Regional Volunteer Coordinator

The Highlands & Islands region is a large and diverse region with 26 properties, 6 National Nature Reserves, 16 Islands and the UKs only dual UNESCO world heritage site. As such the range of volunteering opportunities is large and complex. This job exists to ensure that the volunteering needs across the region are managed and supported; implementing innovative and effective volunteering initiatives which complement our national approach to volunteer management and development, are in line with volunteering good practice and are of the highest standards. Taking direct management of the regional conservation volunteer group whilst also supporting the individual properties in volunteer recruitment and retention.  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES 

• Proactively guide and advise regional/property staff at all levels on the operational aspects of volunteer involvement, enabling them to recruit, support, develop and motivate volunteers effectively, in accordance with all national volunteering guidance and systems. 
• Work closely with other managers across the Region and in collaboration with the central lead for volunteering to design and deliver a programme of Volunteering, which helps to deliver the operational needs of each property.
• Directly manage the Highland & Island Conservation Volunteer group, group volunteering work programme and associated budgets. 
• Support and grow the number of volunteer work parties at properties across the region.  
• Instil a Health & Safety culture across the volunteering programme, ensuring all risk assessments, training and H&S paperwork is up to date and provided to volunteer work parties and that the volunteers work within this to reduce risk of incidents and accidents to volunteers, employees, and visitors. 
• Develop external partnerships with a range of local, regional, and national organisations to aid in the recruitment and retention of volunteers, 
• Ensure all volunteering hours are recorded and reported annually as part of funding and internal requirements. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE 

Qualifications & Experience 

Essential 

• Qualification in volunteer management or relevant experience 
• Comprehensive understanding and knowledge of volunteering innovation, best practice, and sector standards. 
• Demonstrable track record of having successfully and effectively developed a range of volunteering roles and schemes across a department or organisation. 
• Demonstrable use of Project Management Frameworks. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, successfully influencing, persuading, guiding, listening to, and negotiating with others, constructively challenging thinking where appropriate. 
• Ability to build and manage effective and productive stakeholder and partnership relationships. 
• Strong skills in identifying and analysing problems, issues, and areas of improvement, working collaboratively to develop creative strategies and solutions. 
• Excellent planning and organisational skills; ability to manage and deliver a diverse portfolio of work and to balance the priorities and needs of multiple stakeholders. 
• Ability to be proactive, use initiative and work independently. 
• Ability to balance a strong focus on achieving successful outcomes with the need to empower, enable, motivate, inspire and develop others. 
• Working with volunteers in a management capacity. 
• Experience of working in the charitable sector or in a volunteer-involving organisation.