Senior Community, Participation & Volunteering Manager

National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty; Ambleside; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 10%

Free entry to NT places

Season ticket loan

EV car lease scheme

Work discounts

Holiday entitlement up to 32 days

Flexible working

Employee assistance programme

Free parking

Job summary

National Trust is recruiting a Senior Community, Participation & Volunteering Manager to shape and deliver a landscape-scale Community & Participation Plan. You will build high-value partnerships, influence decision-makers and empower communities to take meaningful action for nature and heritage.

The role requires strategic leadership, change management, and a collaborative approach across the Lake District region, with travel across Cumbria and regular interviews in Grasmere.

Qualifications

• Significant experience building and managing partnerships across organisations and sectors.
• Ability to engage communities in inclusive and collaborative ways to increase participation.
• Experience coaching and developing others in partnership and community-led approaches.
• Strong communication and relationship-building across diverse organisations.

Responsibilities

• Create and lead a landscape-scale Community & Participation Plan.
• Develop strategic partnerships with networks and community groups.
• Inspire communities, partners and volunteers to contribute time and skills.
• Identify opportunities and risks through horizon scanning and external networks.
• Lead through change and promote collaborative, participatory working.

Skills

Partnership building

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Influence/advocacy

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Community engagement

Volunteer development

Job description

We're looking for an exceptional relationship builder, influencer and leader to help connect people to our Restore Nature ambition for Cumbria. As our Senior Community, Participation & Volunteering Manager, you will create and lead a landscape-scale Community & Participation Plan that enables our Restore Nature ambitions. You'll work at a strategic level, building high value partnerships, influencing decision makers, and creating opportunities for people to take meaningful action for nature and heritage.

This is a leadership role for someone who is comfortable navigating complexity, leading through change, and inspiring others to work collaboratively. You will help us move from doing things for communities to working with communities, creating lasting impact far beyond our own boundaries.

This is a permanent, full-time role, usually worked Monday to Friday, with some weekend and evening work required. This role is based on annualised hours, where the amount of hours you work each month may vary, however your salary will be paid in 12 equal instalments over the year. The role involves regular travel across the Lakes and a full UK driving licence. Work base options are available in Windermere, Coniston, Ullswater, Grasmere, or Ambleside.

Interviews will take place Thursday 29th October in Grasmere. For more information about the role, please contact [e-mail]

What it's like to work here

You'll be joining at an exciting moment. Together, the North & West Lakes and South & East Lakes teams care for the National Trust's entire Lake District landholding, spanning more than 48,000 hectares of internationally important landscapes. From lakes, rivers and temperate rainforest to fells, farms and common land, we're working collectively towards a bold ambition: restoring nature at scale across one of the world's most celebrated cultural landscapes.

As part of the South & East Lakes Leadership Team, you'll lead across a 450-square-mile area including Ullswater, Windermere, Grasmere, Ambleside and Coniston. While your focus will be this geography, success comes through collaboration. You'll work closely with colleagues across both Lake District teams, helping build the partnerships, community connections and collective action needed to make our nature recovery ambitions a reality.

We believe people and nature thrive together. That's why our approach goes beyond conservation. We work with farmers, communities, volunteers, local organisations, funders and public bodies to create a future where nature recovery, heritage and community benefit go hand in hand. We're looking for someone who can strengthen those connections and inspire more people to play a role in shaping the future of these landscapes.

What you'll be doing

You'll lead the development and delivery of a landscape scale Community & Participation Plan, ensuring people are at the heart of our Restore Nature ambitions. Working closely with the leadership team, you will help shape how we engage communities, partners and volunteers in delivering lasting change. Your duties will include:

• Creating and leading a long-term Community & Participation Plan that connects people to our nature recovery ambitions and increases public benefit.
• Building, developing and managing strategic partnerships with organisations, networks and community groups, representing the National Trust across the landscape.
• Fostering collective effort and civic action, inspiring communities, partners and individuals to contribute their time, skills and influence to support nature and heritage.
• Identifying opportunities, risks and emerging trends through horizon scanning and strong external networks, ensuring we remain relevant and responsive.
• Leading and influencing through change, helping teams build confidence in collaborative, participatory and community-led ways of working.
• Increasing and diversifying participation, developing opportunities for people to engage with our work through volunteering, partnerships and community action.
• Using insight, evidence and audience understanding to ensure our work reaches and benefits a broader range of people.

Who we're looking for

We're looking for a strategic thinker and inspiring leader who is passionate about the power of people to create change. We'd love to hear from you if you have:

Summary

We're looking for an exceptional relationship builder, influencer and leader to help connect people to our Restore Nature ambition for Cumbria. As our Senior Community, Participation & Volunteering Manager, you will create and lead a landscape-scale Community & Participation Plan that enables our Restore Nature ambitions. You'll work at a strategic level, building high value partnerships, influencing decision makers, and creating opportunities for people to take meaningful action for nature and heritage.

This is a leadership role for someone who is comfortable navigating complexity, leading through change, and inspiring others to work collaboratively. You will help us move from doing things for communities to working with communities, creating lasting impact far beyond our own boundaries.

This is a permanent, full-time role, usually worked Monday to Friday, with some weekend and evening work required. This role is based on annualised hours, where the amount of hours you work each month may vary, however your salary will be paid in 12 equal instalments over the year. The role involves regular travel across the Lakes and a full UK driving licence. Work base options are available in Windermere, Coniston, Ullswater, Grasmere, or Ambleside.

Interviews will take place Thursday 29th October in Grasmere. For more information about the role, please contact [e-mail]

What it's like to work here

You'll be joining at an exciting moment. Together, the North & West Lakes and South & East Lakes teams care for the National Trust's entire Lake District landholding, spanning more than 48,000 hectares of internationally important landscapes. From lakes, rivers and temperate rainforest to fells, farms and common land, we're working collectively towards a bold ambition: restoring nature at scale across one of the world's most celebrated cultural landscapes.

As part of the South & East Lakes Leadership Team, you'll lead across a 450-square-mile area including Ullswater, Windermere, Grasmere, Ambleside and Coniston. While your focus will be this geography, success comes through collaboration. You'll work closely with colleagues across both Lake District teams, helping build the partnerships, community connections and collective action needed to make our nature recovery ambitions a reality.

We believe people and nature thrive together. That's why our approach goes beyond conservation. We work with farmers, communities, volunteers, local organisations, funders and public bodies to create a future where nature recovery, heritage and community benefit go hand in hand. We're looking for someone who can strengthen those connections and inspire more people to play a role in shaping the future of these landscapes.

What you'll be doing

You'll lead the development and delivery of a landscape scale Community & Participation Plan, ensuring people are at the heart of our Restore Nature ambitions. Working closely with the leadership team, you will help shape how we engage communities, partners and volunteers in delivering lasting change. Your duties will include:

• Creating and leading a long-term Community & Participation Plan that connects people to our nature recovery ambitions and increases public benefit.
• Building, developing and managing strategic partnerships with organisations, networks and community groups, representing the National Trust across the landscape.
• Fostering collective effort and civic action, inspiring communities, partners and individuals to contribute their time, skills and influence to support nature and heritage.
• Identifying opportunities, risks and emerging trends through horizon scanning and strong external networks, ensuring we remain relevant and responsive.
• Leading and influencing through change, helping teams build confidence in collaborative, participatory and community-led ways of working.
• Increasing and diversifying participation, developing opportunities for people to engage with our work through volunteering, partnerships and community action.
• Using insight, evidence and audience understanding to ensure our work reaches and benefits a broader range of people.

Who we're looking for

We're looking for a strategic thinker and inspiring leader who is passionate about the power of people to create change. We'd love to hear from you if you have:

• Significant experience of building and managing partnerships and stakeholder relationships across multiple organisations and sectors.
• Ability to engage and work with communities in inclusive and collaborative ways that increase participation and involvement.
• Experience of coaching and developing others to build capability and confidence in partnership and community-led approaches.
• Ability to communicate effectively, build relationships and influence across a range of organisations, partners and communities.
• Understanding of how to use insight, evidence and community knowledge to shape priorities and identify opportunities.
• Ability to think strategically, translate ideas into action and deliver practical outcomes.
• Knowledge of, and commitment to, connecting people with nature, heritage and places, and supporting positive action for the future.
• A full UK driving license

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 (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• 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

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.

National Trust place

Grasmere, The Hollens, Ambleside, LA22 9QZ

Documents

Senior Community, Participation & Volunteering Manager - Grade 6.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Additional information

Closing Date: 11 October 2026

If you need any help with your application, i.e. due to technical difficulties, please call us on 0370 240 0274 or email us at [e-mail]

If you require an adjustment to the application process, for example due to disability or medical condition, please call us on 0370 240 0274 or email us at [e-mail] and we'll support you as best as we can. For examples of how, please see our supporting you page.

Equal Opportunities Statement

The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here .

Safeguarding Statement

The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment processes to help the organisation attract and appoint the right staff/volunteer for the role and responsibilities as set out in the vacancy advert. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre.