Alice Parker
What employment sector do you work in?
NGO Sector
How long have you had a green job for nature?
3 years
Please describe the work that you do.
My role involves ensuring good volunteer management standards across the organisation, as well as providing practical support to our volunteers. We have over 450 volunteers supporting our work in various capacities so it’s my job to help ensure both the staff that work most closely with our volunteers, and our volunteers themselves are happy and supported.
What do you most like about your job? Any dislikes?
Working closely with volunteers who work at all levels and backgrounds across the sectors, and are so passionate about making a difference and giving back.
What inspired you into this career?
My previous jobs have been in various types of stakeholder engagement, events and project management, and marketing and comms. I really like the buzz of working with a wide variety of people with a common goal, so had always been interested in volunteer management. I had volunteered in various capacities since I was a teenager but my favourite role was at a Local Wildlife Rescue, so working with volunteers in the Environmental sector seemed like a good fit!
Have you faced any challenges in progressing your career so far?
As is often the case with small organisations progression can be difficult within the same organisation, unless a more senior member of staff leaves – so I found that in order to progress it’s more effective to move organisation or department and step into new roles. This has also been beneficial in allowing me to develop a wide skillset and experience.
What education/training did you have?
BSc Psychology
What advice would you give to someone coming into the profession?
Volunteer, if you can – or build connections in any way possible. It’s a very well-connected sector so you never know if chatting to someone could lead to your next opportunity.
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Tags: England, NGO sector, Volunteer engagement, Diversity and inclusion
Date profile submitted: 27/07/2026
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