Volunteering & Community Manager

Job Description

Summary Wallington sits within the glorious Northumberland countryside just 40 minutes from the centre of Newcastle. The House, garden and visitor hub nestle into the southern boundary, with the estate stretching north for twenty square miles, covering13,500 acres. 240,000 annual Visitors already enjoy Wallington, as a traditional National Trust house and garden to visit, however, Wallington remains the largest, intact agricultural estate ever left to the trust, gifted by Sir Charles Philip Trevelyan in1941. Wallington holds national significance, with enormous potential to make land use changes at a landscape scale, directly responding to the crisis in nature and climate change. (Please view this clip of our recent work). You will be a critical component to the success of this, with a unique opportunity to influence and co create the plan, bringing people and nature, right at the heart of our work. We foresee significant opportunities to grow our volunteer base which youwill work collaboratively to identify and resource.Reporting directly to the General Manager, aa part of the Wallington Leadership team working collaboratively in developing and delivering Wallingtons strategic plan. You will lead on developing our ambition to become market leading in the Northeast, asan inclusive and accessible place to visit, volunteer and work, through collaborative working with our Programming and Partnerships Manager. The role will be based at Wallington and include deputising for the GM both externally and internally.Your working pattern would cover a two-week rota, working every other full weekend and some bank holidays. As we develop our external strategy there is likely to be the need for flexibility, when engaging communities and groups.Please include a covering letter to answer: As our largest estate, Wallington is of national significance and critical to delivering our Land and Nature ambitions. Tell us in your own words why this place and role attracted you and what we might bemissing out on if we didnt interview youInterviews will be held Monday 21st June.Those candidates invited to interview will be asked to prepare a 15-minute presentation in the format of their choice describing what they would see themselves delivering in the first 100 days in role What its like to work here Wallington is set in the middle of Northumberland approximately twenty miles north-west of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne.Learn more by clicking here.The house, at the south end of an estate which extends to nearly 13,500 acres, is surrounded by parkland and arable farmland watered by northern tributaries of the river Wansbeck. From the house the land rises to the estate village of Cambo, and then onto poorer upland grazing, peaking at Hemmel Hill in Harwood Forest (330 metres, 1083 ft) towards the north of the estate. Shaftoe Crag is prominent in southern views from the estate; to the east Rothley Crag, topped by a folly castle, guards the road to Scotland;and to the north and west are the Simonside Hills and the Cheviots. In its glorious countryside setting Wallington survives, one of the great estates of the north, owned by a single family, loved and embellished by succeeding owners for nine generations. Click here for more information about this location What youll be doing The starting point for the role will be to focus on cultivating meaningful relationships with our local community. It is vital that we listen to our partners and communities of interestto better understand the part we can play in serving their needs while also fulfilling our ambition and developing opportunities as part of the long-term development of the estate. You will bring a proven track record of passion, experience and learning from other projects you have driven. You will lead the offer for the existing 120 active volunteers within the visitor hub and take the leadership team on a journey embedding a morediverse, inclusive volunteer offer, supporting all aspects of our work, across the 7-day week. Who were looking for To be successful in this role you will be a proven leader, confident and outgoing, sharing our passion to bring nature and people together:

• You are a passionate advocate for land management change and are highly motivated to engage others in responding to the crisis in climate change and nature
• You are already working with communities and volunteers and demonstrate a broad range of participation and partnership working
• You will be innovative in your approach and have previously developed new volunteering offers for a diverse audience
• You can think nationally but work locally, when considering your strategic planning and have excellent engagement and communication skills
• You have persuasive and credible influencing skills as well as being an active listener
• Youre at your best working collaboratively within a team and bring a professional, solid understanding of what excellent volunteering looks like
• You are highly motivated by Wallington as a special place and growing its relevance for communities.

The package The National Trust has the motto For everyone, for ever at its heart. Were working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. Its important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audienceswe serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say were for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.Wherever youre from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from youand it doesnt matter if youre jam first, cream first, or even if you dont like scones at all. Everyone is welcome.Benefits for working at the National Trust include:

• Flexible working whenever possible

• Free parking at most locations

• Free entry to our properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

Click here to find out moreabout the benefits we offer to support you.