Summary
Working as the Community, Participation & Volunteering Assistant, you’ll support daily operations and the organisation of volunteering.
This role is all about connecting with people; helping everyone feel welcome and involved at Petworth House and Park. Working with volunteers to ensure a fantastic visitor experience within the House, you’ll be making a vital contribution to the Trust’s cause of caring for places so that people and nature can thrive, now and into the future.
Hours: 9am - 5pm
Duration: Permanent - 15 hour contract (Sunday & Monday weekly) with occasional extra operational cover.
Salary: £10,335.00
Interview dates: Friday 22nd May 2026
This role is required to work with vulnerable groups including children and any offer of employment or volunteering is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.
For this role, you’ll need to complete our online assessment instead of using a C.V. or online application form. This will help us understand more about your strengths and give you more information on the role.
What it's like to work here
Working within a wonderful, bustling atmosphere this role of Community, Participation & Volunteering Assistant will support with daily operations, administration tasks, and supporting the volunteers.
Together with a team of volunteers you'll provide a fantastic welcome to Petworth House. You’ll connect with people, inspiring and enabling them to get involved with volunteering at Petworth, and help champion our conservation message.
What you'll be doing
Based at Petworth House, working Sundays and Mondays weekly as our Volunteering Assistant, you'll help with day-to-day operations - being the point of contact for the House volunteers on your days, as well as working to ensure sufficient and safe cover of the House. You'll support with covering gaps in the House during volunteer breaks and offer a warm welcome to our visitors.
Working with the Volunteer Experience Coordinator you'll also assist with administration tasks, as well as supporting the wider volunteer experience on site, such as recruitment and training of new volunteers, as well as volunteer learning and wellbeing events.
You’ll help develop new ways of working together and deepen relationships with existing and new volunteers. You’ll work to make this a flexible, positive, meaningful and inclusive place for volunteers to get involved.
This position is for Sunday & Monday (9am-5pm) weekly, however there may be the occasional evening event, as well as ad-hoc additional hours to cover leave within the team.
Who we're looking for
We'd love to hear from you if you have:
1. focused on giving great service to everyone you meet
2. a team player, but also happy to work on your own initiative
3. well-organised and adaptable
4. willing to learn new skills.
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)
•Rental deposit loan scheme
•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.
•Flexible working whenever possible
•Employee assistance programme
•Free parking at most Trust places