Community Engagement Manager

Macular Society

Hours
14 hours per week

About the Organisation

Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, with around 300 people diagnosed every day. We're the only UK charity determined to beat the fear and isolation of macular disease through:

• World-class research to find new treatments and a cure
• Practical support for people affected by sight loss
• Trusted advice and support services that empower those living with macular disease

Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, with around 300 people diagnosed every day. The Macular Society is the only charity determined to beat the fear and isolation of macular disease with world-class research and the best advice and support. To support people affected by macular disease now, the Macular Society provides a range of support, information, and services. Our research programme is focused on finding new treatments and a cure to Beat Macular Disease forever.

About the role

The Community Engagement team is responsible for supporting local community groups, strengthening volunteer networks, and fostering partnerships with the wider community. The team is designed to strengthen relationships with volunteers, local organisations and stakeholders while driving innovative solutions to support community needs. This is a job-share role covering the whole of the South of England, including London. The postholder will work closely with the other Community Engagement Manager England South to provide consistent and coordinated support across the region.

The Director of Services leads the team structure at the top. Reporting directly to the Director is the Head of Community Networks. The Senior Community Engagement Manager – NI reports to the Head of Community Networks and oversees the Community Engagement Managers covering Scotland, Wales, England North and England South. England South region includes London.

Responsibilities

Key Accountabilities:

• Support the development of local community-based support and peer networks across the South of England, including London, ensuring they have the resources, guidance and structure needed to thrive.
• Lead and coordinate community engagement across the South of England, including London, ensuring that local insight and community needs inform national approaches.
• Work collaboratively with the other England South job-share postholder, ensuring effective communication, clear handovers and consistent support across the region.
• Support volunteers, working closely with the volunteer and group support team to ensure they are engaged, informed and confident in their roles.
• Engage, build and nurture relationships with key stakeholders and influencers across the South of England, including London, to ensure that macular disease is a strategic priority.
• Facilitate an annual face-to-face volunteer development event in the South of England.
• Work with the fundraising team on funding opportunities.
• Provide macular-specific advice, information and learning to external partners and stakeholders to enhance understanding and influence service delivery.
• Be knowledgeable and up to date on local, regional and national services to signpost or refer people appropriately across the South of England, including London.
• Foster and maintain good working relations with members of the internal team. 
• Gather and share insight from volunteers and communities across the South of England, including London, to inform service development and support strategic decision-making across the organisation.
• Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of engagement, ensuring volunteer-led activity is accessible, welcoming, and reflective of the communities we serve.

Knowing Our Stuff:

• Experience in service delivery and management of budgets 
• A strong understanding of the context and diversity of the South of England, including London, and how this shapes the experiences of groups and volunteers.
• Ability to gather insight from communities and contribute this to team-wide learning and strategic planning.
• Experience of providing information in various formats – print/digital.
• An understanding/willingness to develop an understanding of macular disease and the impact of macular disease on both those diagnosed and those caring.

Making It Happen:

• Experience in approaching, building, developing, and working with a diverse range of organisations.
• Effective planning and facilitation of events such as Volunteer Development Days and community meetups.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a job-share colleague, including sharing information, agreeing responsibilities and providing clear handovers.
• Collaborative working with colleagues and partners to support innovation, shared learning, and continuous improvement.
• Experience of influencing others from a cross-section of the community.
• Ability to work independently under own initiative and cooperatively as part of a team
• Ability to multitask and prioritise multiple projects and workstreams within the allocated working days.
• Strong IT skills including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.

Showing We Care:

• Development of strong, trusted relationships with groups, volunteers and partners across the South of England, including London, built on respect and active listening.
• Creation of opportunities for connection, support, and belonging within the volunteer network.
• Active promotion of inclusion and accessibility across all engagement activity.
• Ongoing advocacy for community voices to shape how support is delivered and how the model continues to evolve.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

• A strong understanding of the context and diversity of the South of England, including London, and how this shapes the experiences of groups and volunteers.
• Ability to gather insight from communities and contribute this to team-wide learning and strategic planning.
• Experience in approaching, building, developing, and working with a diverse range of organisations.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a job-share colleague, including sharing information, agreeing responsibilities and providing clear handovers.
• Development of strong, trusted relationships with groups, volunteers and partners, built on respect and active listening.
• Creation of opportunities for connection, support, and belonging within the volunteer network.

Compensation & Benefits

• Flexible working options
• 27 days of annual leave
• Option to buy or sell annual leave
• Supportive family-friendly policies
• 6% pension contribution

Conditions of employment

• You need to be eligible to work in the UK.

Working locations

• Home-based
• You will be expected to travel across the South of England, including London, and to attend occasional events at the Andover office. Any travel or activity required outside the normal Monday and Tuesday working pattern would be agreed in advance.

How to apply

• To apply, please email your CV with a covering letter to [email protected] 
• Please address any questions by email to [email protected]. The closing date is 21st September 2026

Interviews

• The interviews are 29th and 30th September 2026

Policies

The Macular Society is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to demonstrate this commitment. The post holder is required to carry out other such duties as may reasonably be required, commensurate with the grade of this post.

All employees are expected to excel in being supporter-centric, demonstrate advocacy for the Macular Society at all times and be a fundraiser. This job profile is accurate as at the date shown below. In consultation with the post holder, it is liable to variation by management to reflect or anticipate changes in or to the role

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