Careers Springboard is a registered charity based in Gerrards Cross, Bucks. Volunteers provide free help/direction/coaching on Zoom to redundant, unemployed professionals, and graduates who seek employment. Your location must be in the UK.
What difference will you make?
Over 35 years, Careers Springboard has helped 3,500+ job seekers get back into work. Our activities are "on the go" 24/7 as job seekers join us, seek a variety of services from us, and then move on. Our Secretary needs to "keep on top" of what is going on with records, Minutes, policies etc. We owe it to our sponsors, the Charities Commission and supporters to "keep our house in order". A good volunteer Secretary will enable Careers Springboard to maintain accurate records of meetings and developments, providing advisory support to fellow members of the Executive Committee who are all Trustees of the charity. Files will be tidy and useful with authorised access to the Executive Committee. The Secretary will work closely with the chairperson on a weekly basis. The Secretary will observe and follow closely our presentations to job seekers - CV preparation, Interview techniques, TMAY - Tell Me About Yourself, Networking, Internet job search, Managing challenges, Transferable skills analysis, Rebuilding confidence, Starting a new business, Interim management, Linkedin, 1-2-1 coaching, counselling. To graduates we offer valuable support in starting and developing careers, one-to-one coaching from qualified professionals plus assistance in producing a powerful CV in order to secure job interviews. All our services are free to Careers Springboard members/job seekers. The free provision of 1-2-1 services are a key element of our service to members / job seekers. Those services are coaching, CV guidance, Linkedin, Interview Practice, Counselling. Such services are provided by our 43 volunteers, most of who are qualified professionals in their field with many years of experience.
What are we looking for?
We will focus on applicants who have at least 3 years of secretarial / administration experience. Experience of working within a registered charity will be an advantage for Secretary applicants. This is not essential but it will be favourable to have a location in the south of England with occasional access to the South Buckinghamshire area and our base which is at Gerrards Cross. A good command of spoken and written English is vital. Experience of all the aspects of taking Minutes online plus arranging and recording meetings. Experience of using Google Drive for saving and maintaining documents, records and reports. Knowledge of basic Company and Charity Law will be preferable. Experience of working within a team of volunteers / self-help group would be a bonus An enthusiasm for supporting and advancing the role of this well established, registered charity will be expected. Needs a basic IT knowledge - sending emails, keeping records, formulating documents, taking Minutes of meetings, saving and filing all documentation. Applicants who are shortlisted for the Secretary role will be initially interviewed online via Zoom by one of our Trustees. Final interviews will be conducted by our chairperson, probably online / Zoom but perhaps face-to-face if possible. Successfully learning all aspects of the Secretary role over a 6+ month period will normally lead to confirmation of Trustee status and formal inclusion in the Careers Springboard Executive Committee. Trustee status is confirmed at our AGM which takes place every 12 months.
What will you be doing?
Careers Springboard is a registered charity, self-help group, established 35 years ago in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, staffed by volunteers, providing help and guidance to redundant and unemployed professionals, managers and to graduates who seek employment. The Secretary would participate online in approx 20% of our Monday evening meetings, and our four times a year Executive Committee meetings including AGM where the Secretary would prepare the Agenda, take the Minutes and circulate with action points to the Executive Committee. There is a virtual programme of weekly Monday evening meetings, online via Zoom, on job search skills such as CV preparation, Internet job search, telephone techniques, networking, Linkedin, interview preparation etc. Job seekers participating in Careers Springboard extend throughout the UK. Occasional face-to-face meetings take place in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. Joining Careers Springboard as a volunteer provides unique opportunities for those who wish to undertake activities which will benefit the community and which will enhance a personal sense of achievement. A Secretary volunteer is required to ensure that Executive Committee meetings (four per year) and other meetings are properly administered, to work with the Treasurer to ensure that the list of Trustees is up-to-date and accurate for the Annual Report that goes to the Charity Commissioners, and to ensure that policies are regularly reviewed. The Secretary volunteer will be organised and methodical, able to keep accurate records, have knowledge of the Careers Springboard Constitution and Charity Commissioner's requirements for a small charity, and be able to give clear and authoritative advice on procedural matters. Using Google Drive files and folders, the Secretary volunteer will ensure that Careers Springboard documentation is maintained tidily and up to date for easy access by Trustees and some volunteers. Time commitment will be assisting occasionally at the virtual weekly Monday evening meetings, organising and taking Minutes at four virtual committee meetings per year and 1-2 hours admin/secretarial work per week. The newly appointed Secretary can expect to offered a Trustee position after 6-12 months of learning and familiarisation with requirements and procedures. Such appointments are confirmed at our AGM which takes place every twelve months. There are currently seven Trustees all of whom are on the Executive Committee.