Volunteer Development Assistant

RESPONSIBILITIES: Coordinate annual calendar of volunteer training events · Work in partnership with the Volunteer Development Manager to understand volunteer recruitment needs across services and the wider team. · Liaise with services teams to plan and develop the calendar of volunteer training events, both in person and virtual. · Manage relationships with training venues ensuring desired dates are secured early in line with event requirements and budgets. · Proactively research new training venues which meet accessibility requirements. · Work with team members taking a lead on volunteer training delivery to ensure all training materials are up to date and relevant training packs/goodie boxes are distributed to trainees. · Liaise with trainees to ensure confirmation paperwork is completed in a timely manner and needs relevant to training are met. · Keep accurate records and maintain database records to ensure services teams are kept up to date with trainee information and any changes to event attendance. · Circulate post-training communications to help ensure new volunteers are onboarded in a timely manner. · Collect and distribute feedback from trainees to ensure quality of delivery is maintained to a high standard. · Lead, sustain and develop strong and effective working relationships across the Back Up team. Manage volunteer applications and requests · Work with Volunteer Development Manager to ensure application process is kept up to date and is easily accessible to prospective volunteers. · Liaise with potential volunteers, following up on expressions of interest, providing triage, answering queries and providing information relating to roles which may be relevant and of interest to encourage applications. · Maintain database records ensuring swift distribution of applications to services team · Support the Volunteer Development Manager to identify areas of potential efficiency and improvement in working practices in the recruitment, training and onboarding processes. · Work across the wider team to understand and support volunteer requests, proactively approaching active volunteers with projects and opportunities for them to get involved. · Coordinate volunteer request opportunities with volunteers and volunteer managers to ensure requests are fulfilled to raise awareness of Back Up’s services. Other duties and responsibilities · Maintaining accurate records on the database, adhering to all relevant policies and procedures. · Be a ‘Data Champion’, leading by example on the importance of good data practice and hygiene, and using the system to its best efficiency. · Raise awareness of volunteer opportunities via external websites e.g. GoVo, NHS Volunteering. · Work as a team, consulting with others to ensure you give and receive high quality support. · Other duties as required by the Volunteer Development Manager. PERSON SPECIFICATION Essential: · Excellent planning skills and disciplines with demonstrated experience in the management and coordination of tasks and events. · Highly organised. Able to manage time effectively to balance competing priorities. · Excellent interpersonal skills, tact and diplomacy to relate positively to stakeholders and promote good relationships. · Ability to communicate confidently with people at all levels. · Exceptional skills and confidence in the use of a range of computer software and database solutions. · Able to build constructive positive relationships with external and internal contacts to achieve results. · A commitment to quality with an eye for detail, excellent written, verbal and presentation skills · Highly computer literate and a competent user of charity fundraising databases; able to generate reports for analysis · Strong team working orientation; collaborative, flexible and supportive · A creative and proactive approach to all areas of work · Ability to represent Back Up appropriately to service users, senior managers and members across partner agencies. · Knowledge acquired through experience or training. · Commitment to continued professional development. · Willing and able to work occasional evenings and weekends and to travel when required Desirable: · Experience of managing projects · Personal experience of spinal cord injury and the issues affecting people · Understanding of spinal cord injury and/or disability issues