Community, Participation & Volunteering Manager

National Trust; Guildford; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent conservation organization in Guildford is seeking a Community, Participation & Volunteering Manager. This role involves leading efforts to connect communities with nature and history, fostering partnerships, and creating inclusive programs. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong background in community engagement, strategic thinking, and effective partnership development. This position offers various benefits including a substantial pension scheme, flexible working, and opportunities for personal development.

Benefits

Substantial pension scheme

Free entry to National Trust places

Flexible working options

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Experience in community engagement and participatory practice.
• Ability to use data to prioritize and decide on audience engagement.
• Proven strategic thinking capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead community-first approach in guiding decisions at Dapdune Wharf.
• Co-create partnerships and programs reflecting community diversity.
• Maximize access to green and blue spaces.

Skills

Community engagement practices

Data analysis skills

Strategic thinking

Partnership building

Stakeholder engagement

Impactful communication

Coaching skills

Job description

Summary

• Important notice
• In line with our redeployment policy, we’ll prioritise applications from employees who are under formal notice of redundancy.

At the National Trust, we believe that people and places need each other to thrive. As our new Community, Participation & Volunteering Manager at the Wey Navigations, you'll be at the heart of this mission - leading inclusive, collaborative work that deepens connections between communities and the nature, beauty and history that we care for.

What it's like to work here

River Wey & Goldalming Navigations & Dapdune Wharf is a tranquil waterway running for nearly 20 miles through the heart of Surrey. The Wey was one of the first British rivers to be made navigable, and opened to barge traffic in 1653. This 15-mile waterway linked Guildford to Weybridge on the Thames, and then to London.

What you'll be doing

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Property Leadership Team and lead a community‑first approach, ensuring that local voices, experiences, and ideas guide our decisions and influence what happens at Dapdune Wharf and along the length of the Navigation. We need you to lead on co‑creating partnerships, programmes and experiences that reflect the diversity and richness of the communities we serve working with multiple teams across the property.

We are an usual property, in that for the most part, we are essentially 10m wide and 20miles long, connecting both nature and people in a variety of ways. Running through urban and rural landscapes, bustling town centres, SSI meadows or simply at the back of someones garden, we are passionate about maximising peoples access to our green and blue spaces, whilst upholding our responsbilities as a Navigations Authority.

Our visitor centre at Dapdune Wharf, in the heart of Guildford, offers a range of ways to connect with people through programmed events, key partnerships and 3rd party offers, interpretation and experiences.

This is a key role in helping us become more welcoming, relevant, and responsive to our communities.

You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don't need to have all of the knowledge, skills and experience listed in the role profile; this is just to provide a full picture of what’s possible in this role

Who we're looking for

Applications from redeployees are assessed against the minimum criteria for the role. In your application, please provide details of how you meet the minimum criteria below :

• excellent understanding of good practice in community engagement and participatory practice, and experience of applying it in a range of contexts.
• ability to use data and insight to prioritise, make effective choices and decide when and how to engage different audiences
• proven experience in thinking strategically, understanding broader internal and external contextual issues
• well versed in building effective partnerships and managing various stakeholders through change
• strong partnership working and stakeholder engagement experience
• ability to grow and diversify participation
• impactful communication, influencing and team‑working skills

Criteria for all other candidates

• excellent understanding of good practice in community engagement and participatory practice, and experience of applying it in a range of contexts.
• proven experience in thinking strategically, understanding broader internal and external contextual issues
• ability to use data and insight to prioritise, make effective choices and decide when and how to engage
• ability to coach people to build confidence / capability, increasing community engagement and participation & volunteering.
• excellent understanding of volunteer engagement and experience of innovating volunteering and increasing wider participation
• significant experience of partnership working with diverse audiences
• ability to build effective and collaborative working relationships with leaders and wider teams

The package

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places