Hr and development officer volunteer roles in Manchester

IAPWA is seeking an experienced HR Volunteer to provide strategic guidance and independent oversight of our people practices. This role is focused on supporting good governance rather than delivering day-to-day HR operations.

Working alongside the CEO and relevant staff, the volunteer will help ensure the charity's HR policies, procedures and practices remain compliant with UK employment legislation, reflect best practice, and support a positive and inclusive working environment.

This is an advisory role requiring a couple of hours per week, with flexibility around when those hours are completed. The volunteer will act as a trusted source of HR knowledge, helping the charity identify potential risks, strengthen governance, and continuously improve its people practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide independent advice and guidance on HR matters to support good governance.
• Review HR policies and procedures periodically, recommending updates to reflect changes in legislation and best practice.
• Support the charity in maintaining compliance with UK employment law and relevant Charity Commission expectations.
• Provide advice on people-related risks and help identify appropriate mitigation measures.
• Offer guidance on employee relations matters where required, whilst recognising that operational HR activities are undertaken by others.
• Support the development of fair, consistent and inclusive HR practices.
• Review and advise on staff handbook content and employment-related documentation as required.
• Provide input into organisational culture, employee wellbeing and engagement initiatives where appropriate.
• Help ensure appropriate HR records, governance processes and documentation are maintained.
• Provide guidance on safer recruitment, equality, diversity and inclusion, learning and development, performance management and other HR best practice.
• Attend occasional meetings (virtually or in person) as agreed.

Essential Experience/Skills

• Previous experience working within Human Resources, People Management or a related HR profession.
• Good knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience developing or reviewing HR policies and procedures.
• Ability to provide balanced, pragmatic and confidential advice.
• Understanding of good governance and organisational risk management.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and manage a small voluntary time commitment.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection requirements.
• A commitment to the values and aims of the charity.

Desirable

• Chartered membership or associate membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
• Previous experience within the voluntary or charity sector.
• Experience supporting small organisations with HR governance and compliance.

About The Role: Head of People (Volunteer)

Location: Remote

Commitment: Part-time (volunteer, unpaid role)

Contribution Requirements: Minimum 10-15 hours a week; minimum 3 months

Professional Volunteering

Professional volunteering is a skills‑based service performed with the same reliability, accountability, and quality expected in a paid professional role. Volunteers are core contributors whose work directly supports our mission of global compassion, collaboration, and action.

Expectations include:

• Consistent weekly availability

• Timely communication and responsiveness

• Ownership of assigned tasks and follow‑through

• Participation in team meetings and workflows

• Alignment with organizational values and processes

About Solution Community:

Solution Community is an international non-profit organization, pioneering an innovative social platform dedicated to enabling actionable change. With volunteers from over 70 countries, we are a testament to the power of global collaboration. Our team members bring experiences from some of the world’s most successful companies, including Apple, Toyota, Google, Netflix, Walmart, Meta, and many others, creating a rich tapestry of knowledge and passion.

Our Mission:

To foster a global community of compassion, uniting individuals and organizations to solve the world’s social problems. We are the bridge that connects non-profits, businesses, philanthropists, and volunteers, empowering them to create meaningful change for current and future generations.

Our Vision:

Imagine a world where every person has the opportunity to thrive - a world united by collaboration, compassion, and action. At Solution Community, we are bringing that vision to life, driving transformative change that reshapes the future.

Position Overview

The Head of People will be a key member of the leadership team, reporting directly to the CEO. This volunteer, unpaid role leads the People team (including HR Business Partners and Recruiting) and oversees People Operations, talent acquisition, and culture-building initiatives to ensure an inclusive, engaging, and high-performing environment. This role is fully remote.

Key Responsibilities

• People Operations & HR Strategy

  • Develop and implement HR policies, processes, and best practices that support the organization’s growth.

  • Oversee all aspects of people operations, including onboarding, performance management, compliance, and employee relations.

  • Ensure legal and ethical HR practices, even within a volunteer-driven environment.

  • Leverage HR technology and tools to streamline people operations.

• Talent Management

  • Develop and implement best-in-class volunteer and employee onboarding programs.

  • Create career development opportunities to enhance engagement and retention.

• Culture & Employee Experience

  • Champion a strong, mission-driven culture aligned with the organization’s values.

  • Develop employer branding and internal communications programs.

  • Drive initiatives to foster employee engagement, well-being, and a sense of belonging.

  • Lead DEI efforts across the organization.

  • Support leadership in resolving conflicts and improving team dynamics.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in human resources in a leadership role.

• Experience leading an HR team, preferably in a nonprofit or volunteer-based organization.

• Strong knowledge of HR best practices, including talent acquisition, employee relations, and organizational culture.

• Proven ability to build and implement HR policies and programs from the ground up.

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence at all levels.

• Experience working in a remote and distributed team environment.

• Demonstrated passion for Solution Community’s mission and commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture.

Preferred Qualifications

• HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR, or equivalent) is a plus.

• Experience managing volunteers and remote teams.

• Background in DEI initiatives and culture transformation.

What We Offer

• Global collaboration with leaders and strategists from top global companies

• Meaningful impact on global causes and communities

• A vibrant, multicultural team spanning 70+ countries

• A supportive environment rooted in compassion, integrity, innovation, and collaboration

• Flexible work-life with full autonomy

• Opportunities for personal and professional growth

• A formal recommendation upon successful completion of your volunteer term.

About the Role Within Our Culture

At Solution Community, we value fostering a positive workplace where every member can contribute meaningfully. This is a volunteer, unpaid position designed for someone who is deeply committed to our mission and eager to help scale a values-driven organization. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a global people function, influence organizational culture, and leave a lasting impact on countless lives around the world.

Help a growing energy education charity and bring financial rigour to how we manage and grow our impact.

About us

Curieus Games CIC is a UK Community Interest Company, in the process of converting into a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation). Our mission is to raise energy literacy through play. We make energy and climate education fun and accessible. Our vision is to inspire and attract young people to work in the energy sector.

Our flagship programme, Megawatt, consists of an energy-based educational card game supported by a series of workshops. The object of the programme is to engage students on energy and sustainability through gamification and ethical debates. We deliver the programme to primary and secondary schools across the UK, with 30 schools receiving the Megawatt programme in the 25/26 academic year. Schools receive a full day of workshops, the full suite of Megawatt resources, and training to support teachers to integrate Megawatt into curriculum teaching.

We offer our programme to schools for free. We work with energy developers and other organisations to fund our work in schools, delivering community engagement and social value on their behalf. We’ve built partnerships with several high profile energy developers in offshore wind, solar, batteries and nuclear, as well as winning grants from the National Lottery and the Royal Academy of Engineering. We already have funding secured to deliver to 50 schools in the upcoming academic year.

Megawatt has also been translated into French and Polish and is currently being rolled out to schools in France and Poland through partnerships with local institutes.

You can see more about the work we do here - www.megawatt.game

The next chapter

Curieus Games is converting from a Community Interest Company into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). As a charity, we will have access to more sources of funding, giving us an opportunity to grow our impact by reaching more schools and developing more resources to teach about the energy transition.

To lead that next chapter, we're building a founding board of trustees to govern the charity into the next phase of our journey and build on the success we’ve had so far.

The role

As Treasurer, you'll be the person who makes sure the charity grows on solid financial footing — guiding our reporting, risk management and financial strategy as we scale from 30 schools to hundreds. You'll bring:

• Experience in a senior financial role in a charity, not-for-profit or business
• A strong understanding of charity financing, reporting and risk management
• Experience with grants, tenders or philanthropic fundraising is welcome, though not essential

Working arrangements

Six board meetings a year, mostly online with occasional in-person sessions — around 3-5 hours a month in total including meetings. It's a three-year term. The role is voluntary and unpaid, with reasonable expenses reimbursed.

More details are in the attached Trustee Information Pack.

Make a difference in the lives of children, families and women. Become a PACT Trustee.

We are seeking two voluntary trustees to join our exceptional Board of trustees: One with professional experience in Safeguarding and one with professional experience within the Violence Against Women and Girls sector, or closely aligned areas.

If you are committed to making a lasting impact and guiding a charity that makes a positive difference to hundreds of lives every year, this is an incredible opportunity to join us on our mission.

You do not need previous trustee experience as we provide a full induction and ongoing training. This is a unique chance to apply your expertise at strategic level, playing a pivotal role in ensuring we continue delivering high-quality, trauma-informed services, championing the welfare of vulnerable families, and shaping supportive policies that protect children and strengthen communities.

PACT (Parents and Children Together) has been building and strengthening families since 1911 through outstanding adoption services and specialist therapeutic and trauma informed support services across Reading, the Thames Valley, and southern England. As one of the UK’s leading voluntary adoption agencies, we place children with loving, permanent families (over 81 placements last year) and offer lifelong specialist support through services like our Strengthening Families Team, CATCH and Adopter Champions. Alongside our adoption service provision, we empower women facing multiple disadvantages through our Alana House women’s centre and help children and their non-abusing parents recover from trauma via our Bounce Back 4 Kids programme.

Who we are looking for

We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and actively encourage individuals from underrepresented groups, including those with lived experience of adoption, care or disadvantage to apply. Diversity of thought and experience strengthens our Board, and we value perspectives from different communities, cultures and lived experiences. Your expertise will help us deliver inclusive, high quality services for children, families and women.

These trustee roles are voluntary positions that are home-based with occasional travel to our Reading head office for in person board meetings or to collaborate with PACT colleagues relevant to your lead role (reasonable expenses covered) and support for our events. The time commitment is around one day per month, including quarterly Board meetings and input into wider charity matters. We aim to be flexible and will make adjustments where we can support accessibility and your availability.

For the Safeguarding Lead Trustee role, we would welcome applications from interested individuals who have current strong understanding and experience of safeguarding legislation, especially in children’s social care.

For the Violence Against Women and Girls Trustee role, we are looking for individuals with demonstrable experience of working in this sector, or in closely aligned areas (e.g. domestic abuse, sexual violence, women in the criminal justice system, safeguarding, trauma informed services). You will have a strong understanding of the policy, commissioning and funding landscape relating to this field.

What would you get as a PACT trustee?

· Satisfaction of helping vulnerable children, women and families, and giving something back

· An opportunity to exercise your skills and knowledge, possibly in a different environment or context

· A chance to contribute to the charity’s strategic growth

· A chance to expand your experience of charities and gain new skills

· An opportunity to work alongside other skilled and committed trustees

· High-quality induction, training and support from us and other charity-support organisations

· Being a Trustee can support the acquisition of valuable skills and experience that support career development

We understand that becoming a trustee is a commitment and you want to ensure that you are applying for a role that matches your values and requirements. You will find lots more information about PACT on our website and one of our trustees also kindly provided this short video with further details.

If you believe you can contribute to the skills and diversity of our Board and would like to apply, please visit the volunteer page of our website  where you will find the trustee recruitment pack and application form.

We are committed to making our recruitment process accessible. If you need the information in a different format or require adjustments during the application process, please let us know.

We look forward to hearing from you!

The closing date for applications is 9am on Tuesday 01 September 2026.

Early applications are encouraged as we may review and appoint on an earlier basis if a successful candidate is secured.

Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do at PACT. We have robust measures and best practices in place to safeguard and protect the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we take pride in maintaining outstanding safeguarding standards.

Anyone joining our team is subject to PACT’s safer recruitment pre-appointment enquiries, including an Enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check.