DISCOVERY Student Volunteering Swansea
JOB DESCRIPTION for
Volunteer Manager
Introduction
DISCOVERY is a student-run, autonomous, charitable organisation based at Swansea University.
Each year, more than 300 student volunteers deliver community-based projects to enrich the lives
of adults and children with disabilities, elderly people, those suffering mental health issues, and
refugees and asylum seekers. Some projects are directly co-ordinated by DISCOVERY, while
others are run in conjunction with outside agencies. A registered charity, DISCOVERY is one of
the oldest student voluntary organisations in the UK and it has had considerable impact on the
growth of the voluntary sector in both Swansea and Wales. In 2014, the organisation received the
Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The role of the Volunteer Manager
The Volunteer Manager role is a permanent post which will primarily be responsible for the
support, development and effectiveness of the projects, working alongside our student volunteers
and project coordinators. This will include focusing on the implementation of Good Practice and
equal access within each project and in promoting structures of support for volunteers with each
project. It is a requirement for all posts in DISCOVERY that there is a commitment to equal
opportunities and the ethos of student development through volunteering.
Accountability
The work will take its direction from the needs and demands of the projects and its volunteers.
The Volunteer Manager will be supervised and line managed by the Managing Director of
DISCOVERY. The Volunteer Manager is ultimately accountable to the Chair of the Board of
Trustees.
Working Requirements
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The Volunteer Manager will be expected to work a 37 hour week, which may include weekends
and evening visits to projects.
Time off in lieu will be given for hours worked over, to be taken by arrangement with the Line
Manager, ideally within two weeks.
Annual leave entitlement is generally taken outside of term times and in accordance with
DISCOVERY policy. The annual leave entitlement for this post is 35 days including bank
holidays
Duties of the Volunteer Manager
Supporting Projects
1. Give advice, information and practical support to projects and volunteers where needed, and
to be generally available to the volunteers on a day-to-day basis.
2. Work with the students to facilitate the Project Co-ordinators’ Forum, giving advice where
appropriate.
3. Assist with any planning, training or information as needed for Trustees, Project Co-ordinators
and volunteers.
4. With Project Co-ordinator and volunteers, evaluate the aims of the projects and the systems
within their projects for placement, support, training etc., in line with DISCOVERY’s policies.
Identify areas of development with the Project Coordinators.
5. Liaising with relevant organisations and individuals within the local community on a routine
basis with particular regard to the projects, and maintain positive relationships with project
partners.
6. Ensure that our projects are having a tangible, measurable benefit to the people who need
them most.
Recruitment
7. Assist with the recruitment of volunteers, promoting new volunteering opportunities to new and
potential volunteers
8. Support volunteers through the recruitment process, induction training and background checks
9. Be available to provide advice and support for new volunteers where possible and refer on to
Project Co-ordinators where appropriate.
Administration
1. Ensure the availability and accessibility of information within DISCOVERY, including project
activity and local contacts.
2. Ensure that key documentation is up to date and relevant.
3. Assist with the production of newsletters, leaflets, handbooks and other publicity material
including reports where necessary, to deadlines.
4. Provide general support in the DISCOVERY office as needed.
Staff
1. To contribute to the maintenance of a safe, healthy and productive working environment by
being an active member of the staff team, responding to staff commitments and priorities, as
required.
2. To attend staff meetings and keep accurate records of time-keeping.
Person Specification:
Essential Criteria:
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Excellent interpersonal skills, able to engage effectively with people from a variety of
backgrounds
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Proven organisational skills and accurate record keeping
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Commitment to equal opportunities
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Demonstrate experience of supporting, motivating and mentoring volunteers to deliver
desired outcomes
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Experience of facilitating, organising and delivering training sessions and discussion
groups
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Experience of carrying out monitoring and evaluation to determine evidenced outcomes
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Ability to manage own workload and initiate new work where appropriate
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Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with project partners
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Knowledge of health and safety and the ability to identify risks
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Competent It and written communication skills
Desirable Criteria:
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Experience in community development work
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Experience of running activities with vulnerable groups
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Ability to drive, with a clean UK driving licence
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Ability to speak Welsh
Further information
For further details, please visit the DISCOVERY webpages at www.swansea.ac.uk/discovery. For
further information about the role, please contact Discovery on 01792 295743 or email Morgan at
m.clark@swansea.ac.uk.