JOB DESCRIPTION
ROLE:RETAIL VOLUNTEER MANAGER
DEPARTMENT:CHARITY SHOPS
REPORTING TO: HEAD OF RETAIL
LOCATION: EMILY HOUSE
SUPERVISING:VOLUNTEERS
The context of this job
Octavia Housing provides affordable homes in the heart of London. We develop, manage and maintain properties and provide a range of specialist support services to meet the diverse needs of our tenants. Our aim is to provide a service which is professional, personal, effective and caring.
The Octavia Foundation is a registered charity that provides support to Octavia’s residents and local communities. Through our numerous shops around London we sell high quality donated and new goods, raising valuable funds to support our work with vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
The purpose of this post
What is the focus?
- To establish and keep the Octavia Foundation Shops at the forefrontof the UK charity retail sector in volunteering, providinginspiration and leadership, enabling andsupporting all parts of the organization to successfully engage volunteers in delivering the aims of the foundation and helping meet the shop targets.
- To influence and shape the role of volunteering across the shops, buildingcapacity and increasing the impact ofvolunteering on our customers.
- To establish a successful recruitment model for shop volunteers insuring it is successfully implemented and supports a devolvedmodel of volunteer engagement.
Key Competencies
Octavia operates a Skills and Behaviours Competency Framework.
- Responsive
- Respectful
- Reliable
These are set out in the person specification below.
Key tasks – to be undertaken in association with the key competencies
- To lead on the design and delivery of the Volunteering Strategic Plan enabling all parts of the Octavia Foundation Shops to successfully engage volunteers in the delivery of its strategy.
- Review current volunteer activity and recruitment to ensure it meets the needs of our shops and customers.
- Deliver a devolved volunteering service,where the recruitment, management andretention of volunteers is fully supported within the shops by the shop managers.
- Work with the Area Managers to promote and enable a positive cultureof engagement, that values the workof volunteers, influencing managersacross the organisation, ensuring thatvolunteering is understood and respected.
- To provide high quality advice andprofessional support, increasing theimpact of volunteering across the Group.
- To ensure that the volunteer workforceis properly structured to delivercontinuous improvement and meetthe needs of the shops and customers, ensuring thatan appropriate range of learning anddevelopment opportunities are availablefor volunteers.
- Ensure the engagement of managersand staff at all levels to grow thecontribution of volunteers across theGroup, increasing capability in themanagement and inclusion of volunteers. Insuring that high standards of customer service are delivered at all times.
- To be the Octavia Foundation Shops key referral person for volunteering, actingas spokesperson on volunteer issuesinternally and representing the shops externally on Volunteeringmatters. Liaising with local institutions and organisations to build support for volunteer engagement in our shops.
- To update and implement all volunteer policiesand procedures, identifying risks forthe organisation of non-compliance.
- To ensure that appropriate systemsare in place for gathering managementinformation on volunteers throughout the organization and generating monthly reports on the current status of volunteer retention and recruitment in the shops.
- To ensure volunteerchecks, induction development and opportunities are effectively managedand implemented.
- To write regular internal communications including articles for the Shops newsletter magazine on volunteer matters and be responsible for the Octavia Foundation website in respect of volunteer information and activity.
- Responsible for contributing to the overall shops management team and attending trading and Health & Safety meetings as required.
Generic
How will the post holder know if they are performing?
A number of performance targets will be planned and agreed each year with the line manager and these will be measured on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. Regular feedback will be provided by the line manager and opportunity provided to discuss any problems, personal and team matters and personal development issues.
Generic requirements
The post holder will be expected to comply with the Foundation’s policies and procedures at all times. These include, but are not limited to equal opportunities, confidentiality, data protection and health and safety.
Tenant/client involvement is an essential part of all roles within the Foundation and all are expected to support the policies and procedures relating to the involvement of tenants/clients and to contribute to the delivery of the Foundation’s objectives.
In order to do their job the post holder will be trained and coached in the procedures and policies of the Foundation. They will be expected to familiarise themselves with the association’s procedures and policies and to seek advice and guidance from the line manager if required.
The key tasks listed above are only an indication of the main tasks required to be performed. It is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities and may be subject to amendment to take account of changing circumstances. Any changes will be made following discussion with the post holder. The post holder will remain co-operative and flexible in line with the needs of the post and the Foundation.
OCTAVIA HOUSING
PERSON SPECIFICATION
POST:RETAIL VOLUNTEER MANAGER
The Person Specification states the minimum knowledge, skills and experience required to carry out the job and is used for both short listing candidates for interview and to identify the areas to explore in an interview.
E = Essential criteria;D = Desirable criteria
Criteria1 / Competencies:
Respectful
- Willing to listen and understand others and maintain credibility in your role and for Octavia
- Support others and gains trust, positive and enthusiastic
- Develops people by helping staff individually and as groups so that they may perform the best they can
- Creative, delivers practical solutions, and flexible to meet others needs
- Willing to examine own values, principles and assumptions. Learns from own experiences
- leads and motivates staff by establishing clear direction and standards; providing opportunities for participation; motivating staff by giving encouragement, recognition and personal support for their efforts and achievements
- Well organised, copes well under pressure, takes ownership, pro-active and goal focused.
- Transparent and open, keeps others informed, takes action and is sensitive to people’s needs.
- Manages tasks and resources by planning, organising, directing and monitoring work carried out by others; managing costs and physical resources
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
Experience:
- Proven experience in a similar role
- Proven experience of implementing a successful recruitment and retention strategy for volunteers
- Experience of developing new recruitment opportunities with local organisations and colleges
- Experience of supporting charity shops as part of a central team
- Experience of implementing a training programme for volunteers
- Experience of managing volunteers
E
E
D
D
E
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of best volunteer practice in a similar organisation
- Knowledge of UK legislation and Health & Safety regulations as it relates to volunteering in the charity retail sector
- Knowledge of UK Charity Retail Sector
E
E
Skills:
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Excellent demonstrable interpersonal skills and strong personal confidence with the ability to inspire and enthuse.
- Ability to identify opportunities and potential new sources of recruitment
- IT Literate in use of databases, excel and word.
- Commercial awareness
- Target driven
E
E
E
E
E
Other:
- Commitment to the organisation’s Diversity Policies
- Collaborative and inclusive, prepared to work as part of a team in contributing specific expertise
E