Heritage is for everybody, and we are here for heritage.

Heritage lives in places and people, memories and stories, artefacts and traditions. It can connect us all to the past, and to each other. It can make us happier, strengthen every community, and help shape society for the better. Everybody should be able to enjoy the benefits it brings.

That's why, as a charity, we care for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites in every part of England, from international icons to local treasures. And it's why we open them up, share their stories and find new ways for everybody to enjoy, learn, play and create.

We are looking for a Volunteer Manager to join our team at Eltham Palace. The role is full time and permanent, working 36 hours per week.

The Benefits

- Salary from £27,876 , depending on skills, experience and location

- 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays, pro rata, rising to 28 days after 3 years

- Matched pension contributions up to 10%

- Flexible hours

- The opportunity to progress your career within the heritage sector

- Apprenticeship opportunities

- Subscriptions to professional bodies

- Free access to all English Heritage sites for you and up to six friends and family members

- 25% discount in our shops and cafes

- Enhanced maternity, paternity or shared parental leave

- Options to buy additional leave

- An inclusive working atmosphere everybody is supported from all backgrounds, religions and with different needs

- Opportunities to go to some of our great live music and history events

This is a wonderful opportunity to become a member of the team at Eltham Palace and lead our volunteer programme. Working alongside the rest of the site management team to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for visitors, you'll play a key role in managing the Volunteers across the site to bring Eltham Palace's history to life. The role is a diverse and challenging one with both day to day opening of site and a variety of events that all require volunteer support.

We're looking for a dynamic individual with a passion for volunteer leadership, with experience of working with volunteers in an heritage environment and an eagerness to deliver an overarching volunteer strategy for the site.

There will be an expectation for occasional weekend, bank holiday and evening work.

As Volunteer Manager, you will work with key members of the site team and Volunteering & Participation Team to design and implement new offers in volunteering, with a view to diversifying the programme and ensuring it accounts for current sector trends, the needs of the local community as well as the needs of the site.

You will be responsible for the managing and delivering the recruitment, training, support, retention and recognition of volunteers engaged in all areas of English Heritage's work. You will also ensure that all aspects of the volunteer programme are delivered to time, budget and quality while appreciating our team of volunteers and helping them to meet the needs of the site.

You will also support with the daily Duty Management of the site alongside the rest of the management team. You will be responsible for all H&S, fire, security and safeguarding matters in relation to the volunteering programme ensuring that all English Heritage procedures are adhered to and that the required statutory compliance is achieved.

To be considered as a Volunteer Manager, you'll need:

- Excellent communication skills to coordinate with our volunteers, staff, and visitors alike, supporting both in an in person-hands on manner as well as being responsive to emails and digital communication

- The drive to grow our volunteering programme to assist in the evolution of the site and the development of our volunteers skills and experience

- A people person who enjoys engaging with a large variety of individuals with an expansive selection of experiences and skills

- Willing to both present and execute own ideas as we as listening and executing ideas of others

-Strong leadership skills to motivate, guide, and support the volunteer team

Interviews will be held in the week commencing 22nd June 2026 at Eltham Palace.

If you would like to talk to us e.g. about workplace adjustments or working patterns, please contact Hannah Charters, Operations Manager, on Hannah.Charters@english-heritage.org.uk. No agencies please.

Find out more about us and what we do: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/ You can also meet some of our people and hear about why they enjoy working with us: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/our-people/careers-with-us/

Everybody's welcome at English Heritage

Forget the stereotypes. It takes thousands of people from every background to care for England's heritage and open it up for everybody to enjoy. We're looking for every type of person with every kind of skill and experience, and we're committed to making sure that English Heritage is an equitable, diverse and inclusive place to work. You can connect with others through our EDI networks as a member or ally. These include Ethnic Diversity, Faith & Belief, Social Equity, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergence, Age, Disability and Gender Health and Wellbeing.

We take wellbeing seriously. We are committed to ensuring everyone feels safe at work and can carry out their role. To support this, we have a network of Mental Health First aiders, regular information and awareness events, unlimited access to an Employee Assistance Programme and work with our people to implement reasonable adjustments.