At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and onboard adult volunteers for Sea Cadets, ensuring smooth administrative processes.
- Company: Join the Marine Society & Sea Cadets, a leading maritime charity for youth development.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, hybrid working, and generous pension contributions.
- Other info: MSSC values diversity and inclusion, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by empowering young people and seafarers through volunteer support.
- Qualifications: Customer service experience and strong IT skills, especially in Microsoft Excel and Outlook.
The predicted salary is between 27300 - 27300 £ per year.
Location: MSSC National Support Centre, 200b Lambeth Road, London SE1 7JY
Salary: £27,300 gross per annum
Job type: Full time, Permanent - 35 hours per week
Closing Date: Monday 25th May 2026. Interviews: Assessment Day at MSSC NSC on Monday 1st June 2026.
Are you passionate about supporting volunteers and looking for a new opportunity? The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is the leading maritime charity for youth development and lifelong learning. We are a vibrant and growing charity inspiring young people to achieve their potential through challenge and nautical adventure and also enabling seafarers and maritime professionals to realise their potential through learning and career development.
We are currently looking for a Volunteer Support Officer with proven administrative and IT skills to join our busy Volunteer Support team based at our National Support Centre. This role plays a vital part in supporting the smooth and safe onboarding of adult volunteers within Sea Cadets. As a key member of the Volunteer Support Team, you will ensure that all administrative processes are completed. You will act as a first point of contact for volunteer enquiries, maintain high quality records throughout volunteers' membership, maintaining MSSC's commitment to safer recruitment and compliance.
Responsibilities:
- Support the processing of adult volunteer applications to join Sea Cadets, ensuring all personnel records are accurately updated on the CRM system.
- Review and approve volunteer references in line with MSSC's Safer Recruitment Policy.
- Administer the enhanced disclosure process, acting as an MSSC counter-signatory.
- Process grants and claims relating to volunteer uniform allowances.
- Review and submit applications for UKSV Security Clearances and MOD 90 ID Cards.
- Respond to all Volunteer Support enquiries received by MSSC via email, post, and phone.
Requirements:
- Experience working in a customer-focused role, handling a wide range of enquiries by phone and email, including challenging conversations.
- Excellent IT proficiency, particularly in Microsoft Excel and Outlook.
- Experience using data protection procedures and handling confidential information appropriately.
- Experience organising own workload and managing deadlines effectively.
Desirable:
- Experience of database inputting, record maintenance, and data management.
- Experience working with volunteers.
Benefits:
- 25 days annual leave per annum increasing with length of service
- Hybrid working for many roles
- Life assurance (4x salary)
- Private medical insurance
- Generous pension (employer contribution up to 10%)
- Cycle to work scheme
- Wellbeing portal and EAP with 121 counselling
- Employee development: We are investing in our employees' development and have an annual calendar of learning and development opportunities, designed to support employees to develop into their roles and stretch them to achieve their full potential.
MSSC positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. Equity, diversity, and inclusion really matters to us, so we can best serve our beneficiaries from every community. We work to ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process and aim to be a charity where diversity of experience, identity and skills are valued and welcomed. MSSC is an equal opportunities employer.
We recognise our responsibilities to safeguard and protect the young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We do all we can to promote their health, safety and wellbeing, and we expect our staff to share this commitment and work in line with safeguarding policy, the MSSC's values and ethos of inclusivity. We adhere to safer recruitment practices and therefore employment is subject to detailed pre-employment checks for successful candidates, including references and criminal disclosure checks and the completion of a disclosure questionnaire. All successful applicants are required to attend safeguarding training and undergo pre-employment checks.
Please click APPLY to be redirected to our website to complete your application.
Volunteer Support Officer employer: THE MARINE SOCIETY AND SEA CADETS
Contact Detail:
THE MARINE SOCIETY AND SEA CADETS Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Volunteer Support Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation! Research MSSC and its mission. Understanding their values and goals will help you tailor your approach during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in supporting their cause.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former volunteers and staff on LinkedIn. They can provide insider tips and might even give you a heads-up about the interview process or what the team is really like.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the assessment day by practising common interview questions and scenarios related to volunteer support. Think about how you'd handle challenging conversations and showcase your customer service skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the MSSC team and making a difference.
We think you need these skills to ace Volunteer Support Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the Volunteer Support Officer role. We want to see your passion for supporting volunteers shine through!
Show Off Your IT Skills: Since this role requires excellent IT proficiency, especially in Microsoft Excel and Outlook, don’t forget to mention any relevant experience you have. We love seeing candidates who are tech-savvy and can handle data management like a pro!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, so make sure your key points stand out without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to click APPLY and submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and get the ball rolling on your journey with MSSC.
How to prepare for a job interview at THE MARINE SOCIETY AND SEA CADETS
✨Know Your Stuff
Familiarise yourself with the Marine Society & Sea Cadets' mission and values. Understand their commitment to supporting volunteers and how your role as a Volunteer Support Officer fits into that vision. This will help you answer questions confidently and show your genuine interest in the organisation.
✨Showcase Your Skills
Prepare specific examples of your administrative and IT skills, especially with Microsoft Excel and Outlook. Think about times when you've successfully managed records or handled challenging enquiries. Being able to demonstrate these skills with real-life scenarios will make you stand out.
✨Practice Makes Perfect
Conduct mock interviews with a friend or family member. Focus on common interview questions related to customer service and volunteer support. Practising your responses will help you articulate your thoughts clearly and reduce any nerves on the day.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare a few insightful questions to ask at the end of your interview. This could be about the team dynamics, ongoing projects, or how MSSC measures the success of its volunteer programmes. Asking questions shows your enthusiasm and helps you gauge if the role is the right fit for you.