Volunteers Manager

This role has a starting salary of £38,746 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week.

We are excited to be hiring a new Volunteers Manager to join our fantastic Community Safety Team within the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service. The team based in Reigate.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Team

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service is dedicated to protecting life, property and the environment by providing emergency response, regulatory compliance and community education. We do this by working together with highly skilled professionals and committed volunteers to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents and their properties.

About the Role

In this role, you will be responsible for overseeing the end-to-end management of our volunteer program, playing a crucial role in the recruitment, training, and retention of volunteers who contribute to our mission of safeguarding our communities.

To be successful, you will have experience of managing people with the ability to engage volunteers. You will have experience of working in a multi-agency environment and developing partnerships. You will act as a role model for volunteers and an ambassador for our Service, always conducting yourself professionally, with high standards of personal integrity and accountability. You will need to be solutions-focused, adaptable, flexible, resilient, and capable of managing multiple tasks in evolving environments.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead on the development, implementation and evaluation of an inclusive volunteer scheme which reflects our Core Code of Ethics.
• Manage the practicalities of the scheme, including policies, procedures, standards, and budget.
• Build, develop and deliver training input for our volunteers and wider staff colleagues (at all levels).
• Ensure that all activities and events are developed and conducted in line with health, safety and safeguarding guidelines, and complete risk assessments as required.
• Management of Volunteers Coordinator, overseeing volunteer schedules and ensuring appropriate coverage for various non-operational support and administrative tasks.
• Regularly evaluate volunteer performance, quality assurance and provision of constructive feedback to enhance capabilities and engagement. As such the manager will also be deliver services alongside volunteers, such as Safe and Well Visits, prevention campaigns, service open days and external events.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation of key data and achievements.
• Act as a liaison between volunteers and organisational leadership, ensuring effective communication and feedback channels.
• Networking and research to stay current with industry best practices and trends in volunteer management - to use this understanding when implement relevant strategies to enhance the program's effectiveness.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:

• Previous experience in volunteer management or a related role (this could be within the non-profit sector, emergency services sector or other related areas) with knowledge of volunteer management software systems and databases to streamline processes and maintain accurate records.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a diverse team.
• Excellent organisational abilities and attention to detail, ensuring a smooth experience for our teams.
• Proven ability to develop and implement effective recruiting and retention strategies.
• Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to work and think independently to problem solve.
• Understanding of the fire and rescue service sector and a passion for community safety.

If you are seeking a meaningful role where you can make a lasting impact on the safety and well-being of your community, we invite you to apply for this position.

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 26/02/2024 with interviews planned for 04/03/2024.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.

We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.