JOB KLAXON: Freelance Volunteer Co-ordinator wanted for a pilot Heritage project
Exeter Heritage Volunteers: Freelance Volunteer Co-ordinator Role
Background
Exeter Heritage Volunteers is pilot project initiated by the Exeter Heritage Partnership to trial the establishment of a collaborative volunteering programme across a number of the city’s heritage organisations: Exeter Historic Buildings Trust (St Nicholas Priory), Exeter Cathedral, Exeter Canal & Quay Trust (Custom House), Devon & Exeter Institution, RAMM, South West Heritage Trust and Tucker’s Hall.
This project aims to develop and test a co-ordinated approach to volunteering amongst existing heritage organisations within the city; to encourage and inspire increased volunteering within the heritage sector; and to create a pool of volunteers for bigger, city-wide initiatives (festivals, etc), as well as ‘non-heritage’ events (concerts, contemporary art installations, etc) in heritage spaces. An additional aim is to examine how volunteering can contribute to civic pride, and support the city’s place-shaping ambitions by co-creating a shared ‘story of place’ about the city and its heritage, both internally and externally.
While each of the partner organisations have their own cohort of volunteers, the Exeter Heritage Volunteers pilot will create a new access model that provides an easy entry point for people interested in volunteering but don’t know where or with whom they want to engage. A key aspect of this pilot is the use of the Better Impact volunteer management system, allowing for volunteering opportunities to be shared across the project partners; volunteers can see what opportunities are available, and register their interest, and manage their own hours and locations. RAMM already uses this system, and will provide training as part of this role.
The project is organised by Exeter Heritage Partnership – a collaborative network between the city’s heritage organisations established to encourage cohesion and knowledge-sharing across the sector. The Partnership is also supported by Exeter City Council, the University of Exeter and Exeter Culture.
The Role
Exeter Heritage Volunteers is now seeking to recruit a freelance Volunteer Co-ordinator to work with the Project Team to shape and deliver the pilot programme.
Key Duties:
Developing a recruitment campaign that seeks to reach potential volunteers from diverse and varied communities across Exeter.
Leading on all aspects of the day-to-day administration and supervision of the volunteer team and their activities.
Working in partnership with the Project Team to deliver the volunteer training programme and ensure regular, good quality, reflective 1:1 and group supervision for volunteers is made available. This will involve working in collaboration with the Partnership organisations to co-ordinate shared training resources, as well as scheduling the specific learning opportunities that are unique to the pilot.
Supporting Volunteers to use the Better Impact Volunteer Management System software where appropriate (you will be given training in Better Impact).
Communicating and collaborating with all Partner organisations in a clear and collegiate manner, and providing advocacy and mediation where needed.
Sharing knowledge and skills to enhance the professional development of all volunteers; celebrating volunteer successes; and managing any capability issues swiftly and with professionalism.
Ensure volunteers attend team meetings where appropriate, in order to maintain good communication within the service and to provide a forum to share concerns, experience and skills.
Actively encourage Volunteer and Partner involvement and participation in planning, delivery and evaluation.
Attend and actively participate in team meetings and other meetings as required by the Project Team.
Support the Project Team in planning, monitoring and reviewing the development of the pilot in line with identified priorities, targets and outcomes. Track, collate and report target data for performance monitoring reviews as requested by the Project Manager. Implement revisions to service delivery as required.
Person Specification:
Essential
Experience of recruiting, training, and supervising or mentoring a diverse range of volunteers.
Passion and enthusiasm for the value of volunteering, and an ability to inspire similar in others.
Knowledge of the heritage sector.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to engage a diverse range of people.
Evidence of skills and experience in supporting people through change.
Demonstrable understanding of safeguarding issues.
Experience of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion practices, and working with people from a broad range of backgrounds.
Good working knowledge of using standard IT systems (Microsoft Office, Email, etc).
Ability to work flexibly (this role will involve some evening and weekend working).
Desirable
Knowledge of the heritage sector in the Greater Exeter area.
An understanding of the processes involved in risk management.
Experience of working with volunteer management software.
Experience of evaluation methodologies and processes.
Details:
Fee: 25 days at £150/day on a freelance basis (days/hours worked across the approx. 8-month duration of the project will be discussed and agreed with the Project Team at the start, and adapted as necessary as the project develops)
Timeframe: The pilot runs from March – October 2023
Location: Exeter – the role will involve a mixture of desk-based home-working and in-person work across the Partner locations, with the opportunity to use the Custom House on Exeter Quay as a base.
NB: As this is a freelance position, you will be required to have your own laptop.
If you are interested in this role, please email your CV to Belinda Dillon at hello@exeterculture.com by 12noon on Monday 13 February 2023.