JOB DESCRIPTION & PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Title: Driver Mentor
Salary: £24,790 PA
Working Hours: 37.5 hours a week
Duration: Permanent
Overview
At Mustard Tree, we’re on a mission to combat poverty and prevent homelessness, driven by our core values: Belief, Dignity, Opportunity, Diversity, and Partnership.
The need for our services is greater than ever, with unprecedented demand across Greater Manchester. As our charity continues to grow, we’re striving to become a leading force for change, creating real opportunities for people to improve their economic wellbeing.
To help us achieve this, we’re looking for compassionate, skilled, and empowering people to join our team. If you’re passionate about making a lasting impact and want to be part of something truly transformative, we’d love to hear from you.
Role Purpose
Part of a team of Driver Mentors, you will be working across three busy hubs of operation across Manchester and Salford safely and efficiently transporting goods to various locations.
Helping to facilitate the operation of our community shops through deliveries, collections and working with the warehouse and retail teams. The role will see you interact with a wide range of people, including service users, trainees, volunteers and customers and in a variety of situations, from stock movement to charity promotion. Working closely with Freedom trainees and people using our services, this role also includes mentoring individuals on a 121 basis through providing a warm welcome, supportive conversations, signposting and befriending. This is a physically demanding role that requires heavy lifting and excellent communication skills..
· Safely and securely manage the movement of stock in and out of the community shops, within containers and in and out of client or donors establishments.
· Deliver and collect stock from customers and donors, driving and operating a van safely providing a high standard of customer service representing the charity positively at all times.
- Load and unload the van safely at all times following health and safety guidelines
- Ensure that dashcams are switched on and used at all times whilst driving for insurance purposes
- Ensure the security (locking of vehicle) and safety of designated vehicles including appropriate maintenance with regular weekly checks (brakes, oil, tyre pressures) refuelling of vehicles, and report any issues back to line manager
- Complete tip and metal runs as required, promoting effective recycling
- Adhere to traffic laws and regulations whilst driving
- Adhere to policy and procedures, ensuring health and safety practices are followed and PPE is worn at all times ( safety boots, hi vis, gloves) by yourself and freedom volunteers
- Complete updates on tablet when jobs are completed or rejected and update van routes accordingly
- Effectively mentor, manage and train volunteers, including on-the-job training helping to improve their confidence and skillset
- Return all donated items to Mustard Tree once collected
- Take responsibility for checking emails daily, personal and professional development, attending meetings and training as requested
- Complete manual handling training with volunteersTrain freedom volunteers on the pricing system and be accountable for pricing your stock when it returns to the warehouse and place it on the retail shop floor
- Complete training packs with freedom volunteers and attend graduation ceremony
- Maintain our Mustard Tree welcome be well presented and courteous working inline with Mustard Trees values and culture.
- Follow safeguarding and incident management policies and procedures at all times reporting any issues back to the safeguarding leads and your line manager
- Demonstrate an open and non-judgemental attitude whilst maintaining appropriate boundaries with clients and volunteers
General Work duties:
- Support volunteers to develop ‘work ready’ skills and behaviours i.e. confidence, punctuality, time management, communication, teamwork and initiative
- Overseeing and working within health & safety guidelines and Mustard Tree policies and procedures
- Supporting other staff and sites, providing practical relief cover for work-streams
- Take responsibility for own professional development, attending training courses as required
- Leading by example, embodying Mustard Tree cultures and values and representing the charity with external partners
- Contribute towards being an environmentally responsible organisation as part of day to day activities including recycling and supporting ‘paper-lite’ practices
- Other tasks and duties relevant to the role as required by the organisation
Role Specific Person Specification
Essential
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
- Kind and encouraging, and enjoys working with a diverse range of people
- Ability to lift heavy objects and perform physical tasks for extended periods of time
- Full clean UK driving license, with ability to drive 3.5 tonne vehicle, held for a minimum of 2 years
- Understanding of and commitment to working to health and safety regulations
- Strong attention to detail and time management skills
- Effective organisation skills including scheduling and use of IT e.g. route planning
- Proven experience as a delivery Driver or in a similar role
Desirable
- Awareness of professional boundaries and experience of managing difficult situations
- Experience and enthusiasm for training others
What we offer in return
- Real Living Wage employer
- Learning and development
- Free lunch
- Wellbeing support package with Smart Clinic, including 24-hour helpline
- 25 days holiday (plus extra holiday on your birthday)
- Defined contribution pension scheme
Deadline for applications: 29th September 2025
We will be considering applications as they are submitted and may recruit ahead of the deadline if the right candidate is identified. Therefore, we encourage early submission of applications.
Due to the high volume of applications we receive, if you have not heard from us within two weeks of submitting your application, unfortunately you have not been successful on this occasion.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £24,790.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Bereavement leave
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Sick pay
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Manchester M4 6AG: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Mentoring: 1 year (preferred)
- Delivery driver: 1 year (required)
Language:
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
