About the job
Salary: £36,363 – £39,152 a year
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Fixed Term for 1 year
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping and strengthening volunteering across Luton. As Volunteer Coordinator, you will lead the development and delivery of a co‑produced volunteering strategy that supports a more connected, inclusive, and sustainable volunteering offer across the town.
Working closely with Anchor organisations, the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector, and council services, you will help build volunteering capacity across the local authority and wider town system. You will develop and maintain strong partnerships, creating opportunities that enable residents to contribute to their communities while supporting pathways into employment, apprenticeships, and other forms of personal development.
The role will be responsible for coordinating and supporting volunteers throughout their journey, including recruitment, onboarding, application processing, and ensuring appropriate safeguarding measures, including DBS checks, are completed where required. You will motivate and support volunteers to maximise their impact while ensuring they have a positive and rewarding experience.
Working collaboratively with the Passport to Employment Programme Leader, you will contribute to the development of volunteer training packages and support the delivery of training for managers who host volunteers within the Council. You will also lead outreach and engagement activities to attract a diverse volunteer workforce that reflects the communities of Luton, working alongside communications and digital teams to promote opportunities effectively.
The successful candidate will support the scoping and implementation of a volunteer management system, oversee volunteer teams at events, and provide accurate monitoring, impact and progression data to demonstrate the value of volunteering initiatives. A key aspect of the role will be creating a lasting legacy by developing sustainable volunteering opportunities across the Council, Anchor institutions, and the VCFSE sector, ensuring volunteering continues to make a positive contribution to Luton long after the programme has concluded.
This fixed‑term role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference by helping residents develop skills, improve employability, strengthen community connections, and contribute to the delivery of Luton 2040 ambitions.
Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.
About you
You will have demonstrable experience in strategy development, with a strong focus on project management and volunteer‑involving programmes. You will be confident translating strategic objectives into clear, deliverable work programmes and driving continuous improvement across complex, multi‑partner initiatives.
You will bring significant experience of partnership working, with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships across public sector Anchor organisations, VCFSE partners, and a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. You will have experience of coordinating activity across multiple organisations, ensuring alignment, collaboration, and effective delivery of shared outcomes.
You will have experience of volunteer recruitment and management, including knowledge of relevant policies, governance, safeguarding requirements, and training frameworks. You will be confident in mobilising, supporting, and motivating volunteers, ensuring they are effectively engaged, well supported, and able to contribute meaningfully to programmes and communities.
You will be an effective communicator with the ability to produce clear, concise written reports and deliver presentations tailored to a range of audiences, including partners, service users, councillors, and senior stakeholders. You will be confident leading, influencing, and developing others, with the ability to inspire commitment and build strong working relationships across diverse groups.
You will be highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams in a fast‑paced environment, meet deadlines, analyse trends, and measure programme effectiveness. You will also be confident using IT systems and digital tools, including social media, to support engagement, marketing, and promotion of volunteering opportunities.
You will have experience of working both independently and as part of a wider, complex partnership environment, with the ability to think on your feet, respond to changing priorities, and adapt to emerging needs. You will also have experience of managing teams, including coordinating rotas, overseeing health and safety requirements, and ensuring safe and effective delivery of services.
You will have strong knowledge of volunteering practice, employability pathways, safeguarding procedures, and inclusive engagement approaches. You will understand the barriers faced by underrepresented groups and be able to apply equality, diversity, and inclusion principles in all aspects of your work, including identifying and addressing discrimination where it arises.
You will also have a good understanding of the wider political and funding landscape affecting the voluntary and community sector, along with an awareness of national best practice, including working with organisations such as NAVCA.
This role requires flexibility, including the ability to work evenings and weekends as needed, and to travel across the borough to attend meetings and deliver activities. Above all, you will be passionate about volunteering, community engagement, and creating meaningful opportunities that improve outcomes for residents and support the ambitions of Luton.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce thatreflects the diversity of our borough.
Benefits
- From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
- Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
- Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
- Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 19.2 per cent (at April 2026) and 3x salary death in service grant
- Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
- Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
- Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part‑time hours and alternative working patterns
- Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
- Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
- Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel
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