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- Tasks: Support day-to-day volunteer activities and handle essential admin tasks.
- Company: Join Westonbirt, a stunning arboretum with a rich history and vibrant community.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 25 days holiday, and discounts on everyday shopping.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by enhancing volunteer experiences in a beautiful environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in admin and volunteer support is essential; strong communication skills are a must.
- Other info: This role offers occasional remote work and requires weekend flexibility.
The predicted salary is between 19500 - 27500 £ per year.
2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants
Predominantly based at Westonbirt, with the possibility for occasional working from home. This role is on a seven-day contract and flexibility will be required to support occasional volunteer activities at weekends, etc
Job Summary
What you’ll do…
We’re looking for a Volunteer Administration Officer to help support the smooth running of our day-to-day volunteering activities at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum. As our new Volunteer Administration Officer, you will play a pivotal role by undertaking key administrative tasks as well as providing a friendly first-point-of-call for our volunteers. Working with the Volunteer Coordinator you will support individual team supervisors to ensure they deliver volunteer activities that meet business needs and provide the highest quality experience for our volunteers.
Please see the job description below for more information and details about what we need from you.
Where you’ll work…
Westonbirt is one of Britain’s finest botanical tree collections and is internationally renowned both for its extraordinary tree collection and historic landscape, which is entered on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens as Grade 1. It was founded in the early 19th Century by Robert Holford, a plant collector and visionary. In 1956, the arboretum came into the care of the Forestry Commission to conserve and continue the legacy for future generations.
The arboretum is one of the largest pay-to-enter visitor attractions in the Southwest, welcoming over 550,000 visitors per year and over 35,000 members. Our mission is to connect people with trees to improve quality of life and this role will support the 300+ passionate volunteers that support all aspects of our work.
Your primary place of work will be Westonbirt Arboretum, though there is the occasional opportunity to work from home, as agreed with the line manager. This role is on a seven-day contract and flexibility will be required to support occasional volunteer activities at weekends, public and privilege holidays and evenings.
Job Description
The post holder will ensure essential administrative tasks are delivered on time and to the highest standard for all volunteer activities:
- process volunteer hours / mileage expenses / uniform requests in line with agreed policy, including liaison with volunteers to chase up forms and ensure accurate submissions
- support accurate record keeping through the volunteer database (including training) in compliance with data protection legislation; run queries as necessary to support decision making
- support recruitment, induction and ongoing training of volunteers
- arrange/coordinate meetings; make venue bookings, prepare refreshments, write agendas and minutes
- oversee radio banks and use of volunteer computers
- support safety of volunteer activities through completion and implementation of risk assessments
The post holder will also play a vital role in supporting the day-to-day volunteer experience by:
- support the running of our volunteer hub
- monitor implementation of policies including measures put in place to ensure safe working
- responding to volunteer queries and prepare volunteer communications including the volunteer newsletter
- support other staff involved in supervising volunteer teams
- support volunteer coffee mornings, celebrations, long service awards and arrange Christmas message
- ordering volunteer welfare supplies for across site
And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager
The Post Holder Will Ensure Essential Administrative Tasks Are Delivered On Time And To The Highest Standard For All Volunteer Activities
- process volunteer hours / mileage expenses / uniform requests in line with agreed policy, including liaison with volunteers to chase up forms and ensure accurate submissions
- support accurate record keeping through the volunteer database (including training) in compliance with data protection legislation; run queries as necessary to support decision making
- support recruitment, induction and ongoing training of volunteers
- arrange/coordinate meetings; make venue bookings, prepare refreshments, write agendas and minutes
- oversee radio banks and use of volunteer computers
- support safety of volunteer activities through completion and implementation of risk assessments
The post holder will also play a vital role in supporting the day-to-day volunteer experience by:
- support the running of our volunteer hub
- monitor implementation of policies including measures put in place to ensure safe working
- responding to volunteer queries and prepare volunteer communications including the volunteer newsletter
- support other staff involved in supervising volunteer teams
- support volunteer coffee mornings, celebrations, long service awards and arrange Christmas message
- ordering volunteer welfare supplies for across site
And any other tasks, reasonably requested by your line manager
Person specification
Essential Professional And Technical Experience
- experience of recruiting, supervising and supporting volunteers fulfilling multiple roles
- demonstrable administrative experience within an office environment
- evidence of providing responsive customer services to people from a wide spectrum of the community
- demonstrable evidence of strong interpersonal communication skills (written and verbal)
- evidence of applying policy framework with respect to equality, health and safety and GDPR preferably in relation to volunteering
- a sound working knowledge of technology and its use in delivering administrative tasks; in particular MS teams, Zoom and Microsoft Office packages (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)
Desirable Professional And Technical Experience
- experience working within environment / heritage setting
- evidence of strong numeracy skills
- experience of marketing through different media
- experience supporting volunteer training
- experience increasing the diversity of a volunteering cohort
Behaviours
We\’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We\’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- More information provided to those successful at sift.
Alongside your salary of £26,123, Forestry Commission contributes £7,567 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Benefits…
Alongside your salary, Forestry England contributes an average of 28.97% towards your pension. You will become a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.
- 25 days holiday a year, raising by one day every year’s service, up to 30 days (pro-rated for part time employees) plus additional days off such as bank holidays.
- STaR is our employee benefits scheme offering discounts on everyday supermarket shopping, as well as other things such as hotel stays clothes, mobile phones, other electrical items, medical and car insurance, holidays, gym discounts, household bills, Headspace wellbeing app.
- free parking at Forestry England sites and free entry to our National Arboretums at Westonbirt and Bedgebury.
- a commitment to lifelong learning through career development. Forestry England will support your career development in a variety of ways, including continual professional development, support for individual learning plans and sponsored membership of professional bodies.
Read more about the benefits on the Forestry England website.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
How To Apply…
You will be asked to write a 250 word statement on your relevant experience and career history, along with a personal statement of no more than 500 words. You will be assessed on both during sifting. More details about how to apply are listed on the application form.
You will be assessed on a technical skill during your interview.
The Behaviours being assessed at interview are –
- Communicating and influencing
- Working together
- Managing a quality service
- Delivering at pace
Successful candidates will undergo an enhanced criminal record check and the government baseline personnel security standard check.
If you require any reasonable adjustments, please email fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk.
Read more about our application process and working with us on the Forestry England website.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission\’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission\’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
- Name : FC Recruitment Team
- Email : fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : fcrecruitmentteam@forestryengland.uk
Further information
Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact FCE by email: englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.
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Volunteer Administration Officer employer: Forestry Commission
Contact Detail:
Forestry Commission Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Volunteer Administration Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the mission and values of Westonbirt, The National Arboretum. Understanding their commitment to connecting people with trees will help you align your responses during interviews and show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former volunteers at Westonbirt. Engaging with them can provide valuable insights into the volunteer experience and the administrative support they require, which you can reference in your discussions.
✨Tip Number 3
Highlight any relevant experience you have in managing volunteer activities or administrative tasks. Be prepared to discuss specific examples that demonstrate your organisational skills and ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss how you would handle common challenges faced in volunteer administration, such as maintaining accurate records or responding to volunteer queries. This will showcase your problem-solving skills and readiness for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Volunteer Administration Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to understand the key responsibilities and requirements for the Volunteer Administration Officer position. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with these needs.
Craft Your Personal Statement: In your personal statement of up to 500 words, focus on your relevant experience in administration and volunteer management. Use specific examples to demonstrate your interpersonal communication skills and your ability to support volunteers effectively.
Highlight Relevant Experience: When writing your 250-word statement, emphasise your administrative experience and any previous roles involving volunteer recruitment or support. Mention any familiarity with data protection legislation and technology tools like MS Office, as these are crucial for the role.
Proofread and Edit: Before submitting your application, take the time to proofread your statements for clarity and grammatical accuracy. A well-presented application reflects your attention to detail, which is essential for an administrative role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Forestry Commission
✨Show Your Passion for Volunteering
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for volunteering and community service during the interview. Share any personal experiences or stories that highlight your commitment to supporting volunteers and enhancing their experience.
✨Demonstrate Administrative Skills
Be prepared to discuss your previous administrative experience, especially in relation to managing volunteer activities. Highlight your proficiency with tools like Microsoft Office and any relevant software you’ve used for record-keeping or communication.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since the interview will assess behaviours like 'Communicating and Influencing' and 'Working Together', think of examples from your past where you successfully collaborated with others or resolved conflicts. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Understand the Organisation's Mission
Familiarise yourself with the mission of Westonbirt Arboretum and its role in connecting people with trees. Being able to articulate how your values align with theirs will show that you are a good fit for the team and understand the importance of the work they do.
