Volunteer Assistant

| The Royal Parks

Location: Richmond Park Office

Salary: £28,864 – £30,000 per annum, depending on experience

Full Time: 36 hours 

Closing Date: 28th April 2026

Job Description

The Role

As a Volunteer Assistant, your main focus will be to support the Volunteer Officer in delivering a wide range of practical conservation tasks across Richmond Park.  Overseeing volunteers to carry out important habitat management tasks at regular conservation group sessions. You will also support on delivering our corporate ‘Park days’ sessions. This role is varied and will see the successful applicant working primarily in the Richmond Park, but with work across all of the parks when support is required.

This role involves a lot of in park time, working with and supporting volunteers on the ground in physical conservation work. On average the Volunteer support officer will spend 3-4 days each week in the parks delivering sessions.  The ideal applicant will be friendly, open, enjoy spending time outdoors and have experience working with and managing volunteers, in a hands-on conservation or park setting.

You will champion volunteering best practice, inclusivity and diversity across the organisation, support with the development of volunteer resources and ensure the appropriate support and training is in place for volunteers, partners and the staff who manage volunteers.

Additionally, you will:

• Support in the writing of volunteer opportunity descriptions, work plans, and robust risk assessments, ensuring all volunteers go about their duties safely and to a high standard.
• Work towards independently leading volunteer groups on practical tasks, ensuring safe working outdoors and with hand tools on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
• Be aware of and always follow guidelines safeguarding of children and adults at risk.
• Be willing to gain knowledge of safe use and maintenance of all tools, including hand tools, other equipment and PPE.

About You

To join us as a Volunteer Assistant, you will need:

• Experience supervising or supporting volunteers in an outdoor setting, ideally in a park, or conservation setting.
• Strong experience or interest in practical conservation, habitat, or park/horticulture management.
• Awareness of equality and diversity, health and safety and safeguarding
• Excellent people skills including team working, negotiating, problem solving and the ability to be calm and decisive in challenging situations
• Commitment to The Royal Parks’ values of being responsible, excellent, inclusive, open and respectful, and a commitment to supporting diverse and inclusive teams
• A flexible approach to work including significant evening and weekend working
• A valid and current clean UK driving licence is essential
• Excellent operational use of Microsoft Office, CRM systems and other IT solutions to support the planning, delivery and evaluation of the volunteer programme would also be advantageous

The Benefits

• Salary of £28,864 – £30,000 per annum, depending on experience
• 26 days’ annual leave plus public holidays,
• Pension scheme (3% employee contribution; up to 10% employer contribution)
• Hybrid/agile working options
• Private medical insurance and healthcare cash plan
• Employee assistance programme and access to mental health first aiders
• Learning and development opportunities
• Cycle to work scheme
• Offices in a beautiful location

How To Apply

To apply, please follow the link below. Good luck!