Volunteering Lead

Job Description

Every year, thousands of amazing people donate their time and skills to help protect their local National Trust beaches, woodlands, parks, and historic houses. With their help we aim to protect special places for ever, for everyone. Thats quite a bigask and we have big ambitions for the future. With technology advancing, new social issues emerging and the environment changing we have a great opportunity to expand what volunteering means at the Trust. With over 50,000 volunteers we already are a forcefor good. We want to do more - create new opportunities, work with new partners, improve how we support and recognise our volunteers, and make it easier for new volunteers to get involved. As well as looking ahead to the future, responding to the current needsof people and places will be equally important. Covid-19 has impacted volunteering and our volunteers in many different ways and working with others to create positive and safe volunteering experiences and respond to change will be an important priority overthe coming months and years ahead.What its like to work here This post is contractually based at our offices in Swindon but is currently working remotely. There will be an opportunity to explore and agree remote working arrangements which strike the rightbalance for you and the Trust. As a guide, presence in the office is expected 1/2 days per week on average. Were bigger than you think, were more complicated than we appear and were larger scale than youd imagine. Weve got passionate people in all ourteams, and weve got so much more we want to achieve. Were for ever, for everyone and we really mean that. We dont want to stop at 5.5 million members and we want everyone to feel welcome and enjoy access to our places, so we need to reach new audiencesin ways that are meaningful and relevant to them without losing the hearts and minds of those that are already with us.What youll be doingTheres already a huge range of ways people can normally get involved - welcoming visitors, photographers, trustees,specialist advice volunteers, gardeners, storytellers, urban rangers, coast walkers, system support, archaeology, corporate volunteering, festival support, counting butterflies.... The possibilities are endless. Youll be responsible for designing new volunteeringopportunities and implementing these at a national scale. Youll work across all areas of the organisation to develop, test & implement change that works both locally and nationally. We dont want to try new things for the sake of it though - we want to genuinelymake a positive difference to our places, to the environment and local communities. So were looking for people who are committed to measuring and evaluating our social/business impact. There is already a huge amount of great practice and ideas so youll belinking up with colleagues and external peers to share and scale up best practice. Youll be using your subject matter expertise to advise/influence central decision or national campaigns. Thinking long term will be a key part of your role and youll be lookedto provide strategic thinking and planning in volunteering, and to support colleagues who lead work regionally and locally. The end to end experience of volunteers and volunteer managers needs to evolve and respond to internal and external trends. Part ofyour role will be monitoring/improving the overall end to end experience, identifying trends and potential national solutions - working collaboratively with our Experience Design team.Who were looking forWorking within the central People Engagement team wewill be focusing on two main things; Firstly, challenging the way we do things and responding to opportunities/challenges to grow, improve and diversify volunteering. Secondly, recognising the really inspiring work that exists within the National Trust, scalingit up and creating guidance for colleagues to learn from each other. To be successful in doing this you will need to: Use insight & MI to drive evidence-based decision making both locally and on a national scale. Have experience of volunteering trends & developinginnovative volunteering offers that appeals to a broad audience and meets local & organisational objectives. Have the ability to collaborate internally & externally with the capability to balance the different needs of the organisation. Have excellent stakeholdermanagement skills with the ability to influence at all levels Lead for partnership working and develops national partnerships, encouraging properties to work with local partners