Participation and Engagement Officer

Participation and Engagement Officer

£34,893 - £41,050 + benefits

Fixed Term Contract (up to 2 years)

Hybrid/Poole, Dorset

Ref: 21128

About us

Our purpose is simple: to save lives at sea. 24 hours a day, every day, RNLI lifesavers are ready to launch to the rescue.

We re looking for a passionate and experienced Participation and Engagement Officer to join the Volunteering Development and Inclusion Team at the RNLI. The role will support in creating welcoming, inclusive environments that enable underrepresented groups to thrive in lifesaving roles.

This is a unique opportunity to influence change across a large, complex charity and make a meaningful impact on the future of lifesaving.

Some of the benefits

• Flexible working
• 26 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Outstanding pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Health and dental cash plan option

Your role

You will lead the development and delivery of practical toolkits, resources and initiatives that support inclusion across the RNLI, with a particular focus on attracting, retaining and supporting underrepresented groups in operational and frontline roles.

Working closely with regional teams, the support centre and volunteers, you will develop and lead a national volunteer network and help embed inclusive practices across the volunteering lifecycle. Your work will directly contribute to breaking down barriers to participation and ensuring everyone can flourish within our lifesaving communities.

As Participation and Engagement Officer, you will:

• Drive forward the RNLI s ambition to increase engagement with underrepresented and minoritised groups, including women, in lifesaving roles
• Design and implement practical inclusion toolkits and resources for volunteer managers
• Provide hands-on advice, guidance and support at a local level to embed inclusive practices
• Use data and insight to develop targeted inclusion plans aligned to wider people strategies and identify and address barriers to participation
• Deliver workshops and support the implementation of inclusion policies and toolkits

About you

We are looking for the following essential skills:

• Proven experience developing and delivering Equity, Diversity and Inclusion plans within a large, complex organisation (ideally a charity)
• Strong collaboration and influencing skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels
• Understanding of volunteering and inclusion at a community level
• Experience of driving improvement, delivering results and measuring impact
• Experience volunteering or working in a frontline or operational role is also desirable

This role is ideal for someone who:

• Is a natural collaborator and relationship builder
• Is an excellent communicator who can adapt their style to different audiences
• Is service-focused, pragmatic and solutions-oriented
• Thrives in a busy environment, balancing competing priorities with a calm, results-driven approach
• Enjoys working as part of a team to deliver meaningful, lasting change

If you have the skills and experience to be our new Participation and Engagement Officer, and the passion to help our organisation save lives at sea, apply today!

Closing date: 27 January 2026.

Interview date: 4 February 2026.

The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.