Volunteering Manager

Being a part of Kent Fire and Rescue Service 

Everyone is unique. Everyone has value. Everyone helps to make Kent Fire and Rescue Service a great place to work. We are one team. Together with our customers we are creating a safer future for Kent and Medway.

Being a Volunteering Manager

This is a very rewarding role, working with our incredible team of volunteers.

As volunteering manager, you’ll be responsible for the management and direction of the day-to-day activities of the volunteers including the work of our Volunteer Response Team (VRT) that supports our customers at the scene of a fire.

The role looks after the development and delivery of our scheme, ensuring excellent practice, including identifying, managing and prioritising risks.

As our volunteering manager you’ll be critical to enhancing our volunteers’ experience including the impact they have on customers and the benefits they bring to the community. You’ll develop new initiatives and help us to deliver customer care and our ambition to create a safer future for Kent and Medway.

In 2022 we received national recognition in our approach to volunteering when we secured the ‘Investing in Volunteers Award’. We’re very proud of the scheme and the support our volunteers give our customers. You’ll continue to build upon this success and work toward securing the award again late this year.

What you’ll do

• Lead on the strategy, development, implementation, and evaluation of an inclusive volunteer scheme.
• Manage the practicalities of the scheme, including policies, procedures, standards, and budgets.I
• Investigate best practice in the volunteering and cultural sectors regarding increasing the diversity of volunteers.
• Developing and managing links with key partnerships and the wider community for networking opportunities.
• Deliver a plan to recruit diverse volunteers, with the right skills to match organisational needs.
• Coordinate, develop and deliver appropriate training for volunteers to be successful in their positions and maintain motivation.
• Ensure that all activities and events are developed and conducted in line with health, safety and safeguarding guidelines, and conduct any necessary risk assessments as required.
• Provide data and written reports for internal and external reporting as required.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the volunteers and the scheme, making sure it delivers excellent outcomes and a positive experience for volunteers, customers and other stakeholders.
• Maintain excellent practice and work towards retaining the ‘Investing in Volunteers Award later in the year.

What you’ll bring

• ILM Level 5 in Leadership and Management or equivalent in volunteering management.
• Experience of working as a volunteer manager, with a leadership style that is proactive, motivational and people focused.
• Experience of developing and undertaking activities in line with health, safety, and safeguarding guidelines, and conducting risk assessments.
• Outstanding verbal and written communications skills. Knowledge of appropriate use of a variety of communications channels including print, digital and online, relating to targeted communications for the volunteers.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and attention to detail.
• The ability to stay calm and think clearly in a fast-moving, high-pressured environment.
• The ability to be flexible and manage rapidly changing situations.
• The ability to work individually, use initiative and lead a team.

Benefits

• Automatic membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Blue Light Card discount scheme supported by a number of high street retailers
• A range of family friendly policies including promoting work-life balance
• Access to health and wellbeing services and advice
• Access to LinkedIn learning online training
• Free parking
• Above all you’ll become part of a service that is committed to the safety of our community

How to apply

Please complete an online application and CV by midnight on Midnight on Sunday 20th July 2025. Interviews will take place on 28th July and 31st July 2025.

The interview will also consist of a presentation. Details will be provided when shortlisted candidates are contacted to book their interview slot.

If you feel have the skills and experience to become our Volunteering Manager, click ‘apply’ today - we’d love to hear from you!

Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We know that great minds don’t think alike, so we rely on diverse thoughts, feelings, beliefs and backgrounds to create the best working environment that we can possibly offer.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service, its employees and volunteers, are committed to safeguarding, protecting and supporting children, young people and adults at risk. As part of our safer recruitment process, we will undertake pre-employment checks to verify your suitability for the role. These checks will include your references and a standard or enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Enhanced DBS check with barred lists are carried out for roles with direct and unsupervised access to children, young people and adults at risk. Risk assessments will be undertaken on any disclosures identified as part of the pre-employment checks.

As a Public Sector organisation with added responsibilities under the Equality Act, 2010 the candidate must demonstrate an understanding of what is meant by Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and how this fits in with their everyday work.