How We Work

Every individual working for the Trust has the opportunity to make a direct, measurable contribution to the achievement and advancement of our strategic aims. We approach our work with passion, creativity and diligence. Join our team and work in an environment rich in heritage and culture, with people who really care about what they do.

As an organisation we are ambitious and collaborative. We work with community organisations, businesses and local government partners in Portsmouth and Gosport to support economic, community and cultural development in these areas. At a national level we are an active member of the Heritage Alliance, contributing to consultations on issues that impact the heritage sector. We are also a member of the National Historic Ships Shipshape Network and recently were part of the UK Shipbuilding Skills Task Force that made recommendations to Government on skill requirements in the UK shipbuilding industry.

As an employer we are committed to:

Paying our employees competitive salaries – we are a Real Living wage employer
Investing in the development of our people
Supporting flexible working
Providing benefits that support good health and financial security in the present and the future
Making it fun!

Current Vacancies

Volunteer Coordinator

Full-time 37.5 hours per week role (will consider applications for 30+ hours per week)

Salary £28,000 – £30,000 (depending on experience)

Site-based at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

About Us

Portsmouth Historic Quarter is a charitable organisation dedicated to creating authentic, educational, and enjoyable places, experiences, and opportunities that celebrate maritime history. We are custodians of historic buildings, boats, and spaces in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and at Priddy’s Hard in Gosport.

About the Role

The Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for the recruitment, training, support and coordination of our team of volunteers, working closely with operational managers and the volunteer team to ensure that volunteer activity contributes to PHQ’s charitable objectives and is enjoyable and fulfilling for the volunteer team. There are currently over 100 volunteers whose work centres around Boathouse 4, our boat collection in the workshop and afloat on our pontoons, and care for Porters Garden, a calm space enjoyed by visitors and staff work in the dockyard.

This role involves operational planning, volunteer engagement, scheduling, and data management, with a strong focus on volunteer recognition, development, and communication.

About You

You will be able to demonstrate prior experience of coordinating volunteer activity in the charitable sector, with good knowledge of safety and risk management procedures, and strong communication and organisational skills; underpinned by high level administrative and IT skills.

Please note, this role is not suited to remote working and therefore the post holder must be available to work at the dockyard during their contracted hours.

As an organisation we are committed to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion, and to implementing these through our work. We expect our colleagues to have a commitment to this too.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a brief covering note to recruitment@portsmouthhq.org with the title “Volunteer Coordinator” in the subject box.

Closing date: Midday 23 June 2025

Job Description Person Specification

Information for applicants

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies show that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single criterion. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. So, if you like the look of this role but your past experience does not align perfectly with everything in the job description, we would still like to hear from you. You may be just the right person for this or other roles.

Our working environment is one where diversity is valued and equality of opportunity is promoted.

We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of job applicant’s personal information. Our applicant privacy notice describes how we collect and use personal information during the recruitment process in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Applicant Privacy Notice