Communicate and Implement the Strategy and Associated Plans Across the Organisation
Job Title: / Volunteering Development Manager
Reporting to: / Learning & Development (L&D) Manager
Responsible for:
Location: / Dogs Trust London
Revised: / December 2016
Summary
The Volunteering Development Manageris responsible for steering and co-ordinating volunteering across Dogs Trust in a strategic way which best supports our mission, and adds value to our day to day work. This will include providing centralised advice and guidance along with the development of improved systems, practices and reporting across the organisation. The post holder will develop supportive working relationships with managers and volunteer co-ordinators in rehoming centres, head office including marketing, charity shops, Dog School, and others who rely on volunteers to meet their objectives.
Duties
Policy and strategy development
- To develop a single volunteer strategy for Dogs Trust thatidentifies the roles which volunteers will play in helping us achieve our mission both now and in the future. This includes working in partnership with relevant colleagues to identify potential ‘risks’ related to volunteering, and incorporating ways of mitigating these within the strategy. Agree the strategy with the L&D Manager and Head of HR.
- Devise and deliver an annual volunteering plan in conjunction with relevant colleagues across Dogs Trust.
- To establish and chair two Volunteer Steering Groups made up of key internal stakeholders. To chair quarterly meetings.
- Communicate and implement the strategy and associated plans across the organisation.
- Develop and maintain regular communications which maintain the profile of volunteering, across Dogs Trust, working with the Marketing and Communications teams and Engagement Manager as necessary.
- Provide support for those in Dogs Trust who manage volunteers within our services. Respond to queries, help resolve problems and where issues have the potential to/do impact on staff notify and take advice from the HR Manager.
- Provide advice to support volunteer recruitment and retention.
- Liaise with HR Advisory, Recruitment and L&D teams to provide appropriate sign-posting, practical advice, coaching and mentoring to managers –designed to improve their confidence and ability to drive improved performance from volunteers throughout their volunteer journey.
- In partnership with HR Manager and the Advisory Team provide support to managers with individual volunteer issues.
- Work with the Corporate Volunteering Team at Head Office to support the expansion of corporate volunteering where appropriate.
- Review procedures, role descriptions, recruitment resources, handbooks, guidance materials and development activities already in place for those managing volunteers and the volunteers themselves. Devise, consult on, agree and implement modifications to meet current and future requirements.
- Continually monitor, evaluate, and update where necessary volunteer programmes to ensure that they are meeting identified needs of both Dogs Trust and those who volunteer for us.
- Advise on volunteer roles, assist in the development of new role profiles to complement staff resources.
- Develop and maintain an intranet area for managers of volunteers, providing up to date guidance and resources.
- Ensure that staff, managers, and volunteers are informed of all relevant volunteering developments in a timely manner.
- Develop the Dogs Trust Volunteering page on the internet, and support others with the development of their own ‘bespoke’ pages.
- Work with the Engagement Manager to understand the ‘motivations’ of volunteers at Dogs Trust, and find ways to optimise the relationship between Dogs Trust and its volunteers.
- Lead on Volunteer Week, ensuring effective planning and engagement across the organisation. Celebrate the contribution volunteers make to Dogs Trust and liaise with the Communications Team to maximise PR opportunities both internally and externally.
- Review and implement volunteer recognition systems as agreed with the Learning & Development Manager. Celebrate successes internally, and ensure best practice is shared across Dogs Trust.
- Develop a standardised approach to work experience and work placements across Dogs Trust, and guide managers to implement these.
- Gather data on practices across Dogs Trust and provide management information as required.
- Report as required to the L&D Manager and Head of HR on the benefits derived by Dogs Trust from the engagement of work experience and work placement students.
- Review current systems and procedures for monitoring and quantifying volunteer activity across the organisation. Agree and support the implementation of modifications and introduction of new systems where necessary. Working with relevant colleagues.
- Develop methodologies/processes which will quantify the outcomes for Dogs Trust resulting from volunteering activities.
- Identify trends or issues in volunteer recruitment & management and report these to the L&D Manager and HR.
- Monitor training compliance of volunteers, related to H&S, Data Protection and Credit Card Handling,and identify issues and needs.
- To develop a quarterly reporting routine as agreed with L&D Manager, which summarises successes, opportunities and risks, and makes recommendations for addressing these.
- To keep abreast of current practices, and best practice in the volunteer sector, and keep L&D Manager informed.
- Any other reasonable duties
Person Specification
Essential
- Understanding of what motivates people to volunteer for charities
- Significant experience of recruiting, working with and advising on the management of volunteers.
- Thorough and up to dateknowledge of the changing landscape of volunteering, current trends, relevant legislation and good practice
- Ability to absorb and process new information quickly
- Good judgment, ability to use initiative, and make sound decisions.
- Proven ability to manage change.
- Experience of providing sound professional advice to resolve volunteer management issues
- A good team worker, with the ability to engage with, and build and maintain good working relationships with others at all levels across Dogs Trust, and externally.
- Conscientious and professional
- Experience of analysing qualitative and quantitative data and of producing clear and concise reports and communications
- Numerate with the ability to contribute to the budgeting process.
- Results-focused with the ability and drive to manage and get through a heavy workload efficiently and effectively
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent IT skills and experience of using spreadsheets and databasestoproducemanagement information
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
- Driving licence
- Able to travel throughout the UK and Ireland as required
- Previous experience of a similar organisation
- Previous experience of corporate volunteering
Page 1 of 4