JOB DESCRIPTION
Job title:
Evaluation Officer (Volunteer Programme)
The post has an England wide responsibility.
SALARY:
HOURS:
ANNUAL LEAVE:
PENSION:
RESPONSIBLE TO:
POST BASED AT:
DURATION OF CONTRACT:
£26,291 - £29,640 (inclusive of Inner London Weighting)
35 per week.
25 days +3 days to be taken at Christmas when office closes
5% salary contribution to Group Personal Pension
Head of Volunteering
London SE1
Fixed term contract until June 2015
BACKGROUND
Social action and volunteering are the backbone of Carers UK. We have several volunteer
programmes, such as carers groups, local Ambassadors listening support over the phone
and peer support through our online forum – all helping to reach and support carers. Backing
from NESTA and the Cabinet Office will allow us to create an integrated programme, with an
expanded staff team and an infrastructure that will deliver richly rewarding experiences for
our volunteers.
Working with staff across the organisation who support volunteers, the role of Evaluation
Officer will put in place effective monitoring and evaluation systems, with simple ways for
volunteers to record their activity that will help us measure outcomes arising from the
volunteer programme’s theory of change as well as the effectiveness of our services.
This job description gives an outline of the main duties of this post. It does not form part of
the contract of employment and will be further shaped by the Head of Volunteering, a new
post leading a restructured and expanded team which will assist in delivering a new
volunteer strategy as we seek to build a programme of national significance.
AIMS OF THE POST
1. Develop and maintain effective systems for the monitoring and evaluation of
Carers UK’s volunteer programme to demonstrate its impact
2. Provide help, advice, training and support for volunteers and staff on monitoring
and evaluation
3. Analyse the output of evaluation and assist in presentation of the findings to a
variety of internal and external audiences
DUTIES
Monitoring and evaluation
1. Assist the Head of Volunteering to develop the theory of change for the volunteer
programme
2. Work closely with the Head of Volunteering and colleagues across the charity to
design a participatory monitoring and evaluation framework that supports our
theory of change and meets the needs of Carers UK and other stakeholders,
including key funders
3. Ensure that staff and volunteers meet the data quality standards through a
training and support programme for staff and volunteers
4. Liaise with staff and volunteers to achieve submission of required data
5. Design new and identify and draw on existing questionnaires, surveys, and other
appropriate tools to carry out ongoing evaluation of the quality and impact of the
volunteer programme
Presenting analysis and production of reports
6. Analyse data and assist the Head of Volunteering and other colleagues in
preparation of reports for internal and external audiences, or in the production of
funding applications and bids
7. Work with relevant colleagues to disseminate evaluation and research findings –
for example, by making presentations and facilitating informal learning sessions
for staff
Other duties
8. Liaise with and assist external evaluators with their requirements
9. Assist in identification of case studies
10. Ensure data is integrated with Carers UK systems and processes, including our
CRM
11. Attend staff meetings and Carers UK staff conferences as directed
12. Promote diversity and equality and work at all times in accordance with Carers UK’s
values, policies and procedures
13. Reasonably undertake any other duties as required by the line manager that are
commensurate with the level of the post.
14. There will be a requirement to travel from time to time to locations across the UK
15. There may be a need to work out of hours from time to time
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
Experience
1. Demonstrable experience of both qualitative and quantitative social research
techniques, preferably in the charity or similar sector
2. Demonstrable experience in training and support and/or volunteers or similar to
understand and use monitoring and evaluation tools and processes
3. Experience of developing, maintaining and manipulating databases and using
other analytical tools for research purposes
Knowledge
4. Good knowledge of the charity and/or volunteering sector (desirable)
5. Knowledge of participatory monitoring and evaluation systems and best practice
6. Good knowledge of theory of change model and its application
Skills and Abilities
7. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to support and manage relationships
with a large number of volunteers both remotely and face to face, as well as
internal and external stakeholders, including being first point of contact with an
external evaluation contractor
8. Ability to empathise and develop an understanding of the needs of carers and
the motivations and needs of volunteers who have or have had caring experience
themselves and how these affect this role
9. Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to present evidence that will help
improve quality and performance of the volunteer programme
10. Ability to work independently and as part of a small team
11. Excellent organisation, prioritising and planning skills in order to manage and
prioritise workload
12. Discretion and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive information
appropriately
13. Ability to take initiative, be self-motivating and work collaboratively
14. Strong IT literacy and familiarity with data analysis software such as SPSS, Stata
and/or similar as well as spreadsheets, databases and other software packages
15. Excellent communications skills, proven both in writing and verbally
16. Ability to travel as required from time to time
17. An understanding of and commitment to equality and diversity
18. An empathy with the values and culture of the organisation
Desirable
1. Knowledge of health and social care research, surveys and measurement tools
2. Experience of using and adapting online platforms that allow simple data capture