About the role
We’re looking for an organised and people‑focused Volunteer Manager to join us on a part-time (22.5 hours per week) basis, for a 12‑month fixed term maternity cover contract.
In this role, you’ll be the main point of contact for our wonderful community volunteers. You’ll support them at every stage of their journey – from recruitment and onboarding, through to training, engagement and recognition. You’ll play a key role in making sure our volunteers feel supported, valued and confident in the impact they’re making.
You’ll work closely with our Community team, collaborating with colleagues across the business to ensure our volunteers feel connected, informed and part of what we’re building.
This is a hands‑on role with lots of variety. If you enjoy building relationships, keeping things running smoothly and helping online communities thrive, this could be a great fit.
What you’ll be doing
As Volunteer Manager, you will:
· Recruit, onboard and train new volunteers
· Act as the first point of contact for volunteer questions, ideas or concerns
· Build a positive, inclusive and collaborative volunteer culture
· Plan and run engagement activities such as surveys, brainstorming sessions and product updates
· Track volunteer activity and provide support or coaching where needed
· Work closely with our Community team to align volunteer activity with wider community goals
· Help develop and improve our volunteer processes and documentation based on feedback and community needs
About you
This role would suit someone who:
· Has experience managing or working with volunteers, particularly in an online setting
· Is an excellent communicator, both written and verbal
· Is organised, proactive and comfortable juggling multiple priorities
· Is empathetic and confident supporting a diverse volunteer base
· Feels at ease using online platforms and digital tools
Whilst you don’t need to meet every requirement to apply, it would be great if you also have:
· Familiarity with The Student Room or similar online communities
· Experience in youth engagement, safeguarding or peer‑support environments
· A background in community management, education or not‑for‑profit work
· Experience building or moderating forum or Discord communities
If this role excites you and you feel you could grow into it, we’d love to hear from you.
Working at The Student Room
Everything we do is about supporting young people to make informed decisions about their future — and our volunteers play a huge part in that mission.
We’re proud of our friendly, supportive and inclusive culture. We care about wellbeing, work–life balance and creating a place where people feel they belong.
Our benefits include:
· 25 days’ holiday per year (pro‑rated for part time), plus bank holidays and your birthday off
· Flexible and hybrid working
· Group life insurance (3x salary)
· Generous pension scheme (up to 10% employer contribution)
· Healthcare Cash Plan
· Cycle to Work scheme
· Dog‑friendly office
For this part time role, we are happy to agree the working days and pattern with the successful candidate, although ideally the role will cover some time on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Our recruitment process
Our recruitment process is designed to be clear, friendly and respectful of your time.
The process will involve:
· Stage one: An initial interview to get to know you and your experience
· Stage two: A second interview, which may include a short task or presentation related to the role
Applications will be reviewed ASAP, so please don't delay in applying.
We expect first stage interviews to take place in March 2026, and second stage interviews in early April, with a view to starting in early May. We’ll keep you updated throughout the process and let you know what to expect at each stage.
If you need any reasonable adjustments at any point in the recruitment process, please let us know — we’re happy to support you.
The Student Room is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and are dedicated to equal opportunities for everyone.