At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire volunteers to maintain and enhance our beautiful waterways.
- Company: Join the Canal & River Trust, dedicated to keeping canals vibrant and accessible.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and employee perks.
- Other info: Flexible hours and opportunities for personal growth in a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while enjoying diverse outdoor activities.
- Qualifications: Experience in volunteering or environmental work, strong leadership and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 28470 - 28470 £ per year.
Join Our Team: Volunteering Leader
We’re excited to welcome a new Volunteering Leader at our Wales & South West location. Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
Working Hours & Location
This role follows a 37 hours, over a 7 day working pattern. 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. The Volunteering Leader will be based at Bathpool yard, Dyers Lane, Taunton, TA2 8BZ.
Role Overview
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.
Key Responsibilities
- Working outside, undertake on-the-job organisation, control and leadership of volunteer groups, volunteer task days, volunteer lock keepers and our in-house team.
- Leading and attending events to publicise the work of the trust, promote our activities and recruit new volunteers.
- Delivering works planned to be conducted by our volunteer teams and our local team.
- Develop volunteering opportunities on our 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.
- Recording works completed and celebrating volunteer contributions.
About you
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.
Skills & Qualifications
- 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.
- Full 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.
Contact & Application
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.
What We Offer
We offer an annual salary of £28,470. Enjoy a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits.
Volunteering leader in Taunton employer: Canal & River Trust
Contact Detail:
Canal & River Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Volunteering leader in Taunton
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation! Research the Canal & River Trust and understand their mission. This will help you connect with them during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being a Volunteering Leader.
✨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 leader.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past. Be ready to discuss how you can motivate and engage volunteers to create a vibrant waterway network.
✨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 difference in the community.
We think you need these skills to ace Volunteering leader in Taunton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for volunteering and the environment shine through. We want to see how much you care about making a difference in our waterways!
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience, especially in leading teams or working with volunteers. We love seeing how your skills align with what we do, so don’t hold back!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your key achievements and experiences are easy to spot!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application via our website. It’s the best way to ensure it gets to us quickly and securely, so don’t miss out on this opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Canal & River Trust
✨Know Your Role Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Volunteering Leader. Familiarise yourself with the key tasks mentioned in the job description, such as leading volunteer groups and managing events. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm for the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led a team or managed volunteers. Highlight how you motivated others, organised tasks, and ensured safety. This will show that you have the practical skills needed to excel in this position.
✨Engage with the Community
Since this role involves being the public face of the Trust, think about how you can connect with the community. Be ready to discuss any previous experience you have in customer service or community engagement, and share ideas on how to promote volunteering opportunities effectively.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask questions! Inquire about the current projects, volunteer training processes, or how the team collaborates. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you.