Job Description

Job Title: Volunteer Supervisor£17 - 19,000 per annum, 35 hours per week

Department: Fundraising and Marketing

Location: Ferne Animal Sanctuary, Wambrook, Chard

Responsible to: Fundraising Manager

Overview of the Organisation

Set in 52 acres of glorious Somerset countryside, high in the Blackdown Hills, Ferne Animal Sanctuary has been saving the lives of unwanted and abandoned animals for over 75 years. We provide refuge for domestic animals, farm animals and horses. We work hard to rehome the cats and dogs that find their way into our care, other animals remain at Ferne to enjoy the rest of their lives in the peace and tranquillity that the Sanctuary offers.

Main purpose of the role

Ferne relies on the goodwill and dedication of volunteers to support our daily operation. The Sanctuary is embarking on an ambitiousstrategy to double fundraising income over the next five years to enable us to substantially increase our operational capacity.Increasing the number of volunteers, from circa 150 to over 300 active volunteers over the next two years will be fundamental to the success of Ferne’s planned expansion.

The volunteer supervisor will be an essential member of the fundraising team, leading the developmentand implementationof the volunteering strategy. This role demands an extremely well organised and competent individual to deliver our ambitious plans; therefore, demonstrable successful experience of working with volunteers will be essential.

Key Responsibilities

  • Develop a strategy to ensure all volunteer activity in support of the Sanctuary’s activities is managed effectively, responsibly and safely – developing and delivering highly effective systems for recruitment, induction, training, management and development of volunteers and to ensure the internal database is consistent and up to date
  • To work closely with the fundraising team to recruit members to volunteer fundraising groups across Devon, Dorset and Somerset
  • Organise profile-raising events to attract new volunteers and celebratory events to reward volunteers
  • To have overall responsibility for the recruitment, selection and placement of all volunteers throughout the organisation, and ensuring that all necessary pre-volunteering checks are carried out as required (including DBS checks)
  • To ensure that volunteering policies, procedures, role descriptions and guidelines are in place, regularly updated and monitored
  • To develop an effective communication strategy for volunteering aligned with the Sanctuary’s activity
  • Budget holder for the volunteer department
  • To develop appropriate training and induction programmes for all volunteers in liaison with Managers and Heads of Section
  • To resolve sensitive conflict management issues with volunteers, as and when they arise
  • To be responsible for ensuring that individual volunteers are adequately supported and that appropriate ‘on-the-job’ support and supervision is provided
  • To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the volunteering programme, and report to the Fundraising Manager, and to the Board (quarterly) on the programmes efficacy
  • Keep up to date with legislation and policy related to volunteering
  • To act as an ambassador for good practice in volunteering for the Sanctuary and the wider community
  • Manage monthly departmental volunteer update meetings with managers

The Sanctuary reserves the right to vary or amend the duties and responsibilities of the post-holder at any time according to its needs. Job Descriptions only reflect 80% of a role and are not an exhaustive list of duties. You will be expected to carry out other activities that are within the scope of the role.

Skills & Experience

Essential / Desirable
  • Experience of volunteering and/or working with volunteers
  • Proven demonstrable ability to meet the job requirements
  • Demonstrate past excellence in balancing the needs of volunteers and the organisation
  • A proactive approach to identifying and developing volunteer recruitment opportunities
  • Excellent planning and organisational skills to multi-task administration tasks and prioritise effectively
  • Proven excellent communication skills
  • Budget management
  • Ability to work under own initiative, managing own workload and working collaboratively
  • Have a positive professional work attitude
  • Have an ability to be flexible, tactful, diplomatic and supportive in your approach
  • A keen understanding and belief in the mission of Ferne Animal Sanctuary
  • Full valid UK driving licence with access to a car
  • Ability to work some bank holidays, weekends and evening
/
  • Experience of developing and delivering training to individuals and groups
  • Previous experience and the ability to deliver volunteer recognition and feedback events
  • Working knowledge of fundraising databases
  • The ability to organise a volunteer rota
  • A good understanding of data protection
  • A working knowledge of Health & Safety legislation
  • An ability to support in the production of volunteer newsletters and communications to volunteers, departments and a wider audience
  • An ability to support at networking and fundraising events
  • Experience of working with internal and external stakeholders from diverse backgrounds
  • Confidence with public speaking
  • Ability to deliver presentations
  • Educated to A level standard, or equivalent experience

Conditions of Employment

Hours: Full-time – 35 hours per week,9am – 5 pm Monday to Friday, excluding 1 hour for lunch. A job share arrangement would be considered.

Some evening and weekend work. The Sanctuary operates a time off in lieu (TOIL) policy.

Salary: £17k – 19k dependant on experience.

Holidays: 28 days including bank holidays.

Please send an application form to Daisy Spencer HR Advisor, Ferne Animal Sanctuary, Wambrook, Chard, Somerset TA20 3DH or alternatively email to . Closing date 30.5.18