JOB DESCRIPTION
Recruitment and the Volunteer Cycle
* Lead on drafting volunteer role descriptions in collaboration with the recruitment lead.
* Undertake advertising of volunteer opportunities across multiple platforms ensuring best practice in relation to safer recruitment and equal opportunities practice.
* Work with referral partners and community organisations where appropriate to support participation.
* Be responsible for the onboarding of volunteers including right to work checks, induction scheduling, and induction reviews.
* Managers volunteer leavers and the change in relationship, ensure volunteers are removed from any formal communication channels and receive an exit interview to document their experience.
Training, Learning and Development
* Ensure all volunteers are compliant with the essential training modules such as Safeguarding, Health and Safety and GDPR and maintain records of the same.
* Report on these as required.
* Lead on designing a progression pathway for volunteers who may wish to move into other areas of learning, traineeships or apply for other opportunities.
* Work closely with growers and other staff to plan and coordinate volunteer involvement and support staff to work confidently and positively with volunteers.
Systems and Organisation
* Be responsible for maintaining the volunteer's personal information in the BrightHR system and in compliance with GDPR rules.
* Lead on systematising the volunteer rotas whether regular volunteering or one-off activities.
* Tracking attendance and ensuring we know who is on site when.
Volunteer Team Culture and Management
* Lead the day-to-day coordination of the volunteer programme across growing areas, site care, and related activities
* Act as line manager for the volunteers, having regular opportunities for feedback such as one to ones and communicate key messages from organisation leads that are applicable to the volunteers.
* Lead on buddy / peer support approaches within the volunteer programme ensuring equality of experience of the volunteers.
* Foster a positive, respectful, and inclusive culture on site where people feel a sense of belonging
* Dedicate a portion of time to undertaking the tasks expected of volunteers working hand on alongside volunteers and developing a deeper knowledge and understanding of their day to day.
* Work closely with all site users to ensure volunteers are integrated into real site activities, particularly the growers team.
Monitoring and Evaluation Activities
* Gather feedback [quantitative and qualitative] from volunteers and support the ongoing development of the volunteer programme
* Contribute to monitoring and reporting requirements linked to funded volunteer activity
* Ensure information required for reporting is up to date and accurate in time for reporting deadlines and that those deadlines are met.
* Support funding applications where appropriate.
Compliance
* Ensure volunteer activities and management follow all organisational policies, including safeguarding, health and safety and equality applicable to the volunteer.
* Maintain clear professional boundaries and escalate safeguarding concerns in line with procedure
* Ensure that applicable internal policies and procedures are followed through in all areas of work.
* Also treat with confidentiality any information that could be deemed as personal, private, or sensitive and comply with both organisations GDPR and Safeguarding requirements.
Working with the Wider Team & Partnerships
* Help build and maintain relationships with community partners linked to volunteering and learning opportunities
* Represent the volunteer programme internally and externally when required
* Represent the organisations externally when required
Other
* To attend and participate in internal and external meetings as required.
* To attend relevant training to fulfil the requirements of the job.
* To undertake other duties which may from time to time be required and which are appropriate to the responsibilities of the post.
Person Specification
Knowledge
* Interest in sustainable food growing and community-led work
* Knowledge of the full volunteer cycle including recruitment, onboarding, supervision, development and exit processes
* Knowledge of safer recruitment principles and equal opportunities practice
* Understanding of safeguarding legislation and procedures, particularly when working with vulnerable adults and/or young people
* Knowledge of GDPR and data protection requirements in relation to volunteer records
Skills
* Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage rotas, records, and multiple volunteer streams simultaneously
* Ability to write clear engaging content for varied audiences and for different purposes.
* Confident communicator with the ability to build and maintain positive relationships across teams and with community partners
* Ability to support, motivate and line manage volunteers with understanding and mutual respect.
* An overall good level of IT skills, and a variety of online platforms.
* Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately
* Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to foster an inclusive, respectful, and supportive team culture with a warm, inclusive, and supportive approach.
* Comfortable working outdoors in a practical role year-round
Experience
* Experience of coordinating or managing volunteers or similar groups.
* Supporting people with additional needs and mental health conditions.
* Working in and understanding the needs of an on-site environment
* Experience of recruitment and onboarding processes of volunteers.
* Maintaining records and ensuring compliance with safeguarding, H&S and GDPR
* Experience of working collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team
* Working with community partners or referral organisations
* Coordinating volunteers organisational training and assisting them with their individual development plans.
* Experience of supporting monitoring and reporting requirements
Desirable
* Practical horticulture or food growing experience such as seed sowing, planting, harvesting, composting and general site care
* Knowledge of agroecological growing practices that enrich living, biodiverse systems