Volunteer Leader – Corporate Focus

Job Title:Volunteer Leader – Corporate Focus

Advertised Salary: £31,220 Inclusive of Inner London Allowance

Location: Docklands, London E14 9ST; Southall UB2 5QW; Enfield EN3 6JG

A Valid UK driving licence (held ideally min 3 years), is essential for this role as you will be expected to drive company liveried vehicles.

One of the UK’s biggest charities, the Canal & River Trust looks after, and brings to life, 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales, because we believe that life is better by water. Every role across the Trust plays its part in transforming our canals and rivers into spaces where local people want to spend time and feel better, bringing wellbeing benefits to millions every day.

We are looking for a Volunteering Leader focusing on the corporate volunteering across the Region to be based with our London South East Operations Team (E14 9ST)

Our Volunteer Leaders:

• Work with other Volunteer Leaders in the region to identify opportunities for delivering corporate engagement activities to maximise benefit, eliminate duplication and present corporate partners with a single point of contact.
• plan and deliver a wide range of corporate and other volunteer activities and events, assist operational teams in their task management of volunteering activities and liaise with volunteers, volunteer groups and supervisors.
• deliver day-to-day works in Operations & Environment, such as general maintenance & repair work. This will include operating waterway control structures (further training will be provided) and tow path repair/cleaning. 

You will be required to work an annualised hour’s system which includes working a rota system including some statutory holidays, weekends and an 'on call' system. 

It's a diverse and rewarding role through which you can make a real difference on our waterways and within our communities by collaborating with colleagues, stakeholders and volunteers to bring volunteering efforts to life. 

Occasionally you may also be required to work in other areas of the region to support delivery of London & South East operations team projects. 

Key accountabilities:

• Provide support across the LSE regional operations team in developing a corporate volunteering model and annual programme that can be shared with organisations wanting to support us.
• Support and advise the Task Manager in the management of volunteers.
• Liaise with the wider volunteering team within the Regions to understand the skills available within the existing volunteer population and how this could assist the Corporate Volunteering Model.
• Liaison with volunteers and corporate partners to understand their current capabilities and aspirations.  Match these skills to the volunteering opportunities within the Corporate Model.
• Assist in the development of lead volunteers for the team.
• Management of volunteers in the delivery of works to ensure they are completed safely and to the correct quality, whilst maintaining volunteer satisfaction.
• Co-ordination of staff, vehicles and equipment for the efficient delivery of volunteer works.
• Promotion of a strong safety culture to ensure all works are completed with safety as a priority thereby ensuring the wellbeing of staff, volunteers and customers.
• Displaying the Trust values and behaviours at all times.
• Ensuring that diversity and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of Trust life and promoting inclusion by challenging behaviour, practices, actions, or decisions that are counter to the objectives of the Trust’s policies and values.

Knowledge, Experience & Skills

It is essential that our new team members can settle in and enjoy the varied work we perform, so you really must love physical outdoor work all year around, and have a genuine appreciation for respecting the needs of nature, environment and our millions of waterway visitors.  Our waterways are not just for short visits by day users or holidaymakers, thousands of community members live on our boats all year and you will be playing a role in caring for their home, their space.

It is also essential that you are comfortable dealing with the public, and can respond to the unexpected with thought, care, respect and a positive practical approach. Knowledge of the Trust’s volunteer management system and process is preferable.

You might have practical skills and many years of working experience to offer, or you may just be starting out in your career and looking for a role which calls on your practical nature.  You don't need to be an expert in any field, but you will be able to demonstrate that you hold the values and behaviours that ensure our customers and visitors know we care.

Technical:

• Some experience in customer service.
• Basic IT skills - comfortable with modern handheld mobile devices for making calls, inputting information, and use of mobile applications etc.
• A Valid UK driving licence (held ideally min 3 years), is essential for this role as you will be expected to drive company liveried vehicles.

General: 

• Excellent communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Experience of planning and organising events or activities
• Strong administration skills
• Good customer service skills

It is important that you really love to work with others and get things done through others to succeed in this role.  Building and maintaining strong professional relationships is also important and an ability to adapt to diverse approaches and needs of those we work - colleagues and volunteers alike. 

If you have any questions about the role please contact CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk

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.

In addition to your annual base salary of £27,220, we also offer an Inner London Allowance (£4,000) competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, and numerous other employee benefits, including several salary sacrifice benefits we are also open to flexible working arrangements. These include:

• Competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, where we will double your contribution to a maximum of 10%.
• 25 days paid holiday (plus paid Bank Holidays), increasing to 30 days after 5 years.
• Annual £200 personal learning & growth award to spend on any learning related activity.
• Free access to specialist counselling on a range of issues, e.g. health, financial, well-being and domestic matters.
• Access to a range of employee benefits including store discounts, boating holiday discounts and holiday purchase scheme.
• 2 days paid volunteering leave per annum, allowing you to volunteer for a local community project etc.
• Free fishing facilities across our canal network.

At the Trust we care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do as a Trust. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job.

When you join the Canal & River Trust you become a member of an engaged team working to preserve our heritage for future generations. Come and share your passion and knowledge with a team that makes a difference to millions of people every day.

Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us