Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire volunteers to maintain and enhance our beautiful waterways.
- Company: Join a passionate team dedicated to environmental conservation and community engagement.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension scheme, 25 days holiday, and flexible working hours.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while gaining valuable leadership experience.
- Qualifications: Experience in volunteering or customer service, strong leadership and communication skills.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and community impact.
The predicted salary is between 28470 - 28470 £ per year.
Working Hours: 1931.4 annualised hours Monday - Sunday.
Location: Calveley, Tarporley Hub. Working along the Middlewich Branch, Llangollen and Shropshire Union Canals.
We currently have an opportunity for a Volunteer Leader. We are looking for an organised, proactive, engaging volunteering leader to support the Area Operations Manager. You will provide guidance to a growing number of active volunteers and our in-house team that helps maintain, conserve and improve the environment and heritage of the waterway network for local communities and visitors to enjoy.
About the role:
- This is an exciting opportunity, which offers a great variety of activities and tasks from day to day.
- You will be the public face of the Trust, working extremely closely with volunteers and with members of the public who visit and use our waterways.
- Your work will be a combination of day-to-day routine tasks and more exciting and involved project work.
- You will lead volunteers and the team to enable them to work safely and efficiently and help to foster a safe, secure and vibrant waterway network, where visitors are delighted with their experience.
- The role includes leading and attending events to publicise the work of the trust, promote our activities and recruit new volunteers.
- The post holder will also be required to work an annualised hours system which includes working any 5 days out of 7 including statutory holidays.
- They will also be part of a 24-hour operational standby team responsible for providing emergency cover for the waterway.
- Working outside, undertake on-the-job organisation, control and leadership of volunteer groups, volunteer task days, volunteer lock keepers and our in-house team.
- Provide relief River locks keeper duties.
- Develop volunteering opportunities on River locks.
- Deliver training to volunteers in accordance with set standards.
- Identify opportunities for volunteers and update records of work and time delivered.
- Ensure all equipment (PPE, plant, materials etc.) are appropriate for the task, in good condition and are used correctly.
- Prepare appropriate safe systems of work, induct volunteers onsite and manage safe delivery.
- Support communication within the team including sharing relevant corporate messages and provide feedback from the volunteers to the Area Operations Manager in order to enhance the planning of works.
- Active involvement in the day-to-day tasks of the team and volunteers e.g. lock keeping, water control, vegetation management, small projects, planned maintenance and also actively assist the Area Operations Manager in the planning of tasks.
- Ensure that environmental and heritage issues are taken into consideration in all work that is undertaken.
- Delivering pre-planned maintenance of structures and undertaking minor repairs as part of a small team.
About you:
- Experience of working within relevant environment e.g. volunteering, environmental works, customer service operations or maintenance.
- Experience of leading a small team.
- Great organisation and prioritising skills.
- Effective and engaging communication skills.
- Computer literate – with good knowledge of Microsoft Office package.
- UK Driving licence essential.
- You will need to be self-motivated, able to work flexible hours to meet volunteering and business needs and communicate well with customers, volunteers and staff at all levels.
What we offer:
- In addition to your annual salary of £28,470, we also offer a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, and numerous other employee benefits, including several salary sacrifice benefits.
- Internal applicants will be offered the position in line with our secondment policy.
- Other benefits include: 25 days paid holiday, plus paid statutory holidays.
Lead Volunteer employer: Canal and River Trust
Contact Detail:
Canal and River Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Volunteer
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation! Research their values and recent projects. This will help you connect with them during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Attend events related to volunteering and environmental work. Meeting people in the field can lead to opportunities and give you insights into what they’re looking for in a Lead Volunteer.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills. As a Lead Volunteer, you'll need to engage with both volunteers and the public. Role-play common scenarios with friends or family to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and making a positive impact on the waterways.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Volunteer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for volunteering and environmental conservation shine through. We want to see how much you care about making a difference in the community!
Tailor Your CV: Make sure to customise your CV to highlight relevant experience that matches the role of Lead Volunteer. We’re looking for specific skills like leadership and organisation, so don’t hold back on showcasing those!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your sentences are easy to read and get straight to the heart of what you want to convey.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity as soon as possible.
How to prepare for a job interview at Canal and River Trust
✨Know the Role Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the job description. Familiarise yourself with the responsibilities of a Lead Volunteer and think about how your experience aligns with them. This will help you answer questions confidently and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Lead Volunteer, you'll be guiding others, so be prepared to discuss your leadership experience. Think of specific examples where you've successfully led a team or project. Highlight your ability to motivate and engage volunteers, as this is key to the role.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you'd handle specific situations, like managing a large group of volunteers or dealing with unexpected challenges. Practise your responses to these scenarios, focusing on your problem-solving skills and ability to maintain a positive environment.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, you'll likely have the chance to ask questions. Use this opportunity to demonstrate your interest in the organisation and the role. Ask about their current projects, volunteer engagement strategies, or how they measure success in this position.