Current job opportunities at Schoolreaders
Operations Coordinator
About this role
Location: Hybrid
Salary: £26,227.50
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Responsible to: Head of Operations
About Schoolreaders
Schoolreaders goal is for all children, regardless of background, to leave primary school able to read well so
they can go on to access their secondary education fully and maximise their future life chances. We match
volunteers to local primary schools, focusing on schools and children with the greatest need. Our
volunteers support over 40,000 children each week with a one-to-one reading support session in over
1,950 schools and we have ambition to continue growing.
Role Description
We are seeking a proactive and customer-focused individual to join our growing Operations team. The core of this role involves recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding volunteers across England for our partner primary schools. As part of the team, you will process applicant data, match volunteers to the best-fit schools, and provide ongoing relationship management and communication. Our ultimate aim is to make a
tangible difference to literacy in the UK, where one in four children currently leaves primary school reading below the expected standard.
This position is ideal for someone with a background in customer service or education who is comfortable navigating IT systems and making decisions based on data. To succeed, you will need excellent organisational skills, great communication skills using the telephone and video calls, and excellent written and spoken English.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Working within a small, collaborative team, you will deliver the daily operations of Schoolreaders. This includes interviewing volunteers, matching them to partner schools using our online CRM system, and
handling enquiries and school follow-ups to ensure a seamless experience for both. As an Operations Coordinator, you will share responsibility for all operational duties across the charity, encompassing general enquiries, application processing, and partner relationship management.
Key Responsibilities
- Application Processing & Onboarding: Efficiently process school and volunteer applications, conducting initial screening and administration.
- Telephone Interviews: Conduct structured telephone interviews with potential volunteers to assess suitability and alignment with our mission.
- Inbox & Enquiries Management: Manage and prioritise the team email inbox, ensuring timely, professional, and helpful responses.
- Volunteer & Partner Stewardship: Act as a key point of contact to resolve school and volunteer enquiries or complaints, maintaining high relationship standards.
- School Growth & Engagement: Undertake research to identify potential new schools, managing the initial contact and onboarding process.
- Data, Systems & Reporting: Utilise CRM systems (Salesforce) to match volunteers to best-fit schools, execute mail merges, coordinate partner surveys, and maintain accurate records.
- Compliance & Procedures: Strictly adhere to established operational systems, safeguarding policies, and procedures.
- Team Support: Undertake any other operational duties as reasonably requested to support the wider Schoolreaders team.
Working Structure & Safeguarding
- Hybrid Working: This is a hybrid role requiring 60% of your time spent in the office. Please note that the role will be fully office-based during the initial training and induction period.
- Safeguarding: Schoolreaders is strictly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. This post is subject to a range of vetting checks, including a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for unspent
criminal convictions.
Person Specification
Experience, Skills and Knowledge:
Excellent oral and written communication skills: Essential
Friendly and professional telephone manner: Essential
Strong administrative skills: Essential
Ability to work in a pressurised environment: Essential
Reliable and able to work on your own initiative: Essential
Good research and analytical skills: Essential
Good time management and ability to prioritise tasks: Essential
Able to manage own time and work as part of a wider team: Essential
Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office, in particular Outlook: Essential
Understanding the importance of volunteers: Essential
Using a CRM or database i.e. Salesforce: Desirable
Understanding of GDPR and cyber security: Desirable
Experience working in the education sector: Desirable
Involvement in on-line presentations i.e. using Teams: Desirable
Experience managing on-line learning platforms for training: Desirable
Benefits
As part of our commitment to making Schoolreaders a great place to work, we offer access to the following
employee benefits:
-25 days annual leave (3 of which must be taken over Christmas), 1 day paid leave for your birthday,
plus public/bank holidays (pro-rated for part-time staff)
- Contributory pension scheme
- Access to a free 24/7 support service providing legal, financial, emotional, and medical advice
- A positive, encouraging working environment which actively supports a healthy work-life balance
- Charity away days and social events
- Free parking and on-site facilities such as a canteen
Closing date for applications is 23.59pm on 31/07/26
Applications will be reviewed, and interviews offered, on an ongoing basis. We reserve the right to close the role prior to the closing date should a suitable applicant be found, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
To apply, please email apply@schoolreaders.org with your CV and a covering letter.
Schoolreaders is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and requires staff to share this commitment. This post is subject to a range of vetting checks including a basic disclosure check of unspent criminal convictions.
Data & Research Summer Intern
About this role
Location: Hybrid
Salary: £12.71 per hour
Hours: 20-30 hours per week for 4-6 weeks (please specify your preference)
Contract: Fixed-term summer internship
Reports to: Head of Fundraising
Schoolreaders goal is for all children, regardless of background, to leave primary school being able to read well so they can go on to access their secondary education fully and maximise their future life chances. We match volunteers to local primary schools, focusing on schools and children with the greatest need. Our volunteers support over 40,000 children each week with a one-to-one reading support session and we have ambition to continuing growing.
The Opportunity
Are you looking to build a standout CV, develop your data-research skills, and make a meaningful impact in the charity sector?
We are seeking an analytical, detail-oriented, and proactive intern to join our team for a 4–6 week summer research project. This is a brilliant opportunity for a college or university student to gain inside experience into how charity income generation and regional partnerships work. Upon successful completion, you are welcome to list Schoolreaders for job references and we will provide a letter of recommendation to help you secure future employment.
What You Will Do
This role is all about building the data foundations that allow our fundraising team to thrive. Your core research projects will include:
- Researching Funding Opportunities: Searching for local and national organisations that give grants to charities, looking at what kind of projects they like to support, and finding the right people for us to contact.
- Keeping Our Records Up to Date: Checking and updating our existing lists of charity trusts, making sure the names of their trustees are correct, and highlighting the ones that look like a great match for our work.
- Mapping Local Community Groups: Creating clear lists of regional community groups and clubs (like local sports clubs, societies, and networks) that enjoy supporting local causes, so we know who is out there.
- Organising Information by Area: Looking at where these different groups and funders are located across the UK, helping
us organise our information neatly by county or region, so our team can easily use it.
Structure and Flexibility
- Work from Home: The vast majority of this research can be done independently from home.
- Bedford Office Days: To support your professional development, you will join us one day a week at our friendly office in Bedford. This day will be used to catch up with your manager, receive guidance, review your progress, and immerse yourself in the charity's team culture.
What We Are Looking For
- Strong Research Skills: Comfort navigating public registries, websites, and databases efficiently to extract information.
- Organisation & Accuracy: High attention to detail and proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets is essential.
- Proactive Mindset: Able to manage your time effectively while working independently from home.
- A Passion for the Cause: An interest in helping a growing charity make a difference in children’s education.
Skills You Will Add to Your CV
Guidance and support will be provided throughout your work, and by the end of the internship, you will be able to demonstrate to future employers that you possess:
- Strategic Pipeline Building: Experience identifying and qualifying high-value prospective partners.
- Data Literacy: Advanced skills in auditing, data hygiene, and structural database organisation.
- Sector Knowledge: A strong understanding of UK corporate governance, trust frameworks, and charity finance mechanisms.
How to Apply
Please email apply@schoolreaders.org containing:
- Your CV: Including your personal contact details, qualifications you have obtained or are
currently undertaking, and what skills you possess
- A brief covering letter: Advising why you would like to be considered for the role.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis so early application is encouraged.
About Schoolreaders
The Living Wage Foundation’s real Living Wage remains the only UK wage rate independently calculated based on the cost of living, rising annually based on living costs. It gives employers the confidence they are paying a wage that meets everyday needs, not just the government minimum.
Schoolreaders is proud to be a Living Wage Employer