Volunteer leader jobs

St. Margaret’s Church Thornbury is seeking an Older People’s Outreach Worker to strengthen and grow our ministry among older people across our churches and local community in Bradford and Pudsey. Based at The Thornbury Centre, this role combines pastoral visiting, worship in care settings, and community engagement, with a particular focus on those experiencing isolation, dementia, or poverty.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference, working collaboratively with clergy, volunteers, and partner organisations to ensure older people are supported spiritually, socially, and practically.

Job Title: Assistant Shop Manager 

Reporting To: Old Swan Shop Manager 

Salary: £25,570 - £27,401 

Hours: 37.5 hours per week 

Location: Old Swan, Liverpool 

About us: 

 
Alder Hey Children’s Charity raises vital funds to help make Alder Hey Children’s Hospital a truly world-class, patient-friendly hospital for the 450,000 patients and families we care for every year. 

The charity supports a wide range of life-enhancing projects that improve the experience of our amazing young patients. This includes funding specialist medical equipment to ensure our skilled surgeons and clinical teams have access to the most cutting-edge technology and investing in hi-tech distraction equipment proven to reduce pain and anxiety for children during their hospital stay. We also support innovative programmes such as ward musicians, our on-site magician, and dedicated play specialists on every ward. 

In addition, our charity retail operation plays a key role in raising funds and engaging our community. With a presence on-site at the hospital and across local areas, our retail outlets offer a variety of high-quality donated and new goods. Every purchase helps us continue to deliver exceptional care and fund critical projects, while also providing volunteering and community engagement opportunities that extend the impact of our mission beyond the hospital walls. 

About the role: 

We are looking for a passionate, ambitious Assistant Charity Shop Manager to join our successful team to help manage our charity shop in Old Swan. 

The Assistant Shop Manager will be an integral part of the wider Charity team.

Main Duties/Tasks: 

You will play a vital role in supporting the Shop Manager to lead, motivate, and develop a team of dedicated employees and volunteers, fostering strong community engagement and maximising the shop’s impact. This includes encouraging and harnessing the gifts of time from volunteers, goods from donors, and income from customers. As a visible and active ambassador for Alder Hey Children’s Charity on the high street, you will ensure the shop reflects the Charity’s values and purpose in all that it does. You will also support van collections and deliveries, helping to ensure the smooth and efficient transport of donated goods, while representing the Charity with enthusiasm and professionalism. 

Income generation: 

• Work with the Shop Manager to maximise sales and profits ensuring weekly targets are met. 

• Support the team to maximise income from Gift Aid on donated products. 

• Support the team to maximise income via our online platforms. 

• Support the team with arranging van deliveries/collections daily.

• Work with the wider Charity team to promote and support fundraising activities and events. 

• Explore ways to maximise sales via events, donation drives, pop-up shops etc. 

• Cash up the till at the end of shift and ensure banking documents are completed. Investigate any discrepancies and report them to the Manager. 

• Support with ensuring the money is ready and accessible for cash collection.

• Open and close the shop at the appropriate times.

Volunteers: 

• Support and management of a team of volunteers. 

• Utilise volunteer skill sets and motivate them to deliver great customer service and perform tasks in-line with charity standards. 

• Maximise the shop’s opening hours and ensure the shop is open and managed by the shop team in the absence of the Shop Manager. 

• Help to provide and support ongoing training and development for volunteers. 

• Work and treat employees, volunteers and stakeholders in accordance with the Charity’s values. 

• Health & Safety (in conjunction with Shop Manager) 

• Ensure the shop adheres to Retail Health and Safety regulations. 

• Implement good Health and Safety practices to help protect employees, volunteers, and customers. 

• Help to ensure employees and volunteers are trained in manual handling. 

• Help maintain the cleanliness of the shop and behind the scenes areas.

• Stock Control (in conjunction with Shop Manager) 

• Ensure continuous, sufficient levels of high-quality stock. 

• Be responsible for deliveries and stock controls. 

• Ensure stock is appropriate to the business and priced accordingly. 

• Maintain a rigorous process of stock rotation, ensuring rotation within expiry dates. 

• Ensure visual merchandising is a high priority, with products featured prominently in window displays. 

Customer Service: 

• Be professional, patient and have a ‘people-first’ approach to customer services. 

• Be committed to the principles of equality, diversity, and collaborative working. 

• Set high standards of cleanliness, display and merchandising. 

• Establish quality standards, consumer safety and ensuring continuity. 

• Play a key role in enabling the shop to represent the Charity’s values.

Other Duties: 

• Be an outstanding advocate for Alder Hey Children’s Charity in line with the core values of the organisation. 

• Any other reasonable duties as required by your line manager. 

The Charity retail team are currently conducting a four-day working week trial, due to end on 30 June 2026. This means that, for example, staff previously working 37.5 hours a week are now working 30 hours a week to enable a four-day working week. The trial is monitoring the benefits of a four-day working week against productivity. We are confident that by embracing a more flexible and balanced approach to work, we can continue to create a thriving and fulfilling work environment while driving growth and success for our charity. A decision will be made before the 30 June 2026 to agree the next steps, based on an assessment of the trial period; the four-day working week trial may be ended, extended or adopted permanently. 

Our Values 

Here at Alder Hey Children’s Charity, our values guide the way in which we work. By being courageous, working together, being passionate about our work, and making sure that we are creative in what we do, helps us to deliver the support necessary so that our hospital can continue to deliver the very best care for our young patients and their families. Our values are:

Courage: we try new things and take risks to innovate and drive forward new ideas. We have the courage to speak up and take a stance. We are accountable, responsive and responsible. We are unstoppable.

Together: we work together as one team, sharing our knowledge and learning. We work in partnership with patients, families, supporters and colleagues. We are respectful, celebrate diversity and empower each other to achieve our aims.

Passion: we are passionate about what we do and why we do it.  We work together to share and grow. We inspire others.

Magic: we are fun, creative and child led. We create special moments, provide little extras and go further for our brave young patients.

How to apply 

You can apply by clicking the link below. Applications must include your CV and a covering letter which answers the following questions: 

• How do you meet the person specification? If you don’t exactly meet all of the role requirements but have transferable skills please do consider applying and provide details as part of your answer.

• Why do you want to work for Alder Hey? 

Additional information is included within the Job Description and Person Specification. If you have any questions about the role please contact the People Team.

Closing date: Monday 19th January 2026 

Interview date (to be held at Alder Hey Children’s Charity Shop – Old Swan): Tuesday 27th January 2026

Alder Hey Children’s Charity will make every endeavour to make any reasonable adjustments for applicants who require assistance in carrying out their duties due to a disability. Alder Hey Children’s Charity is committed to equal opportunities and positively welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Alder Hey Children’s Charity is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. The post holder may be required to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check.

HCPT is seeking a visionary and results-driven Strategic Director of Fundraising and Communications to lead the organisation’s income growth from £650,000 to over £2 million by October 2028. This role is pivotal in shaping and delivering a multi-stream fundraising strategy and a compelling communications approach that amplifies HCPT’s mission and impact.

The Strategic Director of Fundraising and Communications will ensure that HCPT’s mission is visible, engaging for our existing and new pilgrims and supporters and is well funded to ensure we can deliver THE BEST pilgrimage experience we can offer as defined and measured by our beneficiaries and volunteers.

This is a senior role in volunteer-led organisation and as such the successful postholder will be required to exercise flexibility with evening and weekend work to meet the business needs of the charity, given the availability of our volunteer leaders who have professional commitments during the day.

IMPORTANT: DUE TO AN EXTREMELY HIGH NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS SINCE THE JOB WENT LIVE ON FRIDAY 2ND JANUARY, WE HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO CLOSE THE VACANCY EARLY. ANY JOB APPLICATIONS RECIEVED AFTER MIDNIGHT ON THURSDAY 8TH JANUARY WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED. 

Thank you for your understanding.
 

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Please note: This role is contracted to the Milton Keynes campus. While the position is primarily remote, there are occasional mandatory days required on campus. These will be scheduled in advance with prior notice; however, attendance on these days is non-negotiable.

The Organisation

The Open SU serves the interests of around 170,000 part-time and distance-learning students spread across the UK, continental Europe and beyond. Our role is to represent and support the interests of this vast and diverse community of students. The Open SU is an independent registered charity, governed by elected student leaders. Our team of vibrant, friendly and dedicated professional staff provide the vital support needed to deliver our ambitious strategy. Here at the Open SU we are committed to a positive team culture to enable and empower all members to be their very best.

The Job

In this role, you will play a vital part in supporting the delivery of our Volunteering Strategy helping to ensure every student has the chance to connect, contribute and belong. Working closely with the Volunteering Manager, you will:

· Provide high quality administrative support which includes responding to volunteering enquiries, supporting at meetings, producing volunteer communications and maintaining volunteer records.

· Act as a first point of contact for volunteers, offering guidance and support throughout their journey, and assist with recruitment, onboarding and recognition.

· Help deliver engagement and appreciation events, share inspiring stories through newsletter and volunteer spaces and gather volunteer feedback to improve services.

· Champion good data practices, maintaining accurate records and ensuring information is handled responsibly. Above all, promote inclusive, safe and accessible volunteering across all activities.

The Person

This role is a great opportunity for an organised and proactive administrator who enjoys supporting others and being part of a friendly, collaborative team. You will also enjoy working with and supporting volunteers, helping to spark new ideas, create great experiences and build a real sense of community and belonging along the way. You’ll be passionate about creating and supporting the development of volunteer communications and storytelling to inspire others to get involved.

You will be comfortable using Microsoft 365 tools such as Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel and Forms and will bring a flexible, can-do approach to your work. Above all, you will value inclusion, accessibility and team work, and will be committed to learning, growing and contributing to an open, supportive and sustainable community.
 

How to apply

Please send over your CV and a supporting word document answering how you meet the below criteria in no more than one page of A4:

1. Please describe your experience of providing administrative support as part of a team.

2. Tell us about a time you supported people from a range of backgrounds or with different needs (for example students, volunteers, service users or customers)

3. Please give an example of how you have supported a project, programme or event, and how you contributed ideas, solved problems and worked with others.

Please email your CV and supporting statement over to  where you will receive confirmation of receipt within a couple of days.

The Open University Students Association is committed to equal opportunities for everyone in education and employment and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

Closing date for applications: Monday 19th January, midday (please note, we reserve the right to close the advert ahead of the time stated if a large number of applciations has been received)

Are you passionate about children’s literacy? Do you want to use your skills and experience to enable opportunity for children living with little or no access to books and reading? Can you help create a home environment where reading for pleasure is part of the fabric of family life? If so, read on - we may have just the job for you here at Doorstep Library!

We are looking for a Reading Project Leader, to deliver some of our reading projects in London, on a part-time, term-time only basis. You will lead a team of volunteers on three projects per week, being present at a community base while your volunteer team visits local families and reads with children,and  reading with families yourself at times.

You will be a resourceful, confident decision maker able to operate independently on the ground to support your team and be able to engage with our community partners and beneficiaries.

About The Launchpad Collective

The Launchpad Collective is a refugee-led charity supporting people with lived experience of displacement to rebuild their lives through employment, confidence, and a sense of belonging. Steered by people with lived refugee experience (82% of our team), we create meaningful pathways to work, dignity, and connection.

Many of the people we support arrive in the UK with determination, skills, and professional expertise, only to face systemic barriers that prevent them from accessing employment. Through tailored employability support, one-to-one mentoring, and direct employer engagement, we walk alongside our clients as they rebuild confidence, reclaim agency, and move into work they are proud of.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and values-driven Operations Lead to play a key leadership role within The Launchpad Collective. This is an exciting opportunity for a confident, organised, and proactive individual who is motivated by social impact and committed to improving the lives of refugees.

As Operations Lead, you will oversee the smooth running of the organisation, manage people and departments, and support the senior leadership team to ensure our programmes are delivered effectively and sustainably. You will be a motivational leader who is respected by the team, bringing strong people skills, patience, and kindness to your work.

This role requires someone with several years’ experience in operational management and people leadership, who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

We particularly welcome people with lived experience of seeking sanctuary in the UK. For full details of the role and guidance on how to apply, please check the attached job description.

We’ll be hosting an online Q&A session on 14 January, from 11:00am–12:00pm. We encourage potential applicants to register and submit any questions in advance. Here is the registration form https://forms.gle/fqSwCvGw1yHEmM2g6

For full details of the role and guidance on how to apply, please see the attached job description.

This is a rare opportunity to join the Scottish Wildlife Trust at a transformative time and play a leading role in one of our most ambitious fundraising initiatives.

For over 60 years, the Trust has championed healthy, resilient ecosystems across Scotland’s land and seas.

We are now creating the role of Major Gifts Manager. Joining our Development Team, and managing our Development Officer, you will lead philanthropic giving, with a particular focus on securing the Inverbroom Endowment – a multi-million pound campaign to safeguard the long-term future of our newest and largest wildlife reserve.

Working closely with an external fundraising agency, senior staff and volunteer leaders, you will manage and grow a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals, secure major gifts (including six-figures and above), and develop compelling cases for support that bring complex conservation challenges to life.

We are looking for a confident fundraiser with at least five years’ experience in philanthropy, ideally within the environmental NGO sector. You will have a strong track record of meeting financial targets, managing prospect pipelines, and stewarding long-term donor relationships.

If you are a confident relationship builder who acts with integrity, thrives on collaboration and wants your work to deliver real, lasting impact for nature, we would love to hear from you.

We are seeking a Worship Coordinator to help strengthen and develop the worship ministry at Gateway. This role involves working closely with our Senior Pastor and existing worship leaders to deepen our worship culture, support and equip our teams, and help raise up future worshippers.

The ideal candidate will be both spiritually discerning, administratively gifted and developer of others — someone who loves the presence of God, values excellence, and thrives in organisation and team development.

Central location: West Bromwich UK.

Other locations requiring travel: Liverpool UK

Typical week: two to three days in the working week based around West Bromwich.  Sundays rotate around the locations.

This role offers a unique opportunity to serve in a thriving church community, helping shape the sound and heart of worship at Gateway Christian Centre. If you are passionate about worship, leadership, and seeing people encounter God’s presence, we’d love to hear from you.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details.

Superstore Team Leader

Foss Island Retail Park, York, North Yorkshire

Full-time, 37 hours per week (Your working pattern will be 5 days over 7, working at least one weekend day per week). 

About Us

Yorkshire is one of the regions hardest hit by cancer. Together, we can change this.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a charity dedicated to funding research so that you and those you love live longer healthier lives, free of cancer.

Thanks to supporters, the charity funds vital cancer research and pioneers innovative new services for people with cancer. These life-giving medical breakthroughs are helping more people survive cancer – in Yorkshire, and beyond.

As an inclusive employer, our aim is to ensure our workforce reflects the rich diversity of our region. We believe a diverse workforce is vital to us taking action to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer more effectively in Yorkshire. We offer equal opportunities regardless of race, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnerships.

The Benefits

We offer all employees a wide range of benefits including an enhanced contributory pension scheme, 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service), flexible working arrangements, private medical insurance, enhanced maternity leave, career progression, learning and development, wellbeing initiatives and a whole lot more.

We’ve got a strong set of values that inform everything we do and we’re looking for people who are aligned with these. As one of Team Leaders, you will put people in Yorkshire at the heart of everything you do, unite with colleagues and other organisations in this cause, and dare to think big and bold to make positive solutions happen.

The Role

We are currently looking for three Team Leaders to join our Retail, Services and Operations team to launch and manage our new Superstore in York.

As a Team Leader, you will oversee the day-to-day operation of one of the departments of the superstore. This includes leading a team of employees (shop assistants) and volunteers, ensuring accurate accounting and handling of assets, delivering high standards of customer service, and adhering to all charity policies and procedures. You will lead by example and ensure that employees, volunteers, supporters, donors, and customers understand how their contributions are making a difference to the lives of people in Yorkshire and beyond. 

You will need to be committed to creating a welcoming professional atmosphere and demonstrating the values of Yorkshire Cancer Research. You will also be a passionate and enthusiastic ambassador for the charity and its work.

Specifically, you will be responsible for:

• Running the department commercially, including display and merchandising, stock management and generation, maintaining shop standards, layout of store and opening and closing of store. 

• Supporting the management team in delivering ambitious sales targets whilst maintaining shop standards, commerciality and compliance. 
• Assuming Duty Manager responsibility in the absence of the store management team.
• Opening and closing the store if required as duty manager and responding to alarm call-outs as a listed key holder if required.
• Working a flexible shift pattern to reflect the business needs including weekends and pre-retailing hours. 
• Ensuring the department is presented to the highest standards with attractive visual merchandising and attractive window displays. 
• Ensuring that all charity policies, shop standards and operations procedures are communicated effectively to all retail assistants and volunteers and are maintained and followed consistently. 
• Line managing the Retail Assistants ensuring you develop and retain talent by conducting regular performance development reviews, implementing action plans, training, and supporting personal development and growth.
• Taking on leadership of employees across the whole store when acting as Duty Manager.
• Support in managing the sales and profit of the Superstore and where possible exceeding agreed targets across categories (Donated stock, cash, benchmark gift aid, average selling price, sell through, stock processing).
• Ensuring accurate record keeping of items donated and the amount paid for each item for Gift Aid tax reclaim purposes. 
• Create a welcoming professional atmosphere and deliver high standards of customer service for all customers and supporters. 

About You

To be considered for this role, you will need:

• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent but not essential or have experience in a similar role at a similar level Experience of managing people/volunteers including recruitment and development.
• Experience of managing people/volunteers including recruitment and development. 
• Previous retail experience in the charity sector or commercial sector is desirable.
• To have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Highly organised with good time management skills. 
• Ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines. 
• Demonstrably strong planning, guiding and motivation skills to successfully achieve targeted income are desirable.

Application

Before applying, please visit our Careers Page to view the full role profile and find out more about working for Yorkshire Cancer Research.

To apply please submit a CV and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role to Claire Wooldridge, Head of People, before 13 January 2026. Please read our privacy notice before applying.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a responsible and flexible employer. 

We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. If we can make any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please contact us via our website. 

Volunteer Engagement Coordinator

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing organisation and a developing team that recruits and supports young leaders to transform educational and social outcomes for pupils across the UK.

As Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, you will lead regional attraction work to build a pipeline of high-quality volunteers who are motivated to apply for the City Year programme.

Join a youth social action charity which challenges 18 to 25-year-olds to tackle educational inequality through a year of full-time social action. As mentors, tutors and role models in schools, they support pupils growing up in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the UK.

Position: Volunteer Engagement Coordinator

Location: London Office (Kings Cross), Recruitment Events, Training Venue and home. Typically, 3 days per week are worked from home.

Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday, 35 per week

Salary: £26,700 per annum

Duration: Permanent

Start date: February 2026 (with some flexibility)

Closing Date: 11 January 2026

Interviews: Commence week of 12 January 2026

The Role

You will be responsible for delivering an efficient, end-to-end recruitment service from attraction and selection through to retention and onboarding, ensuring that outstanding volunteers are recruited to achieve excellent outcomes for the schools and pupils we support.

In this role, you will drive recruitment and engagement in your region, ensuring that targets are met, customer service is exceptional, and effective relationships are built. You will also contribute to national projects and develop creative approaches to recruitment and engagement that work for your area. This position offers both responsibility and autonomy to identify, attract, and support exceptional volunteers and team leaders motivated to drive and shape social change.

Main duties and responsibilities include:

· Responsibility for the attraction of high-quality applicants

· Selection of high-quality candidates aged between 18-25

· Retention and onboarding volunteers

· Developing marketing and promotional activities

· Monitor and evaluate systems and processes

· Collaboration

About You

We are looking for someone with experience and skills as below.  

· Strong belief, enthusiasm and commitment to City Year’s programme, mission and values

· Understanding of recruitment, engagement, or sales processes, with a track record of meeting targets

· Experience working with a range of stakeholders

· Experience planning and delivering events or presentations to diverse audiences (e.g., young people, university students)

· Knowledge of the UK school leaver and graduate markets, the education sector, youth social action, and the volunteer sector

· Experience using an ATS (applicant tracking system) or CRM database (desirable)

· Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage a wide range of audiences

Please apply by uploading your CV and cover letter (two pages preferred) demonstrating your suitable experience, knowledge, skills and abilities. Due to the high volume of CVs received, the charity can only respond back to the successful candidates.

Employee Benefits

As an organisation, particular emphasis is placed on fairness, well-being, and inclusion and offer a range of benefits for staff, including:

· Great holiday entitlement

· Training including degree-level qualifications

· Pension scheme enrolment starts at 4% as standard, and employee contributions are matched up to 5%

· Free eye tests and £20 off glasses

· Interest-free travel season ticket loans

· Interest-free bike loans under the “Cycle to Work Scheme”

· Interest-free Loans to assist employees with welfare or financial hardship

· 2 days per year to pursue volunteering opportunities and 2 days per year to support wellbeing

· Regular all staff wellbeing sessions with external wellbeing experts

· Reservist friendly employer - Bronze award

· Laptop and mobile phone

Other areas of experience may include Volunteer Engagement, Volunteer Recruitment, Volunteer Coordinator, Volunteer Coordination, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, Volunteer Officer, Volunteer Recruitment Officer, Volunteer Coordination Officer.

Please note this role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of our client.vi

Contract: Full time, fixed term until 16th February 2027 
Salary: £28,481 to £33,118 per annum
Location: Exeter, EX2 8ED 
Closing date: Sunday 18th January 2026
Interview dates: To be confirmed

Are you an experienced operational manager, who relishes a challenge, with a passion for pets and people? 

We’re recruiting a Centre Manager with strong leadership, organisational and communication skills to lead our Devon rehoming advice and behaviour unit in all pets, people, financial and compliance matters!

This is a great time to join the Devon Centre, with the chance for a dynamic leader who can quickly adapt and bring their own experience to the role. This is a fixed term contract role until 16th February 2027. 

More about the role
At our rehoming, advice & behaviour unit in Devon, our foster-based care and Home Direct Scheme ensures animals find loving homes without the stress of kennels. This means that we do not usually have pets staying onsite overnight and our roles may not include daily pet care, but no two days are ever the same. 

As Centre Manager, you’ll be responsible for all aspects of the Centre – pets, people, compliance and finances. Working closely with your Assistant Managers, you’ll inspire and empower your team, embed a culture of continuous improvement and ensure the highest welfare standards. 

This role is about leading people and delivering the strategy for the Devon centre. We have a skilled, passionate team, we need someone who can build great relationships and continue to meet the objectives of the centre. 

For many, the Centre will be the “public face” of Blue Cross so you will need to ensure that customer service is at the heart of every interaction. At Blue Cross we are ambitious, and the work carried out by our Centres is key in achieving our strategy and ensuring that ultimately, we help more pets. 

The standard hours for this role are 37.5 hours per week on a locally agreed rota to include weekends and bank holidays. The standard hours are 8:30 – 5 Monday – Friday, working 1 in 3 weekends (Sat and Sun), with flexibility where there is a business need. 

Want to know more detail? Great! We have attached a candidate pack and job description which hopefully gives you everything you need. 

 
About you 
You will be an inspirational leader with a proven track record of motivating, developing and supporting people in a fast-paced environment. You’ll bring strong operational and people management skills – able to set direction, take action and empower others to deliver improvements. 

Alongside your leadership strengths, you’ll also possess indepth knowledge of animal welfare and operational excellence from a similar environment. 

Confident and decisive, you’ll balance the needs of pets, people, and resources to achieve outstanding results. 

Resilient, empathetic and emotionally intelligent, you’ll thrive on challenge and approach every situation with a positive, problem-solving mindset. 

Knowledge, skills, and experience 

• Significant experience of successfully motivating, leading, and developing high performance teams, including setting clearly defined objectives, and managing performance in an animal welfare setting. 
• Strong knowledge of animal welfare/care, ensuring operational excellence in a similar animal welfare environment. 
• Experience of positively embracing and adapting to change by identifying, leading, and managing change in line with organisational objectives. 
• Financially aware and numerate. 
• Proven experience of working constructively and collaboratively with colleagues from different teams. 
• Interpersonal and consultative skills, including the ability to communicate, present, negotiate, influence, and build credibility with colleagues and external parties. 
• Experience of working in a commercial environment where the need to control costs and deliver high levels of service are important. 
• Significant experience of working in an emotionally charged environment, showing empathy, and demonstrating resilience under pressure and dealing with distressed people and animals. 
• The ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross values  
• Current full driving licence. 

How to apply  
Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date on Sunday 18th January 2026. 

The process will include: 

• First stage interview and site tour.
• Online Discovery Session. This will include scenario-based exercises and group discussions, giving you the chance to demonstrate your leadership style and approach to change while meeting colleagues. 

Blue Cross benefits 
Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.  

In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.  

Our generous benefits package includes:  

• Pro rata full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)  
• Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support  
• Free access to GP via MetLife - 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family  
• Health cash plan  
• Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme  
• Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution  
• Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and Personal development support 
• Life assurance  
• 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance  
• Enhanced family friendly policies  
• Recognition scheme  
• Annual volunteer days 
• Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers

We’re an award-winning charity running local learning centres in the heart of the communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide a high-impact education programme which includes practical learning support, pastoral care, and motivational and confidence-building activities for young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to enable students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to realise their ambitions and achieve their wonderful potential.

As the UK’s leading university access organisation, our staff team is helping 56,000 young people each year at its 44 learning centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, and we plan to scale-up our provision to 50 centres over the coming years.

We are looking for a high-calibre candidate who will enjoy working each day with young people and who will thrive in a frontline, community-based, fast-paced and rewarding role. You will be taking up a permanent role as Centre Leader at our IntoUniversity centre in Grimsby. You will have responsibility for running your IntoUniversity centre, including managing your team, planning and delivering the programme, liaising with external stakeholders and meeting  IntoUniversity’s targets for delivery.

A substantial element of this role is delivering our education programme to children and young people aged 7-18, so you will need to have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for working with young people, including leading a class of 30 from the front, working with small teams of children and providing one-to-one support.

The role at a glance

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Application deadline - 9am Friday 6th January 2026

Interview day (in-person) - Friday 23rd January 2026

Start date: February 2026

Working hours
Mon and Thurs: 09:30-18:00
Tues, Weds, Fri: 09:00-17:30

(Some additional weekend & unsocial hours will be required)

Centre Leaders are based at one of our IntoUniversity learning centres and work directly with young people, schools and families on a daily basis. It is therefore not a hybrid role and is based full-time in our centres

Location

IntoUniversity Grimsby

The role requires intermittent travel in your region (usually within the day). Periodic travel out of the area is also required e.g. to London, this may include occasional overnight stays. 

Salary

£36,400 per annum.

Annual leave
33 days (inc bank & public holidays) + 3 closure days (two in December and one in July) + additional length of service entitlement (one day per year of service, up to 5 days)

Staff benefits

• Employer pension contributions of 6% (and up to 8% after two years)
• Year round ‘early finish’ Fridays at 4.30pm
• Summer working hours (finish at 1pm on Fridays for six weeks in the summer), pro-rated for staff joining after January in the same year 
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to wellbeing and legal support 
• Life Assurance scheme with Aviva including SmartHealth service with access to 24/7 online GP appointments
• Interest-free new starter loans of up to £1,000
• Cycle to Work Scheme and Travelcard Loan Scheme
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption pay and sick pay allowances
• Staff in FOCUS – rewards, competitions and prizes across the year

Our people and volunteers are at the heart of our mission. This role is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced, people-focused manager to shape and deliver both our employee and volunteer experience. You will lead on the design and delivery of our people processes, recruitment, and engagement initiatives, while also driving forward our volunteer strategy and ensuring a positive, consistent experience for our 400+ volunteers.

Working closely with team members across The Charity, you’ll bring expertise, energy and creativity to support, engage and inspire people to give their best - whether they are employed by the charity or volunteering their time and skills.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

We’re looking for a people-focused and purpose-driven manager who will bring energy, empathy, and expertise to our employee and volunteer experience. You’ll be equally confident in advising managers and leaders on people matters and delivering operational processes, from recruitment to onboarding.

You’ll be able to navigate HR and volunteering processes with confidence, ensuring our people feel supported, valued, and equipped to perform at their best. And you’ll have experience of managing or developing volunteer programmes, with a passion for creating a positive, engaging and inclusive experience for everyone who chooses to give their time and skills to The Charity. Whilst we recognise candidates won’t necessarily hold equal strength in employee and volunteer management, the role holder will need experience working across these areas in this role.

You’ll be curious, digitally minded and comfortable using insight and feedback to drive improvements. But above all, you’ll be motivated by our vision to find a cure for brain tumours and will be inspired by how incredible people and volunteering practices can play a part in making this happen.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Managing people operations and advisory support

· Support managers with employee relations advice and guidance (informal and formal people processes), acting as a trusted expert on all people policy and process matters.

· Oversee the employee lifecycle from recruitment through to leaving The Charity, ensuring inclusive, legally compliant and engaging processes throughout each stage.

· Lead recruitment campaigns and talent attraction, writing compelling adverts and building a diverse talent pipeline.

· Manage onboarding and induction processes to ensure a positive first 100 days at The Charity.

· Oversee the communication and administration of policies, contracts, payroll changes, and compliance checks (Right to Work, DBS, references).

· Partner with People & Culture team members to plan and deliver initiatives relating to wellbeing, performance, reward and recognition, and EDI.

· Maintain accurate records on PeopleHR (our HR database) and Team Tailor (our Applicant Tracking System), ensuring compliance with employment law and GDPR.

Managing volunteering operations

· Lead the operational plan with respect to volunteering, ensuring volunteering supports departmental priorities. This will include acting as the central point of contact for volunteering operations, providing guidance, support and inspiration to teams and volunteers on volunteering policy and process.

· Oversee the recruitment, induction and training of volunteers, working with the People Operations Officer, Senior Learning Officer and People Administrator, developing digital and in-person learning resources. This will include promoting volunteering opportunities internally and externally, ensuring clear and engaging communications.

· Develop recognition initiatives to ensure volunteers feel valued and connected, including campaigns such as Volunteers’ Week and Trustees’ Week, working alongside the Internal Communications Manager role.

· Support Volunteer Coordinators across teams with advice, training and problem-solving to ensure a consistently excellent volunteer experience.

· Ensure volunteering activity is safe and aligned with safeguarding, risk and data protection standards through ensuring policies and procedures are up to date and compliant with legislation.

· Manage the volunteer management system (Volunteero) and use data and feedback to evaluate and improve the volunteer experience.

Supporting values-led best practice through our work

· Build strong collaborative relationships with team members across The Charity to maximise the contribution of both employees and volunteers.

· Champion our values of being bold, collaborative, innovative, and community first through all people and volunteer initiatives.

· Keep abreast of external best practice in HR and volunteering to ensure our approaches are inclusive and effective.

· Provide line management support to People and Culture team members where relevant, ensuring clarity of expectations and activities, and supporting their development and wellbeing.

Contract:  Permanent, full time (37.5 hours per week) 

Salary:£25,787 to £27,047 per annum 

Location: Southampton SO30 2HL  

Closing date:Sunday 18th January 2026 

Interview date: Monday 26th January 2026 

We're recruiting an Assistant Manager – Offsite Services to lead and streamline our home-based pet operations. 

In this role you'll ensure that every pet finds the perfect match with their new family as quickly as possible, while maintaining top-quality care for both our pets and clients throughout the entire adoption journey. Join us in making a difference, one pet at a time! 

More about the role 

Our beautiful centre opened in 1988 and occupies approximately three acres of land in a discrete location surrounded by fields where we can walk our dogs, providing some wonderful enrichment in a quiet environment. The centre has facilities to care for dogs and cats, as well as a specialised area for kittens.

In this role, you’ll play a key part in ensuring exceptional care for both pets and clients while identifying efficiencies and making decisions that prioritise offsite pet welfare. As the leader of our home-based pet operations, you’ll oversee the smooth running of our foster and home direct services, placing pets directly from one home to another, with experience in practical animal handling and assessment. Your goal will be to prepare pets for adoption as quickly and effectively as possible. You’ll work closely with your team to ensure timely pet assessments, behaviour management, and training, while providing full support to foster carers and current owners. 

You’ll also be responsible for achieving pet-related targets, ensuring your team of Pet Welfare Assistants and Foster Coordinators maintain the highest standards of animal care and adheres to national processes in case management. Teamwork is essential to address the most urgent cases effectively. 

Motivating and managing your team is central to this role, enabling the centre to provide top-quality home-based pet care while helping your team develop professionally. 

At our Southampton rehoming centre, we provide onsite accommodation for pets in our care 24/7.  Overnight shifts are usually undertaken by team members who live on site.  Occasionally you will be expected to carry out night checks when the resident team members are either not working or away for a period of time. 

This is a full-time position, working 37.5 hours per week and you will be required to work 1 in 3 weekends.

About you 

You’ll be a great people manager, bringing finely honed skills from your experience in an animal-related environment, along with extensive knowledge of pet welfare and care. 

As a dynamic and innovative leader, you know how to inspire and motivate your team, driving continuous improvement, empowering them through effective management and coaching. 

With excellent communication skills, you adapt your approach for different audiences, ensuring your message resonates. While juggling multiple tasks, you remain calm and organised, making confident decisions in high-pressure situations. 

Your strong analytical skills enable you to monitor and evaluate effectively, implementing meaningful improvements. Rather than resting on your laurels, you’ll have a genuine desire to enhance offsite pet care services, actively engaging your team in the process. 

Having worked in emotionally charged environments, you understand the importance of resilience. Your emotional intelligence and empathy will shine as you support your team and the public, creating a compassionate and effective workplace. 

Knowledge, skills, and experience   

• Significant experience in managing a team. 

• Significant experience in delivering high level Customer service in a fast-paced environment. 

• Expertise and application of pet welfare and handling of domestic animals 

• High standard of verbal and written communication. 

• Current full driving license 

• The ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross values 

It would be great (but not essential) if you also had:   

• Performance management and improvement experience.

• Experience working with volunteers. 

• Understanding of safeguarding issues. 

Want to know more detail? Great! We have attached the job description which hopefully gives you everything you need.   

How to apply  

Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date on Sunday 18th January. 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.   

Blue Cross benefits    

Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.   

In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.   

Our generous benefits package includes:   

• Enhanced annual leave entitlement: 30 days plus bank holidays    

• Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution   

• Health cash plan  

• Life assurance   

• Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme  

• Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support  

• Free access to GP via MetLife  

• Recognition scheme Annual volunteer days 

• Claim for professional fees