Overview
We are looking for an engaging, highly organised Community Engagement Officer to join our Alumni Relations team. You will be a central link connecting our global community of 300,000 former students back to the heart of the University, creating diverse opportunities for alumni to share their time, influence and expertise. Your mission is to create meaningful ways for our alumni to give back and support the University's strategic goals, from facilitating career‑shaping connections for current students to sourcing inspirational stories that attract prospective applicants.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Project Development and Management – Project‑manage a diverse calendar of volunteering activities, including webinars, alumni speaker panels, in‑person networking events and business visits. Proactively develop new initiatives that bring our community together, which may include occasional travel across the UK and hosting evening events.
- Strategic Internal Partnership – Act as a dedicated partner to teams across the university (Careers and Employability Service, Global Engagement, Marketing and Student Recruitment teams) and share your expertise in volunteer management to design and deliver bespoke initiatives.
- Volunteer Care & Recognition – Manage the end‑to‑end experience for volunteers, from initial expression of interest to completion, ensuring that every volunteer feels genuinely valued and recognised.
- Collaborative Impact – Partner with the Fundraising team to identify high‑profile volunteers, with the International team to create global opportunities, and with the Communications team to promote opportunities across multiple channels. Work with the Data team to capture volunteering impact accurately.
- Carry out any other duties commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.
Person Specification
Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience does not match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply.
Criteria
Essential
- Proven experience in volunteer management, client relations, or community engagement, ideally in a target‑driven environment. (Experience outside of HE is welcomed.)
- Proven ability to work collaboratively within a team and build strong partnerships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience in planning and delivering high‑quality events or volunteer activities, whether in‑person or digital.
- An understanding of the "bigger picture" with the ability to contribute to strategy development and service improvements.
- Exceptional organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet competing deadlines without losing attention to detail.
- Experience in crafting engaging digital content and the ability to translate complex information into persuasive oral and written communications.
- A proactive approach to using initiative and working independently to find creative solutions to challenges.
- Proficiency in MS Office/video tools and the ability to handle sensitive data with total integrity.
Desirable
- Experience using large customer relationship databases (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Salesforce) to manage complex information.
Salary
£32,080 - £36,636 per annum
Work arrangement
Full‑time, Hybrid (fixed‑term contract)
Duration
10/08/2026 - 09/08/2027
Line manager
Head of Volunteering
Direct reports
None
Ensuring equal opportunities
We are a Disability Confident Employer.
Criminal record
- A basic DBS check will be needed for this role.
- Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right.
