessed and delivered safely. Maintain accurate volunteer records and activity data using digital systems. Identify opportunities to improve the volunteer experience and develop volunteering across National Collections.

About You We're looking for an organised, enthusiastic and people-focused individual with experience of leading and supporting volunteers. You'll be confident coordinating people and activities, communicating with a wide range of people and building positive relationships. You'll understand the importance of health and safety, safeguarding, volunteer wellbeing and inclusive working practices. You don't need previous experience of working within a museum, collections or heritage environment. What's most important is your ability to lead, support and develop volunteers. Training and support will be provided to help you develop your knowledge of the National Collections and the standards needed to care for them. An interest in heritage, conservation, historic collections, industrial history or waterways heritage would be an advantage.

Skills & Qualifications Essential Proven experience of working with and leading volunteers. Experience of coordinating, supervising or leading people and activities. Strong interpersonal, communication and organisational skills. Experience of using digital/online tools. Understanding of health and safety responsibilities within a practical working environment. Experience of delivering activities to agreed timescales and standards. Commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion. Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly between National Collections sites.

Desirable NVQ Level 3 or BTEC Level 3 in an appropriate subject. Experience within a heritage, museum, conservation, visitor attraction or community setting. Experience of delivering training, inductions or competency-based learning. Interest in heritage, historic collections, conservation, industrial history or waterways heritage.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Contact & Application If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at [email removed - click apply for more details]. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.

What We Offer In addition to your annual base salary of £29,670, we also offer a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here: EVP - 1.

Our values We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community. We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes. All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis. We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme. At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception - are made by our hiring managers.