At a Glance
- Tasks: Engage communities and coordinate inclusive volunteer opportunities in Birmingham's parks.
- Company: Birmingham City Council, dedicated to enhancing green spaces and community wellbeing.
- Benefits: Generous pension contributions, 30 days holiday, discounts, and health support.
- Other info: Join a passionate team committed to empowering communities and enhancing local environments.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while supporting nature recovery and biodiversity.
- Qualifications: Experience in volunteer coordination and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 26000 - 28000 £ per year.
Birmingham City Council is committed to creating vibrant, inclusive and well-maintained parks and green spaces that enrich the lives of residents and visitors. As the UK's first accredited Nature City, Birmingham is delivering its ambitious City of Nature 25‑Year Plan, placing communities at the heart of nature recovery and environmental stewardship. Our parks are places where people come together, volunteer, learn new skills and take pride in their local environment. Volunteers play a vital role in helping deliver the City's vision for nature, supporting biodiversity projects, community engagement, habitat enhancement and the long‑term care of Birmingham's parks and green spaces.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives on community engagement, partnership working and volunteer development. You will design, coordinate and promote a wide range of volunteering opportunities that are inclusive, accessible and aligned with the Council's strategic priorities, including the delivery of the City of Nature 25‑Year Plan. Working at the heart of communities, you will help grow and support a diverse volunteer network that contributes directly to the enhancement of parks, biodiversity, nature recovery and community wellbeing. You will work closely with Friends Groups, community organisations, schools, businesses and national partners to expand volunteering opportunities and ensure volunteers have a positive, rewarding and meaningful experience. You will also support the development and effective use of our CRM system, helping us track engagement, measure impact and demonstrate the vital contribution volunteers make towards Birmingham's environmental, social and community objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan and deliver innovative and inclusive volunteer opportunities across Birmingham's parks and green spaces
- Develop and promote training programmes that equip volunteers with the skills and knowledge needed to support park, biodiversity and community initiatives
- Build and maintain strong partnerships with Friends Groups, community organisations, local stakeholders and national bodies
- Recruit, engage and retain volunteers by creating positive, rewarding and impactful volunteering experiences
- Support the development, maintenance and effective use of the volunteer CRM system, ensuring accurate records and meaningful engagement metrics
- Monitor and report on the social, economic and environmental impact of volunteering, including contributions towards the City of Nature 25‑Year Plan
- Use data, feedback and insights to drive continuous improvement of volunteer and community engagement programmes
- Ensure all volunteering activities comply with health and safety, safeguarding, equality and best‑practice standards
- Champion volunteering as a key mechanism for delivering Birmingham's nature recovery, biodiversity and community engagement ambitions
About the Ideal Candidate
We're looking for someone with experience of developing and coordinating volunteer and community engagement programmes, who can build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders including community groups, volunteers, schools, businesses and partner organisations. You will have strong communication and organisational skills, with the ability to recruit, motivate and support diverse groups of volunteers, ensuring they have a positive and rewarding experience. You'll be confident in planning and delivering training opportunities, using data and CRM systems to monitor performance, measure impact and inform continuous improvement. A good understanding of partnership working, equality and inclusion, safeguarding, health and safety, and volunteer management best practice is essential. Above all, you will be passionate about enabling communities to play an active role in supporting Birmingham's parks, green spaces and the delivery of the City of Nature 25‑Year Plan.
Join Us
If you’re passionate about empowering communities, supporting volunteers and helping Birmingham’s parks thrive, we’d love to hear from you.
What We Offer In Return
- Membership of West Midlands Pension Fund – with generous employer contributions
- Enhanced Holiday Entitlement – 30 days, increasing with length of service
- My Rewards Scheme – access to 800+ brands providing discounts and savings
- Health and wellbeing support – independent and confidential employee assistance and counselling, occupational health
Please upload your up‑to‑date CV via the attachments part of your application, this is required for shortlisting. Unfortunately, we cannot consider any applications without a CV attached. Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer and is committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people. We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application.
For any informal enquiries please contact: Resourcing@birmingham.gov.uk Birmingham City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our citizens and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. You can view our Corporate Safeguarding Policy | Birmingham City Council here. Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed. Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.
Community Activator & Volunteer Officer in Birmingham employer: WMJobs
Birmingham City Council is an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering vibrant communities and enhancing the natural environment through inclusive volunteer opportunities. With a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, generous holiday entitlements, and a supportive work culture, staff are empowered to grow professionally while making a meaningful impact on the city's parks and green spaces. Join us in our mission to create a thriving City of Nature, where your contributions will be valued and celebrated.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Community Activator & Volunteer Officer 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 WMJobs.
✨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 WMJobs.
✨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 WMJobs.
✨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 WMJobs. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Community Activator & Volunteer Officer 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 WMJobs. 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 Community Activator & Volunteer Officer, 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 WMJobs
✨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 WMJobs. 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!