Volunteer & Communities Officer

Surrey Wildlife Trust; Pirbright; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid working

Good pension provision

Job summary

Surrey Wildlife Trust is seeking a Volunteer & Communities Officer to develop and support our network of volunteers and local community groups. The role focuses on recruiting, onboarding, training and coordinating volunteers to strengthen local stewardship across Surrey.

Hybrid working with office bases in Pirbright and Nower Wood; requires some weekend work and travel across the county. We value proactive, organised individuals with a passion for nature and volunteer engagement.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting volunteer‑led groups.
• Good ecological knowledge of Surrey.
• Willingness to travel across Surrey and work weekend days as needed.

Responsibilities

• Support and develop networks of Voluntary Wardens, Friends Groups and volunteer leaders.
• Recruit, onboard and support volunteers; coordinate training and development opportunities.
• Create pathways for increased involvement and facilitate peer learning; lead or support weekend activities.

Skills

Volunteer management

Relationship building

Ecological knowledge of Surrey

Job description

Volunteer & Communities Officer

Closing date: Monday 23 November 2026 Salary: £28-30k p/a dependent on experience Contract type: Permanent / Working hours: Full time Location: Pirbright HQ, School Lane, Pirbright, Surrey, GU240JN

Do you believe in the power of people to restore nature? Are you passionate about supporting volunteers, strengthening local stewardship and helping communities create a wilder Surrey?

Hybrid working with office bases in Pirbright and Nower Wood near Leatherhead

Flexible working, good pension provision, requirement for some weekend working through the year

For nearly 70 years, volunteers have been at the heart of our work, giving thousands of hours each year to protect and restore wildlife across the county. Our 2026–2031 Volunteer Strategy sets out an ambitious vision to enhance the volunteer experience, grow an engaged and skilled volunteer‑led community, and broaden the ways people can get involved in nature’s recovery.

Our supporters bring a wealth of skills, knowledge and experience that are essential for restoring the natural environment. By creating opportunities for volunteers to share their expertise, contribute ideas and take on leadership roles, we strengthen our collective efforts. In return, we aim to provide an excellent experience, one that benefits both the Trust and the incredible people who give their time and energy to our cause.

About the role

As our Volunteer & Communities Officer, you will play a key role in supporting and developing our network of Voluntary Wardens, Friends Groups and volunteer leaders.

You will provide ongoing support to existing volunteers and volunteer-led groups, while also helping establish new Friends Groups and other volunteer initiatives. Through this work, the postholder will strengthen local stewardship across Surrey, helping more people care for the places they value.

Working closely with colleagues across the Trust, you will also recruit, onboard and support volunteers, coordinate training and development opportunities, and create pathways that enable people to develop their involvement over time. You will encourage peer learning and help build strong connections between volunteers and the local community. This role also involves delivering engaging volunteer communications, maintaining accurate CRM data, evaluating participation, ensuring safeguarding best practice, and leading or supporting weekend activities.

We're looking for someone who is proactive, organised and has experience supporting volunteer-led groups and communities, and has a good ecological knowledge of Surrey. You'll be a confident relationship-builder who enjoys working collaboratively and can identify new opportunities for people to make a positive difference for nature.

If you're excited by the idea of helping volunteers and enabling more people to take action for nature, we'd love to hear from you. This is a fantastic opportunity to work with dedicated colleagues, passionate volunteers and communities and be at the heart of a growing movement for nature recovery in Surrey.

The full skills requirements for this role are available in the job profile on our website www.surreywildlifetrust.org .It is vital that you have a passion for nature, experience successfully working with volunteers, a warm, inclusive approach to those around you and an understanding of our work.

Due to the nature of the role, which will require travel across Surrey, you will need a full UK driving licence and the commitment to work approximately 10 weekend days over the course of the year.

We are committed to having an inclusive and diverse workplace and encourage applications from backgrounds which may be underrepresented in our sector, including people from minority ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities.

We are committed to offering an interview to all candidates that meet the primary criteria for the post. Please let us know if you require any adjustment to make our recruitment process more accessible. We are a Disability Confident Employer.