At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate volunteering initiatives to drive meaningful change across Sense.
- Company: Join one of the UK's leading disability charities focused on inclusion and collaboration.
- Benefits: Shape the future of volunteering while making a real impact in communities.
- Other info: Flexible working environment with a commitment to accessibility and diversity.
- Why this job: Empower diverse voices and create rewarding volunteer experiences that matter.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in volunteer management and a passion for social impact.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
We're looking for an inspiring Head of Volunteering to lead and shape the future of volunteering across Sense. This is a unique opportunity to drive meaningful change, ensuring volunteering continues to play a vital role in delivering our mission. Reporting to the Chief People Officer, you'll provide organisation-wide leadership on volunteering, helping us maximise our impact, strengthen community connections, and support the long-term sustainability of our services.
Working closely with senior leaders and teams across the organisation, you'll champion inclusive, accessible and innovative volunteering opportunities that enable people from all backgrounds to contribute in ways that are meaningful to them.
Key Responsibilities- Develop and deliver a volunteering development plan aligned to Sense's strategic priorities.
- Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on volunteering strategy and opportunities.
- Champion volunteering as a key contributor to organisational impact, reputation and sustainability.
- Represent Sense internally and externally, promoting excellence in volunteering.
- Create new, flexible and inclusive volunteering opportunities across services, communities, retail and corporate activity.
- Develop frameworks, tools and guidance that support managers to recruit, engage and retain volunteers effectively.
- Build volunteering opportunities that are meaningful, accessible and rewarding.
- Develop robust KPIs to measure volunteer engagement, impact and experience.
- Use volunteer feedback to drive continuous improvement and innovation.
- Promote accessible and inclusive volunteering practices across the organisation.
- Work alongside volunteers, disabled people with complex needs and families to co-design volunteering opportunities.
- Ensure volunteer voices help shape the future of volunteering at Sense.
- Provide expert guidance on volunteering governance, risk management and best practice.
- Lead the development and review of volunteering policies and procedures.
- Ensure volunteering activities comply with relevant legislation, regulation and safeguarding requirements.
- Manage the central volunteering budget and demonstrate value for money.
You’ll be a passionate and experienced volunteering leader with a strong commitment to inclusion and social impact. You’ll bring:
- Proven leadership experience within volunteer management.
- Experience working in social care, health, disability services or a related sector.
- A track record of developing and growing inclusive, sustainable volunteering programmes.
- Strong coaching, facilitation and influencing skills.
- Experience using data and insight to inform decision-making and demonstrate impact.
- Budget management experience and an ability to demonstrate return on investment.
- A commitment to accessibility, inclusion and rights-based approaches.
We’d love it if you also have:
- Experience supporting disabled people with complex needs.
- Experience within regulated services.
- Experience of co-production and co-design approaches.
- Understanding of trauma-informed or positive behaviour support approaches.
This is an opportunity to shape volunteering across one of the UK's leading disability charities. You'll join a values-led organisation where collaboration, inclusion and innovation are at the heart of everything we do. If you're passionate about creating outstanding volunteer experiences and want to help more people make a meaningful difference, we'd love to hear from you.
Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Therefore, all offers of employment, where appropriate, are subject to a DBS check; level dependent on the nature of the role. We actively encourage disabled people to apply for our vacancies and believe that a diverse range of perspectives, experiences and talents makes us stronger. If you need us to adjust our recruitment process to help you access our vacancies, then please get in touch with a member of the talent acquisition team.
Head of volunteering in Birmingham employer: Sense
At Sense, we pride ourselves on being a values-led organisation that champions collaboration, inclusion, and innovation. As the Head of Volunteering, you'll have the unique opportunity to shape impactful volunteering experiences within one of the UK's leading disability charities, fostering community connections and driving meaningful change. Our supportive work culture prioritises employee growth and development, ensuring that your contributions are recognised and valued while making a real difference in the lives of those we serve.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of volunteering in Birmingham
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Sense.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Sense.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Sense.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Sense. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of volunteering in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Sense. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Head of volunteering, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sense
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Sense. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
