Are you a motivated and passionate individual looking to make a difference?
DEBRA is recruiting for a Volunteer Lead Co-Ordinator to join our friendly and supportive Head Office Team, on a Part Time Contract, working a contract of 21 hours per week, earning a salary of £19,200-£21,600 per annum. This role is based in our Head Office, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 8FZ (Office Based).
About DEBRA
We are a National Charity that supports individuals and families affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) – a painful genetic skin blistering condition which, in the worst cases, can be fatal.
What we are looking for in our Volunteer Lead Co-Ordinator
The Volunteer Lead Co-ordinator is responsible for leading and developing DEBRA’s volunteer coordination function, ensuring a consistent, high-quality, and inclusive volunteer experience across the organisation. The role will drive effective volunteer recruitment, onboarding, engagement, and retention processes, supporting the charity to maximise the impact of its volunteer community in delivering its mission.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Work in close partnership with Retail Area Managers to align volunteer activity with retail performance priorities and operational needs.
- Support Area Managers in achieving key retail KPIs by ensuring appropriate volunteer availability, capability, and deployment across shops (e.g. shop coverage, processing capacity, and customer experience).
- Provide insight and support to Area Managers on volunteer-related performance trends, including recruitment pipeline, onboarding timelines, and retention levels, enabling proactive workforce planning.
- Collaborate with Area Managers to identify gaps in volunteer provision and implement targeted recruitment and engagement campaigns to address shortfalls.
- Act as a trusted advisor to Area Managers and shop teams, offering guidance on best practice in volunteer management, engagement and performance.
- Ensure clear communication and alignment between the Volunteering function and retail operations, supporting consistent delivery of volunteering processes across all locations.
- Work closely with central teams to ensure a joined-up approach to the volunteer experience and organisational priorities.
- Build external partnerships where appropriate to support volunteer attraction and community engagement.
Volunteer Recruitment & Onboarding
- Oversee the end-to-end volunteer recruitment process, including expressions of interest, application completion, reference checks and onboarding.
- Ensure efficient coordination of taster sessions & placements in partnership with retail and central operation teams.
- Monitor recruitment pipelines and proactively address gaps in volunteer capacity across locations.
Performance & Insight
- Responsible for tracking and reporting on key volunteering metrics including recruitment volumes, onboarding timescales, retention and attrition.
- Use data and insight to inform decision-making and drive improvements in the volunteer journey.
- Provide regular updates to senior leadership on volunteering performance and risks.
Volunteer Experience & Engagement
- Ensure volunteers receive a positive, inclusive and engaging experience from first contact through to ongoing involvement.
- Develop and implement initiatives to enhance volunteer engagement, recognition and retention.
- Promote a culture where volunteers feel valued, supported and connected to DEBRA’s mission and impact.
Operational Process & Continuous Improvement
- Lead the continuous improvement of volunteering processes, tools and systems to enhance efficiency and consistency.
- Ensure clear communication flows between the Volunteering function & retail teams
- Develop and maintain guidance, toolkits and resources to support colleagues in effectively managing volunteers
Compliance, Safeguarding & Governance
- Ensure all volunteer-related processes align with DEBRA policies including safeguarding, health & safety, and data protection.
- Support the monitoring of mandatory training compliance and onboarding requirements.
- Act as a key point of escalation for volunteer-related issues, ensuring concerns are handled appropriately and consistently.
Person Specification Essential
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and priorities.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience of developing and improving processes and systems.
- Strong alignment with DEBRA’s values and commitment to inclusion.
Desirable
- Experience within a charity, retail or multi-site environment.
- Understanding of safeguarding and volunteer compliance requirements.
- Experience working with volunteer management systems or CRM tools.
