Working at the CWGC
The CWGC's commitment extends across 150 countries around the world. To ensure that we are able to continue to commemorate the fallen soldiers from the two World Wars, we employ a wide variety of staff across the world, alongside various volunteer programmes and other opportunities.
Our listings are updated on a regular basis, so please check back often.
Current vacancies:
Skilled Maintenance Craftsman - Scotland, United Kingdom
GC1 Gardener - Runnymede, United Kingdom
GC1 Mobile Gardener Norwich - East region, UK
GC1 Mobile Gardener Newark - East Region, UK
Director General - Head Office, Maidenhead
Skilled Maintenance Craftsman - Scotland
Location: This is a mobile role based from Alloa and covering our Scottish Region. As such it will require regular travel as well as stays away from home. Opportunities to work on short-term projects in Scandinavia and other regions may also arise.
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract to 31 March 2021
Salary: Starting salary of £21,499 per annum. In addition to this, you may be entitled to Extensive Travelling Allowance (ETA).
Hours of work:
Summer hours
Monday to Thursday: 0800 to 1230 hours and 1300 to 1700 hours
Friday: 0800 to 1230 hours and 1300 to 1700 hours
Winter hours
Monday to Friday: 0800 to 1230 hours and 1300 to 1600 hours
About the role:
As an SMC you will assist in the structural and horticultural maintenance of war graves and memorials to the standards set by the Commission, working as part of a small team whose workload is dependent on operational requirements.
About you:
You should have relevant practical skills, a proven commitment to service delivery and excellent organisational and communication skills. You must be able to work individually, or as part of a small team, at a variety of sites throughout the South East Region. As you will be using a company vehicle, a full manual driving license is essential as is the willingness to travel widely in the South East region which may involve occasional stays away from home.
While Pesticide Certificates (PA1 and PA6) and NAMM (National Association of Memorial Masons) Membership are required for this role, the Commission will, if required, provide you with the necessary support and training to gain these qualifications.
What we can offer you:
- 25 days annual leave, rising each completed year of service to 30 days
- Paid public holidays, one paid ‘privilege day’, plus paid office shutdowns for the afternoon of Maundy Thursday and between Christmas and New Year
- Generous ‘Pension Quality Mark’ Pension, with CWGC contributing up to 13% of gross salary
- Life Assurance
- Occupational Health Services
- Employee Contribution Awards
- Sickness Pay and Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Pay
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Additional benefits including cycle to work scheme, childcare vouchers, shopping discounts and free eye tests
- Professional subscriptions relevant to the role
For full details, please see the job description and fact sheet.
How to apply:
To apply for this opportunity to join our UKNA Team please email a copy of your CV and a short covering letter detailing your experience and what you can bring to the role to ukna.careers@cwgc.org
Closing date:
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 12 August 2020 and it is anticipated that interviews will take place on week commencing 24 August 2020. Due to current Covid-19 Social Distancing requirements, interviews will take place using either Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Skype.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time once we receive sufficient applications and encourage all interested applicants to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
GC1 Gardener Runnymede
Location: You will work principally at Runnymede Air Forces Memorial, one of our most prestigious sites overlooking the River Thames on Cooper’s Hill in Runnymede, Surrey. The memorial commemorates more than 20,000 airmen and women who were lost in the Second World War during operations from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe who have no known grave. You may also be required to work at Brookwood Military Cemetery or other sites in the South East Region.
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Starting salary of £21,499 per annum. In addition to this, you may be entitled to Extensive Travelling Allowance (ETA).
Hours of work:
Summer hours
Monday to Thursday: 0800 to 1230 hours and 1300 to 1630 hours
Friday: 0800 to 1230 hours and 1300 to 1400 hours
Winter hours
Monday to Thursday: 0800 to 1230 hours and 1300 to 1530 hours
Friday: 0800 to 1230 hours and 1300 to 1430 hours
There is a requirement for opening and closing duties at the Memorial seven days a week, throughout the year (in keeping with published times). An ‘Additional Hours Allowance’ is payable as compensation for this task. There are also an agreed number of weekends per annum when an external agency will be engaged to complete the opening and closing task.
Accommodation at the detached residence located within the Memorial grounds may be available.
Salary:Starting salary of £21,499 per annum. In addition to this, you may be entitled to Extensive Travelling Allowance (ETA).
About the role:
This is a hands on practical role, that requires a knowledgeable and competent lone worker capable of the wide range of maintenance craft skills required to deliver a high standard of care in an effective, efficient and safety conscious way. These include management of amenity and prestige turf, herbaceous borders and shrub beds, pest and disease control, machinery operation and maintenance, tree care, and the care of ornamental features, and management of the workshop/facilities building.
About you:
As a minimum you will need NVQ Level 3 or an equivalent level qualification in Amenity Horticulture, or relevant experience. You will also need excellent craft gardening skills and competent machinery and equipment maintenance skills, demonstrable knowledge of turf husbandry, herbaceous perennials and ornamental shrubs and significant professional experience of a wide range of horticultural tasks. You will also need a full manual car driving licence. This is a mobile role and will require travel across the region and overnight stays on an occasional basis.
What we can offer you:
- 25 days annual leave, rising each completed year of service to 30 days
- Paid public holidays, one paid ‘privilege day’, plus paid office shutdowns for the afternoon of Maundy Thursday and between Christmas and New Year
- Generous ‘Pension Quality Mark’ Pension, with CWGC contributing up to 13% of gross salary
- Life Assurance
- Occupational Health Services
- Employee Contribution Awards
- Sickness Pay and Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Pay
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Additional benefits including cycle to work scheme, childcare vouchers, shopping discounts and free eye tests
- Professional subscriptions relevant to the role
For full details, please see the job description and fact sheet.
How to apply:
To apply for this opportunity to join our UKNA Team please email a copy of your CV and a short covering letter detailing your experience and what you can bring to the role to ukna.careers@cwgc.org
Closing date:
The closing date for applications is Friday 10 August 2020 and it is anticipated that interviews will take place on week commencing 17 August 2020. Due to current Covid-19 Social Distancing requirements, interviews will take place using either Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Skype.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time once we receive sufficient applications and encourage all interested applicants to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
GC1 Mobile Gardener Norwich
Location: You will cover maintenance in a group of sites in the Norwich area. However, you may be asked to cover any other sites within the East Region. Opportunities to work on short-term projects in Scandinavia and other regions may also arise.
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Competitive Package
Hours of work:
Summer hours
Monday to Thursday: 0800 to 1230 hours and 1330 to 1700 hours
Friday: 0800 to 1230 hours and 1330 to 1600 hours
Winter hours
Monday to Friday: 0830 to 1230 hours and 1300 to 1600 hours
Salary: Starting salary of £21,499 per annum. In addition to this, you may be entitled to Extensive Travelling Allowance (ETA).
About the role:
As a GC1 you will work individually or as part of a small team and be responsible for specific plots within the region. You will carry out manual horticultural maintenance and renovation work to the standards of excellence as set by the Commission. You will also complete various related administrative duties and assist the Regional Manager and Regional Operations Coordinator in meeting the overall objectives of the Region.
About you:
As a minimum you will need NVQ Level 2 or an equivalent level qualification in Amenity Horticulture, or relevant horticultural experience. You will also need a full manual car driving licence. This is a mobile role and will require travel across the region and overnight stays on an occasional basis.
What we can offer you:
- 25 days annual leave, rising each completed year of service to 30 days
- Paid public holidays, one paid ‘privilege day’, plus paid office shutdowns for the afternoon of Maundy Thursday and between Christmas and New Year
- Generous ‘Pension Quality Mark’ Pension, with CWGC contributing up to 13% of gross salary
- Life Assurance
- Occupational Health Services
- Employee Contribution Awards
- Sickness Pay and Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Pay
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Additional benefits including cycle to work scheme, childcare vouchers, shopping discounts and free eye tests
- Professional subscriptions relevant to the role
For full details, please see the job description and fact sheet.
How to apply:
To apply for this opportunity to join our UKNA Team please email ukna.careers@cwgc.org and attach copy of your CV and a short covering letter detailing your experience and what you can bring to the role.
Closing date:
The closing date for applications is Friday 7 August 2020 and it is anticipated that interviews will take place on week commencing 17 August 2020. Due to current Covid-19 Social Distancing requirements, interviews will take place using either Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Skype.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time once we receive sufficient applications and encourage all interested applicants to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
GC1 Mobile Gardener Newark
Location: You will cover maintenance in a group of sites mainly covering sites in the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire areas. However, you may be asked to cover any other sites within the East Region. Opportunities to work on short-term projects in Scandinavia and other regions may also arise.
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Competitive Package
Hours of work:
Summer hours
Monday to Thursday: 0800 to 1230 hours and 1330 to 1700 hours
Friday: 0800 to 1230 hours and 1330 to 1600 hours
Winter hours
Monday to Friday: 0830 to 1230 hours and 1300 to 1600 hours
Salary: Starting salary of £21,499 per annum. In addition to this, you may be entitled to Extensive Travelling Allowance (ETA).
About the role:
As a GC1 you will work individually or as part of a small team and be responsible for specific plots within the region. You will carry out manual horticultural maintenance and renovation work to the standards of excellence as set by the Commission. You will also complete various related administrative duties and assist the Regional Manager and Regional Operations Coordinator in meeting the overall objectives of the Region.
About you:
As a minimum you will need NVQ Level 2 or an equivalent level qualification in Amenity Horticulture, or relevant horticultural experience. You will also need a full manual car driving licence. This is a mobile role and will require travel across the region and overnight stays on an occasional basis.
What we can offer you:
- 25 days annual leave, rising each completed year of service to 30 days
- Paid public holidays, one paid ‘privilege day’, plus paid office shutdowns for the afternoon of Maundy Thursday and between Christmas and New Year
- Generous ‘Pension Quality Mark’ Pension, with CWGC contributing up to 13% of gross salary
- Life Assurance
- Occupational Health Services
- Employee Contribution Awards
- Sickness Pay and Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Pay
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Additional benefits including cycle to work scheme, childcare vouchers, shopping discounts and free eye tests
- Professional subscriptions relevant to the role
For full details, please see the job description and fact sheet.
How to apply:
To apply for this opportunity to join our UKNA Team please email ukna.careers@cwgc.org and attach copy of your CV and a short covering letter detailing your experience and what you can bring to the role.
Closing date:
The closing date for applications is Friday 7 August 2020 and it is anticipated that interviews will take place on week commencing 17 August 2020. Due to current Covid-19 Social Distancing requirements, interviews will take place using either Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Skype.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time once we receive sufficient applications and encourage all interested applicants to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
Director General
Location: Maidenhead, Berkshire
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Competitive Package
The CWGC is seeking to appoint a new Director General. You will be building on a significant period of organisational development. The challenge will be, as always, to respect the wonderful history and heritage of the organisation whilst ensuring it reflects modern practices and thinking and appears relevant and compelling to current and future generations.
The Organisation
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) honours the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars, ensuring they will never be forgotten. CWGC’s work commemorates the war dead, from building and maintaining cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 locations in more than 150 countries and territories, to preserving its extensive records and archives.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission was established by Royal Charter in May 1917. It is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states (UK, Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa) whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations military service members who died in the two World Wars. The CWGC is funded primarily by Member Governments and in addition receives some additional income from agency services, grants and investment income. Total income for the year to 31 March 2019 was just under £73.5m.
The Role
With overall responsibility for approximately 1,400 staff and multiple contractors, the Director General is the CWGC’s Chief Executive Officer, leading the senior team, and providing the strategy, tone and accountability for the organisation to its non-executive board, the Commissioners.
The Director General will be expected to bring energy and inspirational leadership; shaping the organisation for the future, driving and managing the strategic and business planning and ensuring that the funding of member Governments and other funders is used efficiently and effectively. He or she will maintain an excellent and mutually trusting relationship between the Executive and the Board; working closely with the Vice Chairman, ensuring strong communication and engagement with Commissioners. He or she will be a compelling advocate and ambassador for the CWGC locally, nationally and internationally with funders, governments and the wider public.
The Individual
Candidates need to demonstrate a commitment to the purpose and vision of the CWGC. Given the scale and complexity of the Commission, the next Director General will be an individual with proven leadership experience, a demonstrably international perspective and the ability to lead a diverse team across a wide variety of geographies. As Accounting Officer to the Secretary of State, the successful candidate will require a high degree of business and financial acumen. The Director General also plays a significant representational role and will need to demonstrate ambassadorial qualities including well-honed communication skills; the ability to interact with a wide range of individuals, internally and externally, will be essential.
How to apply
For further information and details of how to apply, please visit www.odgers.com/80170 or call Samantha Colt or Sarah Wright on 020 7367 0681.
Key dates
Closing date for applications is 31 July 2020.
Successful candidates will be invited to attend preliminary interviews with Odgers Berndtson in early to mid-August.
The final interview process with the CWGC will take place in late August / early September.
The CWCG is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.