New Start Highland is a dynamic and evolving organisation which aspires to create opportunities for transformation in people’s lives. New Start Highland offers a range of services including employability services for people who want to develop skills required to enter the workplace, plus a number of commercial enterprises ranging from Removals to Furniture Retail.
In order to transform people’s lives through programmes such as our employability services, our volunteers are a crucial, valued and integral part of the New Start Highland community. We want to ensure we are equipped to provide all volunteers and those on our employability programmes with the support they need and to ensure that they have the best possible experience with us.
Purpose of Post
To recruit, train, support, and coordinate volunteers across New Start Highland, ensuring they have a positive and rewarding volunteering experience. The Volunteer Coordinator will work closely with referral agencies, volunteers, and internal teams to ensure volunteering opportunities are effectively promoted, placements are successful, and organisational targets are achieved.
The role will focus on volunteer engagement, retention, performance monitoring, and maintaining accurate records to support positive outcomes for volunteers and the organisation.
The successful candidate will demonstrate empathy, professionalism and a commitment to helping people achieve their potential while supporting the organisation to meet its strategic objectives.
The post-holder will work closely with and report to the Placement & Training Manager across the range of activities covered by the post.
Develop and maintain positive working relationships with volunteers across all New Start Highland services.
Liaise with referral agencies, community organisations, employability providers, and other external partners regarding volunteer opportunities and placements.
Work closely with managers and team leaders to identify volunteering opportunities and support volunteer placements.
Collaborate with the Marketing team to promote volunteering opportunities and celebrate volunteer achievements.
Build effective relationships with stakeholders to enhance volunteer recruitment and engagement.
Increased recruitment and retention of volunteers across New Start Highland.
Volunteers receive effective induction, training, and ongoing support.
Positive volunteer feedback and satisfaction levels maintained.
Performance targets achieved in relation to volunteer recruitment, retention, and engagement.
Accurate volunteer records and reporting systems maintained.
Strong relationships established with referral agencies and community partners.
Volunteers supported to achieve positive outcomes and destinations through their placements.
All activities undertaken in line with New Start Highland values, policies, and procedures.
Recruiting, onboarding, and inducting volunteers across New Start Highland.
Delivering training and ongoing support throughout volunteer placements.
Coordinating volunteer placements and ensuring volunteers are matched appropriately to available opportunities.
Managing positive, respectful, and professional relationships with volunteers, staff, referral agencies, and stakeholders.
Liaising with referral sources regarding new and existing volunteers.
Monitoring volunteer participation, engagement, and progression.
Ensuring performance targets are continually being worked towards to achieve agreed outcomes.
Maintaining accurate records, session plans, and volunteer data.
Supporting volunteer retention and gathering feedback to improve the volunteer experience.
Recruit, interview, and onboard volunteers in line with organisational requirements.
Deliver volunteer inductions, training sessions, and ongoing support meetings.
Provide regular contact and supervision to volunteers throughout their placement.
Promote volunteering opportunities through community engagement and partnership working.
Liaise with referral agencies regarding volunteer referrals and placements.
Match volunteers to suitable opportunities based on skills, interests, and organisational needs.
Monitor volunteer attendance, engagement, and progression.
Maintain accurate records using the organisation's CRM and other systems.
Ensure session plans and volunteer support records are updated and maintained.
Collect and analyse volunteer feedback to improve service delivery.
Produce reports on volunteer recruitment, retention, participation, and outcomes.
Support the achievement of departmental performance indicators and organisational objectives.
Attend meetings, events, and promotional activities as required.
Salary: Competitive (depending on experience).
There are 32 days holiday per year (pro rata) rising to 35 days after five years' service.
There will be an opportunity to participate in a contributory pension scheme.
The post requires a Basic Disclosure.
Skills
Essential
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build positive relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Good presentation and facilitation skills.
• Ability to recruit, support, motivate and retain volunteers.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to identify, record and report key information in a clear, accurate and timely manner.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and update databases and CRM systems.
• Good problem-solving skills and the ability to use initiative.
• Ability to deal with sensitive and confidential information appropriately.
• Understanding of the importance of volunteer engagement, support and retention.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Desirable
Experience
Essential
• Experience of working with volunteers, customers, service users or community groups.
• Experience of building and maintaining effective relationships with external agencies and stakeholders.
• Experience of working towards performance targets and outcomes.
• Experience of maintaining accurate records and producing reports.
• Experience of coordinating activities, projects, programmes or people.
Desirable
Approach
Essential
• Exceptional ability to relate to and develop constructive relationships with people from all backgrounds.
• Passion for supporting people to contribute, develop and achieve their potential.
• Empathetic, patient and approachable manner.
• Ability to motivate, encourage and inspire volunteers.
• Professional, reliable and accountable.
• Positive and proactive attitude towards problem solving.
• Ability to remain calm and focused under pressure.
• Flexible and adaptable in response to changing organisational needs.
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
• Ability to uphold and promote the values and reputation of New Start Highland.