Volunteer Development Manager - hybrid in Stoke-on-Trent

Location: Hybrid (split between home-working and either London, Cardiff or Edinburgh) or home-based contract. Status: Permanent

Context and purpose of role

Volunteers are vital to the success of the Ramblers and the delivery of our strategic goals. That’s why we’ve launched a bold new initiative to enhance volunteer experience. We’re creating a journey that is inclusive, engaging, and genuinely impactful. Our aim is for The Ramblers to be a place where every volunteer feels welcomed, valued, and supported every step of the way. We believe volunteering should be more than giving time. It should be about finding purpose, building connections, and being part of something meaningful. We are committed to creating an environment where people from all backgrounds and walks of life feel inspired to join us, confident in contributing, and motivated to stay and grow.

As volunteering lead, the postholder will play a pivotal part in bringing that vision to life. You will work closely with key stakeholders to enhance the volunteer experience at every stage of the volunteer lifecycle—from attraction and recruitment through to development and recognition. You’ll design and deliver innovative approaches to enhance the experience of our current volunteers, along with planning and implementing new approaches to attracting volunteers for the future. This role provides the opportunity to create something lasting: a volunteer experience where people don’t just give their time —they feel a genuine sense of belonging, while making a meaningful difference in the communities we serve. The role will report directly to the Head of People Experience.

Key responsibilities

• Volunteer Recruitment and Onboarding

• Develop and implement strategies to attract and recruit a diverse pool of volunteers.
• Design and deliver comprehensive orientation programs to introduce new volunteers to the organisation and their responsibilities.

• Create and facilitate ongoing training programs to enhance volunteer skills and knowledge.
• Provide resources and support to ensure volunteers are equipped to perform their roles effectively.
• Organise workshops, seminars, and training sessions to foster continuous learning.

• Ensure accurate records of volunteer hours, roles, and performance are maintained.
• Create a safe and supportive environment, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and best practices around safeguarding.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures for volunteer management.

• Design and execute recognition programs to acknowledge and celebrate volunteer contributions.
• Organise events and activities to keep volunteers engaged and motivated.
• Regularly communicate with volunteers to provide updates, gather feedback, and address concerns.

• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the volunteer program.
• Conduct surveys and assessments to gather feedback from volunteers and identify areas for improvement.
• Implement changes and enhancements based on feedback and best practices.

• Work closely with teams to identify volunteer needs and opportunities.
• Build and maintain relationships with external partners and community organisations to expand volunteer resources.

• Utilise technology track and manage volunteer information.
• Maintain up-to-date records and generate reports on volunteer activities and program outcomes.
• Leverage communication tools and platforms to effectively engage with volunteers.

• Undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required of the post.
• Engage and proactively develop excellent working relationships.

The person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Knowledge

• Knowledge of the value volunteers add, and the impact they bring to organisations.
• Expert and up-to-date knowledge of the law relating to volunteering and volunteering best practice principles, and procedures, particularly around recruitment and retention.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of implementing best practice solutions to drive a volunteering involving ethos and culture.
• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policies, and best practices.

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Interpersonal Skills: Strong relationship-building and influencing skills.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to analyse data and use insights to drive decision-making.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues.
• Project Management Skills: Ability to plan and co-ordinate activity across multiple teams to deliver project goals.

• Experience of ensuring Volunteer and Volunteer Role Manager journeys are accessible and encourage diversity, equity and inclusion.

Personal Attributes

• Active Listener: Listens attentively to others and values their input.
• Collaborative: Values and leverages diverse perspectives and skills within the team.
• Adaptable: Able to adjust to new situations and challenges with ease.
• Problem Solver: Proactively identifies issues and works towards effective solutions.
• Analytical Thinker: Analyses information thoroughly and makes sound decisions.
• Detail-Oriented: Pays attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and thoroughness in work.
• Mentoring: Willing to mentor and support the development of team members.
• Innovative: Embraces new ideas and technologies to improve processes.
• Ethical: Upholds ethical standards and integrity in all actions.
• Visionary: Looks outwards to anticipate trends and identify opportunities to enhance volunteer experience.

Values and Behaviours

Our values are the core principles that guide us daily in our work and our membership of the Ramblers. We all share the passion that walking is for everyone and by living our shared values we can ensure the Ramblers is an organisation to be proud of. Our values will earn trust for the Ramblers brand which will allow us to open up a world of walking opportunities for even more people.

• Inclusive: We make everyone feel welcome and part of the Ramblers community. We make sure we all feel respected and accepted and know our contributions make a difference in achieving our mission.
• Inspiring: We strive to inspire people through the way we act and the things we say. We channel our passion and ambition so others are moved to help us achieve our mission.
• Empowering: We empower and encourage each other to make a positive contribution to our teams and the Ramblers. We do all we can to make sure everyone has the ability, and feels confident, to take action.
• Responsible: We take responsibility for ourselves and those around us seriously, by always acting in a safe and supportive way. We care about the environment and make sure we do what we say we will do.