Job title: Volunteering Manager
Salary: PO2 £39,862 - £42,839 pro rata
Hours: 22 
Contract: Fixed Term until 31/03/2025

Leeds city council is seeking a dynamic and organised Volunteering Manager to join our team. This position plays a crucial role in developing and managing our volunteering program across the Arts Events and Venues section, as well as supporting broader city development volunteering initiatives.

The main responsibilities include leading volunteer recruitment efforts, advocating for a strong volunteering program, collaborating with partners, managing a volunteer database, providing training to volunteers, ensuring their safety and well-being, and organising events. Essential qualifications include project management experience, the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, excellent organisational and communication skills, and a commitment to diversity. Desirable qualifications include a First Aid qualification and experience with large-scale events. The role also requires embracing the organization's values and behaviours, promoting equality diversity and inclusion, and adhering to safety policies.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidancefor further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Jason Tabor, Out of School Activities Manager, on 0113 3783160 or email: jason.tabor@leeds.gov.uk.

Interviews will take place end of October 2025 with an anticipated start date as soon as possible due to the short timescale of the post currently.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people. 

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose: We are now looking for a dynamic, strategic, and highly organised Volunteering Manager to develop our volunteering programme across the Arts, Events and Venues (AEV) service as well as supporting the wider city development volunteering programmes. The Volunteering Manager will be responsible for recruiting and engaging volunteers in professionally managed and inspiring opportunities. The aim is to increase the number and range of volunteers from across the city with different life experiences.

The Volunteering Manager will work with partners to implement a volunteering framework, built on the Leeds Volunteering Strategy. Working in partnership with key services that offer volunteering opportunities across Leeds City Council and with volunteering organisations across the city.

To support a programme of experiences for volunteers that includes skills development, positive cultural experiences and activity that engages volunteers.

The post is externally funded through UKSPF (UK Shared Prosperity Fund) and there will be a requirement to maintain accurate records and fiscal management, working to clear key performance indicators.

Responsibilities:

• Leading on aspects of volunteer recruitment. This could include organising volunteer recruitment events, engaging with community partners in Leeds or managing volunteer recruitment pathways.
• Advocate for a strong volunteering programme in internal and external settings.
• Work with partners both internal and external across the voluntary sector to build on existing good practice.
• Managing a volunteering database system.
• Creating and delivering training and induction sessions that engage volunteers and equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully volunteer both for AEV and across LCC (Leeds City Council) departments.

• Work with volunteer coordinators across the organisation to ensure safe and enjoyable volunteering experiences.
• Design and implement robust systems that provide clear and accessible pathways to volunteer.
• Develop marketing and communication channels that encourage volunteers from a diverse background.
• Work with AEV managers and partners to create flexible opportunities that build on knowledge and experiences of the volunteers themselves with clear pathways into volunteering opportunities.
• Working with event teams ‘on the ground’ to respond to issues arising during the delivery of events.
• Support the evaluation and monitoring of the volunteer programme.
• Organising events and opportunities for volunteers to meet each other and to socialise.
• Writing communications to volunteers including newsletters and handbooks.
• Managing specific project budgets and the volunteering expenses budget.
• Manage the data and budget monitoring quarterly and annual returns for the UKSPF funding. 
• Considering the welfare of volunteers taking part in the programme and ensuring they have everything they need to have a safe and enjoyable experience.
• Line management of any freelance staff supporting the volunteer programme.
• Other responsibilities in line with the level of this post.

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Skills required:

• Ability to demonstrate relevant experience of managing large scale projects.
• Ability to work to targets and deadlines, set clear priorities and objectives.
• Ability to work with a range of partners across departments and the third sector.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of people individually and in groups and at all appropriate levels.
• Ability to inspire, motivate and encourage people to see the benefits and opportunity to volunteer in arts, events and cultural activities.
• Ability to communicate clearly in a range of different formats, from written content to delivering presentations.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to connect with and inspire people from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Knowledge required:

• Knowledge of Leeds and its vibrant and diverse communities.
• A commitment to championing diversity.
• An interest and enthusiasm for the arts and cultural sector.
• Understanding of a range of communication channels to communicate with a diverse population across Leeds.
• Understanding of a range of differing approaches to volunteering.
• Knowledge of issues affecting people and their motivations and desire to volunteer.
• Knowledge of safeguarding.
• Knowledge of confidentiality and data protection.
• Knowledge of risk assessments and health and safety guidelines.
• Monitoring and evaluation techniques to measure the social impact of projects.
• Knowledge of specialised data management systems for volunteers and how they can be effectively utilised with recruitment, retention, deployment and training of volunteers.
• Knowledge of different volunteer recruitment processes and trends.

Experience required:

• Experience of working in a busy fast-paced environment with multiple strands of work.
• Experience of designing and delivering training or learning programmes.
• Experience of working within a team setting.

• Experience of supervising and managing people in a voluntary or paid position.
• Experience of project and/or programme management in the voluntary sector
• Experience of building partnerships with other organisations
• Strong experience in overseeing volunteering projects supporting wellbeing and/or mental health.

Behavioural & other characteristics:

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol, and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements: It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

• First Aid qualification.
• Experience of working on large scale events.

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