About the job

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Volunteer Manager to join the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Kew).  Volunteers contribute significantly to the delivery of Kew’s mission, supporting all aspects of Kew’s work notably in Horticulture, Science, visitor engagement, schools, community and access programmes and Galleries.  We currently count on over 800 volunteers across our two sites - Kew Gardens in west London and Wakehurst, our wild botanic garden in Sussex. 

The volunteering function sits within the Gardens directorate in the Learning and Participation department but has an organisational-wide remit, working closely with business areas such as Horticulture, Science, HR and H&S. There is a devolved structure for the management of volunteers with a full time Volunteer Manager and Volunteer Coordinator at the centre with responsibility for delivering the Volunteer Strategy and associated KPIs, policy and procedures. This central resource support is vital for the continued expansion and development of the volunteering programmes in a coherent and equitable way and to a uniformly high level.

The Volunteer Manager will engage with all volunteers, including those under 18 years of age and vulnerable adults. An Enhanced DBS check is required.

Job description

We are seeking an experienced volunteer manager who will ensure our volunteers, and staff who coordinate them, have the skills and support they need to confidently and consistently perform their roles to support the implementation of Kew’s Manifesto for Change.

You will manage the central function for volunteers across Kew Gardens and Wakehurst, supporting processes linked to recruitment, selection, induction, training, pastoral care and leavers.  You will have excellent knowledge of the UK volunteer sector and understand the legal context of engaging volunteering and how it differs from employment. With excellent IT and administrative skills, you will be experienced in collecting, maintaining, analysing and reporting on volunteer data. 

Person specification

You will be an ambassador for Kew’s volunteers and a visible presence for all volunteers, advocating for them internally and externally. Your strong interpersonal skills will ensure excellent levels of communication with volunteers and staff, and this will include representing volunteers on Kew’s Leadership Forum and chairing the Volunteer Steering Group.

This role is based at Kew Gardens with occasional regular travel to Wakehurst and occasional travel within the UK. There will also be the option of regular home working, subject to operational requirements.

Benefits

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

If you are interested in this position, please submit your application via the Kew Gardens website. 

We are dedicated to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to interview disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

No agencies please.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.