We’re seeking a community-builder to grow our water-testing and river stewardship community across the River Wey catchment and beyond and lead communications for the region and the wider Water Rangers community.
This hosted role at Zero Carbon Guildford (ZCG) supports the River Wey catchment community co-created by Water Rangers, River Wey Trust, and ZCG.
Project overview and objectives
Since 2021, Water Rangers, River Wey Trust and ZERO Carbon Guildford have built a thriving community-led programme across the River Wey catchment. We’re now looking for a special person to better support our volunteer-run river stewardship, to deepen community engagement and coordinate actions that support healthier rivers and their ecosystems.
About the role
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Contract: 12-month fixed term, potential to extend
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Hours: 4–5 days/week (0.8–1.0 FTE); includes planned evening/weekend work for events/training. Willing to consider 3 days/week for the right candidate.
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Salary: £31,553 FTE (can be pro-rated)
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Location: ZERO, Riverside Business Centre, Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, GU1 4UG (some WFH possible). Travel across the entire River Wey catchment (e.g. Guildford, Liphook, Godalming, Alton, Woking and Weybridge).
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Reporting: Employed by Zero Carbon Guildford, Supervised by Water Rangers with support from River Wey Trust
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Start date: As soon as possible
Role purpose and responsibilities
This is a new role, created with the aim of strengthening and growing the successful river stewardship and water testing in the River Wey catchment.
Responsibilities:
Lead community building & volunteer enablement
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Recruit, onboard and train volunteers; supervise interns and support educators/community leaders.
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Deliver and support the delivery of volunteer-run education sessions, Community Lab activities, community pop-ups, and monthly monitoring.
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Create resources, project work plans and training assets; run training workshops; shadow/coach volunteers; manage rotas and recognition.
Lead communications
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Plan and deliver communications for river stewardship activities, water monitoring tools, and community events across social, web, newsletters, and press.
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Write compelling copy and create on-brand graphics, videos, posters, and slide decks.
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Tell impactful stories from the Wey and share across River Wey Trust, Water Rangers and ZCG channels.
Partnerships & recognition
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Act as a key contact across the Wey Landscape Partnership and align activities with shared priorities.
Build relationships with local businesses and organisations; develop outreach decks and simple sponsorship materials. -
Provide stewardship and basic impact reporting to sponsors.
Fundraising & reporting
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Support and lead fundraising efforts (grants, sponsorship, donor engagement).
Develop and improve sponsorship packages (Adopt-a-Testing-Site, kit/event sponsorship, employer volunteering). -
Track metrics (volunteers trained, sessions delivered, audiences reached, data logged, funds raised) and produce partner/funder updates.
Person Specification
We’re looking for someone with a combination of strengths in communications and community building and a willingness to learn. You should be self-motivated, organised, people-centred, and partnership-minded. Having a passion for the environmental and rivers is integral, but you don't need to be a water/river expert. You’ll need access to a vehicle for those events that can’t be reached on public transport (mileage will be reimbursed).
Essential skills & experience
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Communications: ability to write compelling copy and produce simple, on-brand visual materials.
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Community building: experience enabling volunteers, educators, or community groups.
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Training/facilitation: confident delivering workshops, onboarding sessions, or group activities.
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Programme coordination: experience delivering community, charity, education, or engagement projects.
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Organisational skills: able to plan, prioritise and manage multiple strands of work independently.
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Relationship building: comfortawble working with partners, local groups, or businesses.
Desirable skills & experience
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Previous experience in the charity sector.
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Fundraising or sponsorship experience (grant writing, donor engagement, or reporting).
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Experience managing budgets, project resources, and impact reporting.
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Experience in community science, citizen science, water science, biodiversity or environmental engagement.
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Digital/content skills: Canva/Adobe, Google Workspace, WordPress, Mailchimp, basic video editing.
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Experience running social media campaigns.
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Understanding of safeguarding/DBS considerations.
What success looks like (first 6–12 months)
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Growing reach and local visibility with strong, place-based stories.
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Monthly monitoring and regular schools/community engagements where volunteers can take help take the lead.
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£10k secured via grants and/or sponsorship (e.g. testing sites sponsored or grant secured, with support of supporting organisation mentorship).
Benefits
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Travel expenses for work beyond your normal place of work.
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Expenses for work-related communications.
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Pension contribution.
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Annual leave: 25 days plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time employees).
Inclusive Recruitment Statement
At Zero Carbon Guildford we believe diversity makes us stronger. We’re passionate about creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and be their authentic self. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including (but not limited to) race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and socioeconomic status.
Research shows that some candidates may self-select out of applying if they don’t meet 100% of the listed criteria. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we still encourage you to apply—you may be the right person for the job.
Privacy
We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. Any information you provide during the recruitment process will be handled securely, used only for recruitment purposes, and never shared without your consent. For full details, please see our Privacy Policy.
How to apply
Please include a cover letter with your CV.
Interviews: week commencing 12th January 2026 (evening/weekend slots may be offered).
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
- £30,419 (FTE), pro-rata for part time hours
- 28 hours a week
- Part time, up to 12 months fixed term Maternity Cover
- Homebased (with some travel required for in person events)
- Closing date: Sunday 21st December 2025
- Interview date: Thursday 8th January 2026
Change lives in a life-changing career
When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.
The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. And that impact can be felt by entire family. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer.
We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make their voices heard and their unique needs understood, so they can get the right care and support at the right time
About the role
We’re looking for a Voice Officer with experience of working with children, young people and their families and amplifying their voices to help create positive change to join our Voice Team.
The Voice Officer is a key member of the Voice Team, responsible for enabling Young Lives vs Cancer to shape the children and young people’s cancer system with and for young people with cancer and their families. You will enable young people affected by cancer and their families to have a stronger voice inside and outside the organisation - not just to contribute, but also to challenge, giving the power to them to amplify their voice and make positive change.
You will work with the Voice Manager and Head of Voice to deliver our Voice work to a high quality. Responsible for managing incoming enquiries and communications with our volunteer Voice Board Members, Voice Champions and Voice Hub network, working with the team to plan and run meetings and events both online and in person. With excellent organisational skills, you will help plan and coordinate our voice work, building strong working relationships with colleagues and our voice community with volunteer management responsibility for Voice Board Members and Voice Champions.
This role is subject to a criminal record check. In the event of a successful application an Enhanced criminal record check will be completed.
What will I be doing?
No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your ‘day to day’ isn’t easy. Here are some of the main things you’ll be doing, but you’ll find more details in the job description.
Main responsibilities
Communication and Organisation
- Delivering effective internal communication regarding the Voice team and playing a pro-active and leading role in Voice team meetings
- Supporting with correspondence, record-keeping and tracking leading on communications with our voice volunteers and internal communications
- Effective project management of voice activity - for example, planning events, setting goals and impact measurements for the activity, managing risks and reporting on progress
Voice Activities
- Working with the Voice Manager and Head of Voice to deliver the organisation’s Voice approach, enabling children, young people and parents/carers to shape the organisation and the system it is situated within, maximising our Voice opportunities
- Delivery of the Voice Board so it is an effective model for the Board of Trustees to listen to and act upon the voices of young people with cancer, their parents/carers and siblings.
- Travel and occasional overnight stays to attend in person events with our voice volunteers.
- Developing and supporting the growth of our Voice Hub bringing voice opportunities to our wider community
- Act as the key contact and support for our Voice Champion Volunteers
- Working in partnership with the Voice Champions team on the development and dissemination of voice guidance and training for staff and volunteers across the organisation, designed to equip them so that they can confidently work alongside young cancer patients and their families
- Working with the Voice Manager and Head of Voice to ensure that we are able to amplify voices of all our beneficiaries across the whole of the UK, from the widest range of backgrounds and cultures
Working relationships and contacts
- Volunteer management of our Voice Board Members and Voice Champions Team.
- Building and maintaining relationships and influencing others. Both internally working with colleagues to equip them to work alongside young people and families and externally working with young people and families to understand their views and opinions, ensuring that they feel heard as well as building connections with partners across the sector.
- Develop and sustain sector relationships, staying up to date with external developments in voice and participation and identifying opportunities for innovation and partnership
Additional responsibilities
Alongside your specific job duties, every member of Team Young Lives needs to make sure they also:
- Make safeguarding a priority
- Take care of your own health and safety and that of others
- Actively challenge injustice and inequality and promote Young Lives vs Cancer’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging agenda to create a better, more diverse and inclusive organisation.
- Ensure that you treat information and data professionally, using it only for the purposes that Young Lives vs Cancer has said it would; respecting the confidentiality and privacy of its supporters, service users and staff.
- Accept that you are personally responsible and accountable for ensuring you understand and adhere to all Young Lives vs Cancer policies and procedures
- Be an active team member, regularly attending team meetings and contributing to shared learning and development
- Undertake any other reasonable duties as directed by or agreed with your line manager.
What do I need?
Diverse perspectives and unique skillsets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully.
What will I gain?
For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:
- Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
- Wellbeing, Thinking & Growth Days: four days a year to to step back from the day-to-day and focus on your own learning and development
- Generous annual leave allowance
- Great family/caring leave entitlements
- Enhanced pension
- Access to our employee savings scheme
To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website.
Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.
We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.
We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. CVs can be uploaded, but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history sections of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively.
Accessibility
We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible.Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.
Interviews will be taking place on Thursday 8th and Monday 12th January. They will include a brief presentation task and questions which we'll share ahead of the interview.
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