Volunteer Manager

We are looking to appoint a Volunteer Manager to lead the development and delivery of our Neuro Changemakers programme. Key activities will include recruitment and management of volunteers to lead self-help groups, setting up the administrative infrastructure to deliver these groups at scale, and to review our existing volunteer & ambassador strategy.

Reporting to the Professional Services Manager, the Volunteer Manager will be responsible for all aspects of volunteer activity for the Neuro Changemakers programme, including recruitment, induction, training, support and volunteer engagement and retention.

The Volunteer Manager will work closely with all our internal departments and external volunteer networks, acting as the first point of reference on volunteering process and policy across the organisation.

The successful candidate must have strong experience delivering volunteer-led programmes in support of vulnerable service users, with a proven track record in administration and volunteer project management. The ideal candidate will have experience growing such a programme to ambitious targets, and delivering at scale. Familiarity with neurology, neuroscience and neurological conditions is highly desirable.

The successful applicant will make a significant contribution towards the growth and success of our Neuro Changemakers programme through our online self- help groups across the UK. Just as crucially we provide valuable opportunities for individuals with lived experience of neurological conditions to gain skills and support others with their own experiences, as part of their own recovery and personal development journeys.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities

• Responsible for attracting, recruiting and retaining volunteers based on the organisational strategy for Neuro Changemakers.
• Working closely with the Professional Services Manager to ensure sufficient volunteers are available to meet organisational needs.
• Recruitment, training, induction and ongoing volunteer development.
• Working closely with the Professional Services Manager to deliver a comprehensive volunteer training programme.
• Support strategies to capture M&E data within the Neuro Changemakers programme.
• Outreach and mapping with volunteers to further understand our community’s needs, and to develop the case for setting up new groups in high priority and high need areas.
• Liaison with local authorities in areas to connect to local resources and promotion.
• Act as a deputy safeguarding lead, to ensure safeguarding policies and procedures are followed by all volunteers, including sensitive handling of any complaints, following correct procedures.
• Liaise with partner organisations to further the Neuro Changemaker programme.

Skills & Experience

• Strong professional experience of working in a management capacity to deliver services, with experience of developing policy and collaborative working.
• Proven in-depth experience in managing volunteers (understanding best practice across all elements).
• Experience of working with vulnerable service users, understanding the skillset required to work with people affected by a neurological condition and carers e.g. to set up and lead support groups.
• Excellent project management skills, particularly around new projects delivery and evidencing high quality impact.
• A solution focused team player with a positive, can-do mindset.
• An ability to put people at ease and a true enjoyment of working collaboratively with colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Commitment to keeping up to date with best practice in volunteering and ensuring compliance with latest legislation.
• Excellent written, verbal and visual communications with brilliant attention to detail.
• In-depth understanding of safeguarding, particularly around vulnerable adults.
• Experience with CRM systems like Salesforce and an understanding of using Zoom with groups is highly desirable.

What you get in return

We offer a great range of benefits that support our employees and their families for the long term. Staff Benefits include a contributory pension scheme, 25 days holiday per annum (for full-time role) in addition to Bank Holidays as well as a Christmas-New Year closure period, and default-remote working as standard as part of your hybrid contract (you will only be required to attend in-person for occasional critical meetings and important events, the vast majority of your deliverables can be completed remotely).

Note: this role is funded by a strategic grant from the Dinwoodie Charitable Company to help activate our Neuro Changemakers programme  – in our communications we may refer to this post as the ‘Dinwoodie’ Volunteer Manager to recognise the role of the funder.