Location: Broad Chalke, near Salisbury 

Reports to: Deputy Managing Director

Hours: 1 day per week on average throughout the year, plus up to 10 days for the festival in June (7-day Festival + set-up and take-down)

Salary: £7,000 per annum (£35,000 FTE) 

About Us 

Chalke History Festival is one of the UK’s most distinctive cultural events: a multi-day celebration of history set in the beautiful chalk downlands of Wiltshire. Each year, we bring together leading historians, authors, broadcasters and thinkers alongside an immersive programme of living history, performance, music and outdoor experiences.

We are entering an exciting period of growth. Our ambition is to broaden our audience, deepen and diversify our programme, and establish Chalke as a destination event, not only for committed history enthusiasts, but for a new generation of culturally curious visitors looking for an unforgettable and stimulating weekend away.

The Role 

Chalke Festival employs two Volunteers Managers who play a vital role in the successful delivery of Chalke History Festival, recruiting, coordinating and supporting a diverse team of volunteers throughout the year and during the festival week. Working closely with the wider management team, they are responsible for ensuring volunteers are well informed, appropriately allocated, and equipped to carry out their roles effectively, while fostering a positive and rewarding volunteering experience for everyone involved.

Key Responsibilities 

Volunteer Management

• Liaise with the festival management team to identify what volunteering activities are required at the festival
• Manage the online ‘Volunteer Hub’ CRM platform used for volunteer applications, group emails, scheduling, latest news and festival feedback
• Review and update the volunteer activity sheets and upload these to the Volunteer Hub
• Liaise with the Marketing Director to promote available volunteer opportunities
• Assign volunteer roles and develop rosters
• Manage the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for certain volunteer roles
• Manage the parental consent forms & code of conduct forms from volunteers under 18
• Ascertain catering requirements of volunteers and liaise with campsite manager regarding volunteer camping arrangements
• Organise a volunteer briefing session on the Sunday prior to the festival
• Collect feedback from volunteers and conduct the post-festival review of the volunteering programme. Prepare recommendations for the following year
• Maintain communication with volunteers throughout the year to raise awareness of important dates and relevant information

Festival Week

• Ensure the Volunteers Tent is fully stocked to meet volunteer needs throughout the festival
• Supervise set up and breakdown of the Volunteers Tent, including the display of H&S information and information boards to aid volunteers throughout the week.
• Provide morning and afternoon pre-shift volunteer briefings to ensure all volunteers understand their roles
• Ensure the wellbeing and effectiveness of volunteers throughout the festival
• Monitor all volunteer activities throughout the day and respond to queries and any issues raised

Other Responsibilities

• Provide volunteer data when requested by the Management Team to help with reporting requirements or operational activities (t-shirt orders, catering orders, etc.)
• To attend the monthly Team Meetings in Broad Chalke to provide updates on the area of responsibility and to contribute with ideas and solutions to discussion points with the planning of the festival.

About You 

Experience in recruiting, coordinating or supporting volunteers, ideally within an event, festival, charity or community organisation, would be advantageous. You should have experience organising people, activities or projects, managing schedules and logistics, and communicating effectively with a wide range of people.

You Will Be 

• Passionate about volunteering and the important role volunteers play in the success of events and organisations
• Experienced in recruiting, coordinating and supporting volunteers
• Highly organised, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage volunteer rotas, schedules and multiple priorities
• A strong communicator who can engage, motivate and build positive relationships with volunteers of all ages, backgrounds and levels of experience
• Personable, approachable and empathetic, with a genuine commitment to volunteer welfare and creating a welcoming, inclusive environment
• Calm and resourceful, with the ability to resolve problems, manage challenges and respond positively to changing circumstances
• Proactive in keeping volunteers informed, engaged and connected with the Festival throughout the year
• Confident using online systems and databases, with good IT skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel
• Collaborative and flexible, with the ability to work independently while contributing positively to a small team

Working at Chalke 

The role is day per week on average, with some flexibility around working patterns at different times of year. It is primarily home-based, with occasional days in our Broad Chalke office. Attendance throughout the seven-day Festival in June is required and you should allocate at least ten days due to the set-up and take-down of the festival site. 

Salary: £7,000 per annum (£35,000 FTE) 

Holiday: 6 days per year, including bank holidays 

Pension: Workplace pension scheme through NEST 

Please send your CV and a short covering letter (maximum one page) to [email protected]

In your covering letter, please tell us why you’re interested in joining Chalke History Festival, what attracts you to the Volunteers Manager role, and how your skills and experience would help you succeed. We’d particularly welcome examples of your past experience working with volunteers. 

Deadline for applications is Friday 13th November.