Head of hr volunteer roles in London

Support Our Founder & CEO and Help Shape the Heart of SUNSHINE

SUNSHINE is a grassroots, volunteer‑powered community charity bringing joy, connection and belonging to people who need it most. We create warm, uplifting spaces where no one stands alone — ever. From coffee mornings to community socials, every SUNSHINE moment is designed to spark smiles, laughter and genuine human connection.

As we grow, we’re looking for a compassionate, capable and people‑focused Head of HR & Volunteering to support our Founder & CEO in building a thriving, inclusive and well‑supported volunteer community.

This is a senior leadership volunteer role for someone who believes in kindness‑led culture, strong people practices and the power of human connection.

The Role

As Head of HR & Volunteering, you will lead the development of SUNSHINE’s people culture, volunteer pathways and HR foundations. You’ll work closely with the Founder & CEO to ensure our volunteers feel valued, supported and empowered — and that SUNSHINE grows with warmth, integrity and good governance.

This role is perfect for someone who:

• Has experience in HR, people management or volunteer leadership.

• Loves building positive culture and supporting others to flourish.

• Is organised, emotionally intelligent and grounded.

• Wants to help shape a young, hopeful, community‑led charity.

• Believes in kindness, dignity and belonging for all.

Key Responsibilities

1. Volunteer Leadership & Support

• Develop and oversee volunteer recruitment, onboarding and engagement.

• Create clear volunteer pathways, role descriptions and support structures.

• Ensure volunteers feel welcomed, appreciated and connected.

• Support wellbeing, inclusion and positive team culture.

2. HR Foundations & Good Practice

• Help build simple, ethical HR processes and policies.

• Support with safeguarding, training, documentation and compliance.

• Advise the Founder & CEO on people‑related matters.

• Help ensure SUNSHINE is a safe, supportive and empowering place for all.

3. Culture & Community

• Champion SUNSHINE’s values of joy, kindness and radical welcome.

• Help nurture a warm, inclusive, intergenerational volunteer community.

• Support conflict resolution, reflective practice and healthy communication.

4. Strategic Partnership with the Founder & CEO

• Act as a trusted advisor on people, culture and volunteer strategy.

• Help shape the long‑term development of SUNSHINE’s volunteer‑powered model.

• Bring insight, steadiness and leadership perspective to organisational decisions.

What You Bring

• Experience in HR, people leadership, volunteer management or organisational development.

• Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.

• A calm, supportive, grounded presence.

• Commitment to inclusion, kindness and community‑led values.

• Reliability, integrity and a collaborative spirit.

What You’ll Gain

• A meaningful senior leadership role in a growing grassroots charity.

• The chance to shape a volunteer culture rooted in warmth and belonging.

• A close working relationship with the Founder & CEO.

• The joy of seeing your work directly improve people’s lives.

• A community that values kindness, humanity and connection.

Help Us Build a Community Where No One Stands Alone

If you’re someone who leads with heart, believes in people and wants to help build something hopeful and human‑centred, we’d love to hear from you.

Together, we can bring more SUNSHINE into the world.

About Quilombo UK

Quilombo UK is a social justice organisation dedicated to inspiring individuals to "See, Think, Behave and Speak Differently" about equality, diversity, and inclusion. We create engaging experiences—ranging from our Beyond Bias training to our "Voices for All" podcasts—that raise awareness and empower unheard voices within our diverse communities.

The HR department is the operational engine of our Professional Development Programme (PDP) and Enhanced Professional Development Programme (ePDP). As Head of HR, you will lead the teams responsible for the end-to-end learner journey—from initial Talent Acquisition and onboarding to bespoke Learning and Development and HR Advisory support. By ensuring our participants are embedded in a professional, high-standard work environment, you directly facilitate the skill acquisition and cultural integration necessary for career changers and newcomers to the UK to bridge employment gaps and overcome discrimination in the job market.

Head of Department (HR)

The Opportunity

This position offers the opportunity for a career step-up, providing experience in managing HR operations and people strategies within a social justice framework. In this Head of Department capacity, you will gain the leadership credentials and strategic oversight necessary to advance your professional trajectory while ensuring every individual we support is empowered to achieve their full potential.

Role Purpose

The Head of HR sits between Directors and Managers, turning high-level people strategies into deliverable plans across Talent Acquisition, Learning and Development, and HR Advisory. You will own the direction and delivery control of the HR department to ensure the organisation attracts, develops, and retains high-quality talent while maintaining professional standards and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic People Planning: Turning Director-level objectives into practical HR plans with clear timelines and KPIs.

• Talent Acquisition Oversight: Ensuring recruitment processes are effective, professional, and aligned with the organisation’s growth needs.

• L&D Strategy: Overseeing the development of training programmes and the Professional Development Programme (PDP) and Enhanced Professional Development Programme (ePDP) to ensure team growth.

• Advisory Control: Ensuring HR Managers provide consistent, professional advice on employee relations, policy, and compliance.

• Manager Leadership: Coaching HR Managers to maintain 100% work visibility in MeisterTask and manage their teams "by exception."

• Assurance & Reporting: Providing weekly reports to Directors on headcount, training completion rates, and departmental risks.

Additional Professional Benefits

• Career Development: A full CV and profile review conducted by our Talent Acquisition and Learning & Development teams.
   

• Operational Support: Access to the services of the Legal, Graphic Design, PR, and Production teams for up to 10 hours per month for professional or departmental support.
   

• Proactive Recruitment: Use of the Talent Acquisition team to actively search out new roles and opportunities via industry portals and LinkedIn.
   

Requirements

• Proven experience in HR management or a senior HR Generalist role.

• Strong knowledge across Talent Acquisition, L&D, and HR Advisory.

• Familiarity with HR software and technologies (including MeisterTask or similar project management tools).

• Flexibility and openness to work on a variety of tasks.

• Focused, organised, and able to prioritise and execute tasks independently.

• To show professionalism at all levels and in all environments.

• Strong team player with the ability to lead through others.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Degree in HR, Business, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).

• This is a 100% remote-only position.
   

Desirable

• CIPD qualification or equivalent.

• Committed to working with the community with a passion for helping others less fortunate.

Selection Process

• Informal interview.
   

Requirement of two professional references.