Volunteer Programme Development Lead

What will you be doing?

You will lead a fixed-term project to establish the foundations of a clear, effective, and inclusive volunteer programme.

This strategic role aims to enhance volunteering across our activities and improve the experience for those who contribute their time and skills to our community work.

Below is an overview of the key responsibilities and expected outcomes for this role:

Review and map our current volunteer experience

You will help build a clear picture of how volunteering currently works by:

• Reviewing how volunteers find opportunities, apply, are onboarded, supported and recognised
• Identifying strengths, gaps and drop-off points in the current approach
• Highlighting key risks or areas where a clearer structure would have the greatest impact
• Applying these insights to inform the new volunteer framework

Shape standards and direction

Drawing on your insight and experience, you will:

• Help shape a simple volunteer approach and practical guidance that reflect our mission and values
• Define clear, proportionate standards for recruitment, onboarding, support and recognition
• Ensure the programme is inclusive, purposeful, and focused on volunteer well-being

Build the volunteer programme framework

You will develop a clear, adaptable framework that sets out the main stages of the volunteer journey

• Clarifies who supports volunteers at each stage
• Accommodates different types of volunteering roles

Create practical tools and resources

You will help develop practical tools to support consistent practice, which may include:

• Templates for role descriptions
• Tools for recruitment and screening
• Checklists for onboarding and induction
• Templates for volunteer check-ins or supervision
• Guidance for peer support or buddy arrangements
• Simple approaches to volunteer recognition and appreciation

Recommend tracking and implementation

You will:

• Recommend what information should be collected to assess volunteer engagement and experience
• Recommend a simple, proportionate approach to reviewing this information
• Develop a clear implementation plan with defined priorities and next steps
• Help ensure the framework and tools remain user-friendly and sustainable after the project concludes

Throughout the project, you will collaborate with staff and current volunteers to develop outputs that are practical, useful, and grounded in real volunteer experiences.

What are we looking for?

We’re looking for someone with relevant professional experience who enjoys strategic work and can translate insights into practical outcomes. This role is ideal for someone who is comfortable working independently on defined projects and is motivated to enhance volunteering in a growing organisation.

You do not need prior knowledge of our organisation. However, you should be confident in reviewing current approaches, identifying improvements, and designing solutions that a small charity can implement and maintain.

We’re particularly interested in volunteers with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Volunteer management, people management or organisational operations
• Developing strategies, policies, frameworks or practical guidance
• Reviewing systems or processes and recommending improvements
• Contributing to organisational change or improvement projects
• Supporting inclusive practice and positive volunteer experiences
• Delivering outcomes through project or programme work

The qualities we’re looking for include:

• A structured and practical approach to problem-solving
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively
• An inclusive mindset and a commitment to positive volunteer experiences
• Confidence in engaging with staff and volunteers to gather insight and shape solutions

Our ideal volunteer is thoughtful and organised, able to balance strategic thinking with practical delivery. You should be comfortable making recommendations, clearly documenting your work, and helping others understand and adopt improved practices.

What difference will you make?

Our mission is to overcome poverty by empowering individuals and building sustainable communities. We provide personalised support to those facing multiple challenges, including employability training, health and fitness activities, social inclusion, and active citizenship. Volunteers are essential to delivering our services and expanding our impact within the communities we serve.

Strengthening our foundations

As our programmes expand, volunteering plays a vital role in reaching people, addressing needs, and creating opportunities that enhance community wellbeing. This role will ensure volunteering is supported by clear, consistent, and inclusive foundations, enabling it to contribute effectively to our mission.

By improving how volunteering is organised, your contribution will enhance our organisational capacity and resilience. Clearer processes will help staff and volunteers collaborate more effectively, reducing pressure across the organisation.

This will reduce time spent navigating uncertainty and allow greater focus on delivering meaningful, high-quality support through our programmes.

Supporting inclusion and participation

Your work will help us become a more inclusive and accessible organisation. Strengthening the structure and support for volunteering will remove barriers to participation and create opportunities for a broader range of people to engage.

This will help our volunteer community better reflect those we serve, strengthening trust, connection, and relevance, and ensuring our work is informed by diverse voices, experiences, and perspectives.

Enabling sustainable growth

A robust volunteer programme will enable us to respond flexibly to the changing needs of our communities. With stronger foundations, we can adapt as our activities evolve, while ensuring volunteers are supported to contribute safely and confidently.

This increased organisational resilience supports sustainable growth and ensures our community impact is not limited by internal capacity gaps.

Increasing impact

Ultimately, your contribution will help us deliver higher-quality community support and reach more people. Volunteers who feel valued, supported, and clear about their roles are more likely to remain engaged and make a lasting impact.

By strengthening the role of volunteering in our work, you will play a meaningful part in addressing the root causes of poverty and exclusion, helping more people participate fully in community life and reach their potential.

Anything else...

Time is flexible and can fit around your schedule. We will agree on milestones at the start and keep on track with short check-ins.