Volunteer Development Manager

London, England, United Kingdom

12/11/2024

You will be overseeing the volunteering programme across our three London branches from a strategic and operational side as well as manage a team of Volunteer Team Leaders.

You will manage all elements of the volunteer programme across London branches: Churchill War Rooms, HMS Belfast and Lambeth Road, driving the delivery and development of all services at these sites. You will be responsible for all volunteer led activities as well as building a positive volunteer culture internally and externally. You will be expected to build partnerships within the community to explore new roles, offers and approaches to inclusive volunteering to achieve IWM’s aims and goals by involving volunteers in all we do.

You will be expected to work both independently and part of the volunteer engagement team across all our five branches. You will line manage Volunteer Team Leaders and support approx. 70 members of staff from across different departments who involve volunteers. You will also coordinate communications both up and down in order to achieve quarterly milestones and deliver key priorities of the Volunteer Engagement Strategy.

You will work with both staff and volunteers, to improve skills and confidence and ensure that they are fully trained and prepared for their role. As a champion of values and behaviours, you will promote an open and professional culture. We’re looking for someone who has experience in developing others. Grounded in the best volunteering practices, you will bring experience and a willingness to innovate.

You will use your imagination and creativity to support the Head of Volunteering & Engagement in the development and delivery of the Volunteer & Engagement Strategy and Activity plan to meet the needs of IWM.

In Addition, Your Duties Will Include

Leadership & strategic direction

• To implement the Volunteer & Engagement Strategy and Activity plan to meet the needs of IWM at your branches.
• Promote and continue to build a positive culture of engagement that values the work of IWM’s volunteers alongside staff.
• To utilise the full strength and talent of our workforce (voluntary and paid).
• Liaise with external bodies who develop and engage volunteers.
  
  

Recruitment, training and development of volunteers

• Achieve a thriving volunteer effort and excellent visitor experience by developing and running volunteer recruitment campaigns, identifying new and innovative way to increase volunteer participation, support critical IWM stakeholders with their strategic needs.
• Lead in designing and delivering Volunteer Inductions and other training programmes.
• Build and sustain relationships with local organisations, community venues, heritage partners and projects to support recruitment.
  
  

Volunteer Management Development

• To take responsibility for the effective management and leadership of the Volunteer Team Leaders, including facilitating appropriate professional development and appraisals.
• Ensure that all Volunteer Line Managers are fully trained and prepared for their agreed roles at IWM, and that they comply with IWM standards and policy.
• Developing, reviewing and maintaining departmental standards in relation to recruiting, training and overseeing the welfare and impact of volunteer and staff partnerships.
• Lead peers in training and good practice through the regional and National Volunteer forums (Heritage Volunteering GroupLondon Heritage Volunteering Group)
• Deliver presentations and workshops at local and national seminars and conferences to showcase the volunteer programme and impact.
  
  

Programme Development

• To ensure volunteer engagement continues to align closely with and underpin IWM strategic goals
• To increase volunteer participation and contribution through mutually valued opportunities and quality experiences
• Develop the volunteering programme to champion diversity within the volunteer teams
• Develop the volunteering programme as a place for people everywhere to seek us out as the place to volunteer to help make accessible, preserve and tell the stories about past conflict and contemporary world
• Develop and scale up volunteer operation in response to need and informed evidence/ feedback from critical stakeholders
• Increasing staff participation in the volunteer programme through the promotion and support and line management of volunteers
• Ensure a safe working environment for volunteers and the members of public they work with, including the development of appropriate risk assessment and ensuring compliance with IWM procedures in relation to fault reporting and necessary training
  
  

Financial Management

• To monitor your branches budgets and adhere to IWM financial procedures.
• Accurately manage and report on the budgets as relevant to your branches, this will include core Museum budgets and monies from external funders.
  
  

Measuring and Reporting on Impact and Success

• Support the Head of Volunteering to promote the dissemination of the Volunteer Programme to cultural, learning and volunteer organisations through written reports and presentations
• To monitor, evaluate and report on the impact, success and development of the Volunteer Programme at your branches ensuring that the programme delivers its objectives and audit requirements and that it is fit for purpose and its participants.
  
  

Welfare and recognition

• Act as one of the key sources of personnel and pastoral care support for volunteers, providing advice and guidance to both volunteer line managers and volunteers as may be required. We believe there is significant value in creating a culture of care in volunteer management and engagement and you would be integral to this.
• Organise regular volunteer recognition events and activities.
  
  

Flexibility is important and on occasion, there will be some weekends and evening working for which Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) is offered.

For a full person specification which your application will be scored against, please see the attached job description.