Volunteer Coordinator & Community Engagement Lead, North Sumatra

We are looking for a Volunteer Coordinator & Community Engagement Lead to join our team in North Sumatra! We are looking to develop our team out here in Bukit Lawang and want to find the right people to enhance and develop our growing programmes.

• Do you have experience in leadership and management?
• Do you have a passion for conservation and community work?
• Are you looking for a role which brings adventure and challenge in bucketloads?

About Us

We aim to deliver high quality, free education to rural communities here in North Sumatra in order to enable people to access more opportunities for their academic, financial, physical and holistic wellbeing as well as foster a respect and care for the environment. 

Our programmes help to build stronger, more resilient communities while supporting efforts to protect severely endangered ecosystems.

We run an established English as Second Language Programme, a Sustainable Business Programme for adults who want to start their dream business, an Ecological Farming Programme in partnership with a local Eco Farm and a Youth Ranger Programme for children to learn about conservation and how to be a jungle ranger! We also run supporting projects including free fitness programmes and a weekly woman's group as well as providing action-packed 8 week volunteer placements for those looking for a unique volunteer experience. 

Please do take the time to find out about our charity before applying for the role. We have a very active social media presence, so you can gain insights into what life is like here and whether you would be a good fit for the job. We also have information relating to all of our programmes on our website which can help you decide which role would be your dream job!

Job Description

The Volunteer Coordinator & Community Engagement Lead is responsible for the volunteer journey from the recruitment to alumni. They will manage all volunteer recruitment platforms and marketing and communications relating to volunteer recruitment to ensure that our volunteer cycles are fully booked. They will also manage all aspects of the volunteer placements including: volunteer interviews, volunteer registration and organisation of fee payments, visa application, real time support and guidance for all of our volunteers prior to departure to Indonesia, managing volunteer WhatsApp groups, transportation to and from the airport and greeting new arrivals, induction training and the organisation of the volunteer activities throughout their placement. 

In addition to this, the Volunteer Coordinator & Community Engagement Lead will be responsible for managing the social media, website, newsletter and all marketing material for the Trust, ensuring that it is of a high standard and is updated and shared regularly.

Finally, the Volunteer Coordinator & Community Engagement Lead will be instrumental in running community projects and events relating to conservation and environmental protection in the area. This may involve organising our conservation festival and working with local organisations and businesses along with the Business Programme Manager to organise events such as a Sustainable business showcase/celebration. 

Please note, we are a small grassroots organisation and are much more interested in getting the right people to join our BLT family than people exactly fitting a job description. So, if you can see that you can offer something which is not listed then please tell us in your cover letter!

Contract

• 12 Months (Rolling) 
• Voluntary role with generous living allowance, including accommodation and some meals.
• All visa costs covered

Location

• Bukit Lawang, with some travel to Medan. 

Key Responsibilities

Volunteer journey and development

• Recruiting volunteers from around the world onto all of the Trust’s programmes to ensure operational capability.
• Take the lead on volunteer induction and ensure that every volunteer is settled in and has everything they need on arrival.
• Support volunteers through their application process and manage their visa applications and preparations prior to departure in conjunction with our agent at Let’s Move Indonesia.
• Monitoring volunteer progress throughout their placements via 1:1s & take the lead on ‘organised fun’ for volunteers living at the Trust including our regular quiz nights in Bukit Lawang.
• Take the lead on organising itineraries and logistics for volunteer orientation, Phase Review and Debrief and booking local workshops and jungle trekking for each volunteer group with our local trekking partners. 
• Maintaining a positive learning environment for all beneficiaries, students & staff in keeping with the Trust’s Code of Conduct.
• Support all volunteers through their journey with their own Help@Home Project

Social media and Marketing

• Advertise volunteer placements and opportunities on the Trust’s range of social media and recruitment platforms internationally.
• Seek out and establish new recruitment platforms and establish agreements with universities and colleges around the world to set up placement opportunities.
• Carry out volunteer interviews in liaison with Operations Manager.
• Ensure all incoming volunteers submit all relevant paperwork relating to registration and visa application. 
• Keep volunteer matrix up to date and correct and ensure that these records are kept in line with GDPR (data protection) regulations on the BLT protected Drive.
• Manage monthly marketing campaigns to raise funds for the Trust.
• Collect, edit and publish volunteer testimonies and highlight reels for marketing purposes to share on social media and in marketing material.
• Create newsletters, reports and marketing materials to share and support the work of the Trust. 

Administration

• Reply to all emails/ messages directed to the Volunteer Coordinator & Community Engagement Lead in a timely manner and refer queries to the relevant party as required.
• Liaise with the Operations Manager to design and amend volunteer placements, opportunities and marketing methods.
• Arrange volunteer transport as required for airport transfers and greet volunteers on arrival.
• Work alongside the Trust team to show visitors around the Trust.
• Update the BLT website pages relating to volunteering and social media and marketing materials on a weekly basis. 
• Manage the Bukit Lawang Trust’s social media pages – coordinating posts to be created and scheduled in liaison with all team members as well as posting updates and stories regularly to share the work of the Trust.
• Keep up-to-date with local and international climate and environmental news and initiatives in order to share and amplify via our social media and marketing materials

Finance & Fundraising

• Encouraging fundraising for the Trust via all means, including arranging regular pub quiz/bingo nights in the village guest houses.
• Endeavor to fill all spaces for every volunteer cycle – (currently approximately 7 spaces per each 8 week period) via recruitment platforms, social media and targeted email campaigns.

Community Engagement (Hearts & Minds)

• Immerse yourself in the community, attend weekly Bahasa/ English lessons held at the Trust to improve your language skills.
• Attend community events such as weddings, funerals, parties etc.
• Go out and meet staff at guest houses/community projects on a regular basis to maintain good relations with the community.
• Organise community events and festivals to bring people together in the villages and facilitate discussions about key conservation issues and possible solutions.
• Work with prominent community figures/organisations to raise awareness of Trust/extend reach of Trust.
• Take a lead on conservation and community environmental action and awareness raising campaigns.

Other responsibilities

The Volunteer Coordinator & Community Engagement Lead will also support the Operations Manager and Programme Managers with any other appropriate tasks which support the running of the Trust hub. 

What we offer

• The opportunity to work in an established and successful NGO with 20 years of experience
• Living allowance and expenses package including accommodation and transport
• All visa costs covered throughout employment
• Free, private room and access to a well-equipped, shared kitchen
• Cooked meals provided while working
• Regular staff training and a supportive board of Trustees
• The opportunity to work with a diverse team of change-makers in a stunning natural environment!
• Opportunities for jungle trekking both with Youth Ranger classes and as part of the volunteer cycle at least once per year.
• Joining our volunteer activities including workshops and Phase Review weekends as part of the Volunteer Journey. 

If all of this makes you jump for joy then get in touch! To apply for a position with us, or request a full job description of a particular role or ask any questions you may have, please contact our team at [email removed - click apply for more details].