Help shape how people connect with nature, beauty and history across North-East Wales.
As our Senior Community, Participation & Volunteering Manager, you’ll play a leading role in building meaningful relationships with local communities, growing inclusive volunteering and creating opportunities for more people to connect with the places in our care.
As a member of the portfolio leadership team, you’ll influence strategic decisions, develop lasting partnerships and champion collaborative ways of working. By putting communities at the heart of decision making, you’ll help increase visitor growth through inclusive access to nature and heritage while delivering lasting public benefit.
What it’s like to work here
This is a unique opportunity to shape how the National Trust works with communities across North-East Wales. Rather than simply delivering projects, you’ll influence the way we build relationships, develop partnerships and create opportunities for more people to connect with nature, beauty and history.
Working alongside colleagues from a wide range of disciplines, you’ll help embed more inclusive and collaborative ways of working across the portfolio. You’ll coach and support teams, build confidence in community participation and volunteering, and help ensure local communities have a genuine voice in shaping the future of the places we care for.
The impact of your work will be far-reaching. From strengthening partnerships and growing relevance to our emerging and horizon audiences to increasing volunteering and removing barriers to participation, you’ll help create lasting benefits for both people and places.
Working 33.75 hours per week, this role will occasionally require evening and weekend working. We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements at interview stage.
You will have an office based at both Erddig and Chirk Castle – what fantastic locations to call your workplace.
What you’ll be doing
You’ll lead community participation, volunteering and partnership working across the North-East Wales portfolio, identifying opportunities to increase participation, improve access, grow our visitor numbers, diversify our audience and strengthen relationships with local communities.
You’ll line manage two Community & Participation Officers and a Volunteer Co-ordinator, supporting the development of over 540 volunteers across the portfolio. You’ll support colleagues to build confidence in collaborative ways of working, creating inclusive opportunities for people to share their time and skills.
Working with colleagues, partners and community organisations, you’ll develop strategic partnerships that deliver lasting public benefit and grow our visitor business. You’ll identify opportunities to secure external funding, and support other colleagues to do the same for the areas they lead for. Always looking for opportunities to be inclusive and grow, you will support appropriate community-led initiatives and help ensure communities play an active role in caring for our places.
Who we’re looking for
- Significant experience of developing inclusive community engagement that grows participation and creates opportunities for more people to get involved.
- Skilled at building and maintaining strategic partnerships, influencing a wide range of stakeholders to achieve shared outcomes.
- A strategic thinker who uses insight, evidence and data to identify opportunities, prioritise activity and demonstrate impact.
- Strong relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, communities and partners.
- Experience of leading and developing people, creating an inclusive, supportive and collaborative team culture.
- Skilled at leading or supporting change, helping others embrace new ways of working and build confidence and capability.
- Understanding of how to remove barriers to participation, creating more inclusive opportunities for people to connect with nature and heritage.
The package
The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.
- Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
- Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
- Season ticket loan
- EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
- Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
- Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
National Trust place
Chirk Castle, Chirk, Wrexham, LL14 5AF
Documents
Senior Community, Participation & Volunteering Manager – Grade 6.pdf
Requirements
Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK
Additional information
Closing Date: 16th August 2026Proposed Interview Date: TBC w/c 24th August 2026
Equal Opportunities Statement
The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here .
Safeguarding Statement
The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment processes to help the organisation attract and appoint the right staff/volunteer for the role and responsibilities as set out in the vacancy advert. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre.
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