Head of hr volunteer roles in Manchester, greater manchester

HEAD OF HR & VOLUNTEERING (REMOTE VOLUNTEER ROLE)

Build the backbone. Shape the culture. Power the movement.

Urban Youth is a start-up fast-moving, street‑level start‑up charity bringing high‑impact, urban-style youth work to London. We don’t sit in offices waiting for young people to come to us — we drop into the heart of the city, transforming unused spaces into hubs of creativity, connection, and opportunity.

But every movement needs structure. Every crew needs a culture. Every launch needs someone who can build the scaffolding behind the scenes.

We’re looking for a Head of HR & Volunteering — a founding volunteer leader who can design our systems, shape our people experience, and build the volunteer-powered engine that makes Urban Youth unstoppable.

Your Mission

You’ll be the architect of Urban Youth’s internal world — the person who builds the infrastructure that allows our street-level work to thrive.

You will:

• Design and implement our HR systems, processes, and policies from the ground up

• Build a volunteer programme that feels energising, inclusive, and purpose-driven

• Lead our volunteer recruitment strategy, working with our Volunteer Coordinator

• Shape a culture rooted in positivity, continuous improvement, team spirit, and belonging

• Develop onboarding, training, and support pathways for all volunteers

• Create simple, effective frameworks that help a start-up charity move fast without losing heart

• Work closely with the leadership team to prepare Urban Youth for launch and long-term growth

This is a rare chance to build the foundations of a charity before it takes off.

Who You Are

You don’t need to be a traditional HR professional — though you can be. What matters most is your ability to build systems, nurture people, and create culture.

You might be:

• Someone who loves structure, clarity, and good organisation

• A natural community-builder who believes in people-first leadership

• A champion of positivity, fairness, and continuous improvement

• A creative thinker who enjoys designing processes that actually work

• Someone excited by the idea of shaping a charity’s DNA from day one

Above all, you believe that people are the heart of everything — and you want to build a place where volunteers feel valued, supported, and part of a family.

Why This Role Matters

Urban Youth is volunteer-powered at its core. The systems you build will shape:

• How volunteers join

• How they’re supported

• How they grow

• How they feel

• How we deliver high-impact youth work across London

You’ll be setting the tone for an organisation that moves at the speed of the street — bold, agile, and full of heart.

This is a founding leadership role. A legacy role. A chance to build something that will outlast all of us.

If you want to help build a charity’s entire people ecosystem — and shape a culture rooted in hope, energy, and community — we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now and become the backbone of Urban Youth.

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.