Volunteer Coordinator

Dogs Trust; Penrith; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Dogs Trust in Penrith is seeking a Volunteer Coordinator to recruit and induct volunteers, delivering welcoming induction sessions at the centre and community hub. You will act as the main contact for volunteers and ensure they get the most from their roles.

This fixed-term, full-time position ends 31 December 2027 with a salary of £26,500 per year plus benefits. The role requires strong communication, leadership and organisational skills, plus a proactive, customer-focused approach to support

Qualifications

• Experience of customer care and understanding of the role of volunteers, including their integration, management and motivation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong leadership with ability to engage large groups from diverse backgrounds.
• Positive attitude and methodical, can-work-independently mindset.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and induct volunteers, from advertising opportunities to delivering welcoming induction sessions at the centre and community hub.
• Be the main point of contact for volunteers in the centre, supporting them in their roles and ensuring engagement.
• Administrate volunteer records, ensuring efficient, legally compliant record keeping of volunteering activity.
• Build relationships with staff across the centre and organisation to ensure volunteers have a positive experience.

Skills

Volunteer management

Customer care

Communication skills

Team leadership

Job description

Volunteer Coordinator

Application Deadline: 3 December 2026

Department: Rehoming

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time

Location: Penrith

Compensation: £26,500 per year, plus benefits

Description

Are you an organised, positive person who is passionate about the impact volunteers can have?

We're looking for a Volunteer Coordinator to coordinate and manage the recruitment, induction and support of our amazing volunteers, who generously donate their time and skills to support our teams.

Please note this is a fixed term contract ending 31st December 2027.

What does this role do?

As Volunteer Coordinator, you’ll:

• recruit and induct volunteers, from advertising opportunities to delivering welcoming induction sessions at the centre and the community hub,
• be the key point of contact for volunteers in the centre, supporting them with their roles and ensuring they get the most out of the opportunity,
• administrate volunteer records, ensuring there is efficient, legally compliant record keeping of volunteering activity,
• build relationships with staff across the centre, the Volunteering Development team and the wider organisation to ensure our volunteers have an excellent experience.

Could this be you?

To be successful in this role, you'll have experience of customer care and an understanding of the role of volunteers in an organisation, including their integration, management and motivation. You'll have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and strong leadership skills with ability to engage and work effectively with large groups of people with varying backgrounds and skill levels. You will also have a positive attitude, methodical approach to work with the ability to work under your own initiative.

What does this team do?

Our transfer centre supports thousands of dogs each year, through foster based rehoming and our ambulance service, so they can find a loving new home throughout our network. This team works across two sites, our Community Hub, in Penrith, and our Transfer Centre, near Lazonby.

The success of our centres wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated team of staff and volunteers; there is a real family-community within each of our centres. Come rain or shine, our team are out in all weathers to make sure the dogs have the best possible life. Dealing with thousands of visitors, our Community Hub is the face of Dogs Trust Cumbria, and we pride ourselves on our staff providing the very best in customer service.