Volunteer coordinator
A volunteer coordinator manages all elements of volunteering either within their own organisation or on behalf of the organisation for which they are recruiting volunteers. Their role involves assessing an organisation’s needs and then meeting those needs through the recruitment, placement and retention of volunteers.
Volunteer coordinators manage volunteers and their relationship with those they come into contact with, including employees and service users of an organisation. They also monitor, evaluate and accredit volunteers. Volunteer coordinators work across all sectors including public and private, but predominantly in the voluntary sector.
The role of a volunteer coordinator has gained increased recognition as a profession within its own right, however in smaller charities it is sometimes combined with another role.
Although this area of work is generally open to all graduates, a degree or HND in the following subjects may increase your chances:
Entry without a degree is possible as emphasis is placed on experience rather than academic credentials.
A related postgraduate qualification is not usually needed, but is becoming increasingly useful as the job grows in popularity, especially for the more competitive industries, such as international development and creative industries (e.g. art gallery or museum).
Pre-entry experience is essential, especially voluntary experience. If you are applying to work as a volunteer coordinator for an international organisation, having voluntary experience overseas, an understanding of other cultures, international contacts and a second language will be very important.
Potential candidates need to show evidence of the following:
An understanding of the sector, a commitment to the organisation to which you apply and, if relevant, empathy with service users are also important. Charities need people who have the ability to cope with limited resources, seize opportunities and think creatively. The ability to handle numerical data may also be required if the role involves budget management or fundraising, as well as political awareness and the ability to remain impartial, as many roles involve working in politically sensitive areas.
A full clean driving licence and car ownership, for the purposes of visiting organisations and assisting volunteers with travel, may also be necessary.
The job of a volunteer coordinator is becoming increasingly popular with graduates and non-graduates alike, particularly for positions with the better-known charities, art galleries and museums. Undertaking voluntary work is essential as you may be competing against people with a great deal of experience and contacts. Very few charities offer graduate training schemes, although Cancer Research UK runs a general scheme. Internships are more common and are offered by a range of organisations including Barnardo's , British Red Cross , People and Planet , Oxfam and the United Nations Internship Programme . However, while the above schemes provide an overview of the work of the organisation, they do not specifically focus on the work of a volunteer coordinator.
Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) , Disclosure Scotland or Access Northern Ireland checks are necessary for those working with children and/or vulnerable individuals.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
There are a range of training providers offering accredited courses tailored to meet the needs of volunteer coordinators at all levels. For example:
Although the role is distinct due to the management of volunteers rather than employees, many volunteer coordinators utilise the same skills as those working in human resources, and therefore HR-related qualifications and training are beneficial. Business, finance and project management qualifications and training are also very relevant to this role.
Professional bodies and networks, such as the Association of Volunteer Managers (AVM) and Volunteering England address the needs of those managing volunteers and raise awareness of the professionalism of the role. Their websites also contain research publications, good practice banks and forums for people working with volunteers.
Increasingly, higher education institutions are offering undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications focusing on the voluntary sector and volunteer management.
Volunteer coordination has gained increased recognition as a profession within its own right. A two-year volunteer management programme funded by the Labour government in 2009, helped to raise the profile and recognition of volunteer managers and developed and increased available training and support. This increased recognition has been further supported by different sectors recognising the value and relevance of this area of work to their business or industry (particularly through corporate social responsibility). More organisations/companies are placing an emphasis on giving something back to the local community, often in the form of employee volunteering, and thus more opportunities are becoming available across sectors for volunteer coordinators.
Growth has enabled volunteer coordinators to work alongside specialists in other fields, develop new skills and establish programmes to meet the needs of other sectors with different approaches and outlooks towards volunteering. The 2012 Olympic Games has significantly raised the profile of volunteering within the UK and will potentially open up new opportunities for volunteers and volunteer coordinators alike.
Although roles within the voluntary sector generally offer good opportunities for personal development, promotion prospects can be limited, particularly in smaller charities. Bigger organisations tend to have larger volunteering structures and so have more opportunity for promotion. Those working in the voluntary sector often make sideways moves between organisations. Although with more companies buying into corporate social responsibility (CSR) there is now more movement between sectors and opportunities to develop new skills.
Some volunteer coordinators may transfer skills to move to related roles. This will depend on an individual’s particular experience but could, for example, be a service development and/or service management role.
With a couple of years' experience, volunteer coordinators can take on strategic responsibility to become volunteer managers. Moving into management often involves a loss of client contact and operational involvement, which may not appeal to some. Headship and directorship is possible with several years of strategic and managerial responsibility.
The majority of volunteer coordinators are employed within the not-for-profit sector, with the larger charities and universities sometimes having a team coordinating volunteering. Smaller charities and other sectors may have someone in place who undertakes a substantial amount of volunteer coordination, but whose remit may be more diverse and who may operate with a different job title.
Volunteer coordinators are employed by a range of organisations across the private, public and voluntary sectors, including:
With increasing emphasis on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development, many companies have CSR strategies, working with organisations such as Business in the Community (BITC) and investing in employee volunteering activities, which has generated more opportunities for volunteer coordinators.
Vacancies can be found through specialist and sector-specific recruitment agencies, for example People Unlimited . There is a list of specialist agencies on VolResource .
For vacancies in other sectors, visit corporate social responsibility (CSR) websites such as Acre , education websites such as Jobs.ac.uk and FE Jobs , and for the creative industries Voluntary Arts Network . Some larger charities also advertise on jobsgopublic and Publicjobsdirect.com . Volunteering with an organisation can provide a huge advantage when sourcing vacancies as jobs can often be promoted internally.
Attend recruitment fairs/exhibitions to find out about opportunities, distribute your CV and network. The Forum 3 not-for-profit and public sector recruitment fair in London is a useful event to attend.
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