Volunteering Leader - Corporate Focus (Docklands)

Job Description

About the Trust 

We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?  

Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.

Join Our Team: Volunteering Leader (Docklands, E14 9ST)

We’re excited to welcome a new Volunteering Leader at our London & South East location

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.

Working Hours & Location 

This role operates on an annualised hours system, totalling 1,931.4 hours per year. You will work a rota of five days out of seven, which includes some weekends and statutory holidays, and you will also be part of our on‑call system. From time to time, you may be required to work in other parts of the region to support the delivery of London & Southeast operations projects.

The Volunteering Leader will be based at Docklands, E14 9ST. This role involves travel between sites and includes use of a Trust vehicle.

Role Overview
We’re looking for a Volunteering Leader to join our Operations Team in Central London, focusing on the delivery of corporate engagement days across London and the Southeast. This is a hands‑on, rewarding role where you’ll help bring volunteering projects to life and make a positive impact on our waterways and local communities.
You’ll work with colleagues across the region to plan and coordinate corporate volunteering activities, partnering closely with the Business and Corporate Engagement team to ensure events run smoothly. You’ll also support community volunteering, assist operational teams with on‑site tasks, and build strong relationships with volunteers and supervisors.
Alongside your volunteering responsibilities, you’ll contribute to day‑to‑day operational work such as general maintenance, repairs, and towpath care. Training will be provided where needed, including on waterway control structures.

Key Accountabilities:

• Provide support across the London and Southeast regional operations team in delivering our corporate volunteering model, working closely with our Business and Corporate Engagement partner.
• Develop the existing volunteer model to support the corporate delivery alongside operational delivery and development
• Deliver all events safely and in a timely, cost-effective manner. Always adhering to Trust standards and values.
• Ensure stakeholder satisfaction is consistently high across all stages of the Trust experience.
• Ensuring that diversity and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of Trust life and promoting inclusion by challenging behaviour, practices, actions, or decisions that are counter to the objectives of the Trust’s policies and values.
• Support the operational delivery

About you

It’s important that our new team members enjoy the variety of work we do, so you’ll need to be comfortable with physical, outdoor tasks throughout the year. You’ll also have a genuine respect for nature, the environment, and the millions of people who use our waterways.
Our waterways serve many purposes—they’re not only visited by day users or holidaymakers, but are also home to thousands of people who live on boats all year round. They act as commuter routes, meeting points for community groups, social spaces, and vital areas where people can relax and connect with nature. Your role will make a meaningful contribution to improving and enhancing these spaces for everyone.
You’ll be confident interacting with people from all parts of the community and appreciate the diversity and richness they bring. We’re looking for someone who can respond to the unexpected with thoughtfulness, respect, care, and a positive, practical mindset. Familiarity with the Trust’s volunteer management systems and processes would be helpful.
You may have years of practical experience, or you might be at the beginning of your career and looking for a role that makes use of your hands‑on skills and people‑focused approach. You don’t need to be an expert, but you should be able to show that you embody the values and behaviours that let our customers and visitors know that we care.

Skills & Qualifications

• Project management experience (desirable)
• Customer service development and relationship building (essential)
• IT skills - Comfortable and adaptable using a range of desktop and mobile based suites (including, but not limited to, Microsoft, Dayforce, CRM) (essential)
• A valid full UK driving licence (held for a minimum of 3 years). You will be expected to drive company liveried vehicles in the role (essential)
• Commercial awareness (essential)
• Knowledge of the Charity sector and funding models (desirable)
• Excellent communication skills (essential)
• Leadership skills (essential)Experience of planning and organising events or activities (essential)
• Strong administration skills (desirable)
• It is important that you really love to work with others and get things done through others to succeed in this role. (essential)

Contact & Application 

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.

What We Offer 

We offer an annual salary of £28,470 + £4,000 per annum Inner London Allowance. Enjoy a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here: EVP - 1.  

Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits 

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Our values

We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes.

All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis.

We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.

At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception - are made by our hiring managers. 

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.

Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us

Job Details

• Pay Type
• Salary

• Travel Required
• Yes

• Hiring Min Rate
• 32,470 GBP

• Hiring Max Rate
• 32,470 GBP