Volunteering and Engagement Officer

About us

The Merchant Taylors’ Company dates from 1327, when it was formed as a social and religious organisation for tailors and linen-armourers dedicated to St John the Baptist. Today, it is a flourishing Livery Company whose members are dedicated to education, fraternity, and philanthropy.

Volunteering is important for the health of the Merchant Taylors’ Company, since the hands-on experience of volunteering binds members in an emotional commitment to what the Company stands for. Many of the Great XII Livery Companies prioritise volunteering, offering a wide range of opportunities from due diligence visits with grant applicant charities to longer term mentoring opportunities with our family of schools. 

At the heart of Merchant Taylors’ Company lie the concepts of ‘Fraternity, Philanthropy and Education’.  Volunteering is vital to each pillar, enabling members to give their time and talent alongside their treasure. 

The Company is now at an exciting juncture where the groundwork to embed a more systematic approach to volunteering has been completed and the appetite within the Company has started to grow particularly across the Company’s Education programme.  

The team is conscious that managing volunteering takes time, diplomacy and interpersonal skills and this role is pivotal to the success of volunteering for both Company members and partner organisations. 

About the role

Reports to:                     Educational Grants and Relationship Manager

Direct reports:                None

Place of work:               The Hall (Bank, London)

Contract type:               Fixed-term and part-time (0.8 FTE). 

The working days and times can be flexible and some hybrid working may be possible. 

Some evening work will be required as well as occasional attendance at events outside of the employee’s usual working hours (including at weekends).

Some travel may be required within Greater London in connection with various aspects of the role. Occasional travel may be required within the UK.

Overview of role:

With your experience in events / project management and excellent communication and diplomatic skills, you will be the interface between the membership, your colleagues at Merchant Taylors’ Company, our family of schools and our charitable partners. You will be responsible for developing and delivering an engaging, interesting and successful range of events for members to participate in.

Job Description:   

• Take a lead on the delivery and development of an annual programme of volunteering opportunities and education events aligned with existing initiatives and in collaboration with partner organisations and schools where appropriate. 
• Work with the EGRM to co-ordinate the Trust’s Livery Academy Award scheme: recruiting, training, and supporting member volunteers to ensure high-quality engagement. 
• Take a lead on promotion of volunteering opportunities through the members’ portal in good time, with appropriate explanation to encourage take up. 
• Proactively identify barriers to participation from the membership, and develop innovative, accessible volunteering opportunities and methods to engage new audiences. 
• Champion and promote the Company’s volunteering and event initiatives by working, both with the Communications Manager and independently, to promote opportunities through compelling articles, e-newsletters, social media outreach, public talks and by representing or supporting Company staff at events. 
• Take a lead on designing and creating appropriate training resources for all volunteer roles to manage expectations including, where appropriate, delivery of training. 
• Support members with any queries relating to volunteering opportunities, offering members the chance to talk to MT staff. 
• Ensure that all volunteer members have completed the MT safeguarding questionnaire before they are cleared for any opportunity and has been trained in appropriate MT policy areas (E.g. GDPR/safeguarding) 
• To actively liaise and respond to School requirements to ensure volunteer members deliver excellent support for students. 
• Collaborate closely with Company Schools and internal teams to identify opportunities and design high-quality, sustainable volunteering activities that support project goals and help achieve Company targets. 
• To use the Membership portal to capture and analyse data about Company volunteering in order to evaluate cost/benefit of volunteering efforts, and tell the story of MT’s volunteering impact to the MT membership. 
• Gather and act on feedback from volunteers and participants to inform and improve the Company’s volunteering and education strategies.  
• Uphold the health, safety, and wellbeing of all volunteers and participants, following the Company’s Health & Safety policies.  
• To take a lead on the administration of Company Volunteering activities including DBS checks, budgeting, database management, website administration, project reporting and meetings. 
• Work with colleagues to identify and co-ordinate other volunteering opportunities at the Company, including responding to enquiries, planning logistics, and delivering high-quality experiences.  
• To undertake other duties as may be appropriate for the position to support the wider work of the Company. 

What we can offer you

• 25 days holiday per annum plus Bank Holidays
• An additional up to five days off over the Christmas / New Year period
• A generous employer pension contribution of 10% of salary
• Free lunch in the office when the kitchen is operational
• “Perkbox” discount app
• A monthly gym / wellbeing allowance of £70
• Private Medical Insurance
• Healthcare cash plan
• Electric Car scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection Insurance

Person Specification 

We are looking for:  

Essential

• Proven track record of project/events management, including planning, delivery, reporting, evaluation, budgets, and partnership working.  
• Proven track record of working meaningfully with different stakeholders ie in a public-facing role. An excellent communicator with strong interpersonal and public engagement skills.  
• Good diplomacy skills with the ability to inspire, listen and find a solution for all stakeholders.   
• A proactive approach to solving problems and the ability to keep going until a solution is found which works for all.  
• A do-er and a thinker; someone who is able to approach situations imaginatively but also spot, and implement, practical and workable solutions. 
• Excellent organisational, planning and IT skills. 

Desirable 

• Experience developing and delivering volunteering and community programmes, working with a wide range of stakeholders. 
• Experience of interacting with or working for a membership organisation 
• Understanding of health & safety, safeguarding, and risk management in a volunteer setting. 
• Experience of being a volunteer yourself. 

Miscellaneous 

• Willingness to work some evenings and weekends

Interview dates and start date:

We are actively recruiting for this role and will consider and interview applicants in the order in which they apply.

The successful Candidate is to start as soon as possible.