(Salary Band D1 - In line with SUBU’s pay framework, new employees are appointed at the lower end of the salary band).
Purpose of Role
The Volunteering and Skills Coordinator role sits within the Student Opportunities Department at SUBU. The department is responsible for offering a wide range of extra-curricular activities to Bournemouth University students, supporting engagement beyond academic study. The role of the Volunteering and Skills Coordinator focuses specifically on coordinating the provision for volunteering and skills development opportunities at SUBU, ensuring that students seeking ways to develop personally and/or professionally are supported with this.
This role will play a key role in supporting the delivery of the SUBU Strategy, specifically around the themes of volunteering and employability skills. This will be achieved by the post holder’s support of student-led projects and events, also aiding in the delivery of relevant training, presentations, and promotional activities, drawing connections between employability and the wider SUBU activity offer. This role will support students to develop and articulate essential skills that will be transferable to their chosen career pathway including core competencies such as communication, leadership, and entrepreneurship. This will be achieved by collaboration with students and key stakeholders such as BU Careers, other BU and SUBU Departments, and external partners. The post holder will support University wide initiatives that provide opportunities for students to develop and articulate these transferable employability skills.
The role requires comprehensive technical understanding to support the maintenance and development of the online SUBU Volunteering Hub. Ensuring that the platform maintains quality user experience, the opportunities available are diverse and from a wide variety of charity partners. The position will develop the working relationship between SUBU and charity partners both locally and nationally to maintain high quality opportunities for students. Maintenance of the Hub will also include the facilitation of the annual SUBU Volunteering Award scheme to recognise student participation in the programme.
The Volunteering and Skills Coordinator is responsible for the administration of all processes and procedures, including the specific policies required to effectively manage and develop the volunteering offer, including maintaining accurate records of Charity documentation and activity risk assessments. This role will also require keeping an up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation for the effective management of volunteers.
This post holder will also facilitate in person activities which aim to activate students into the broader volunteering offer. This will include one off volunteering activities such as litter picks and micro-volunteering. The post holder will also facilitate larger one-off events and campaigns, such as National Student Volunteering Week, to raise awareness of the Volunteering programme at SUBU, the opportunities available and the benefits of participation. This role will also support students to facilitate fundraising activities on campus where required.
Key Tasks
- Administration Duties: email and diary management, and administrative procedures relating to volunteering, event management, training, health and safety and record keeping.
- Communication Duties: verbal and written communication with stakeholders, students, SUBU staff, Full-time Officers, University staff, and other external contacts, through multiple platforms.
- Organisational Duties: support the organisation and running of the department, prompting staff and students for input into various matters and development activities throughout the year.
- Data Duties: maintain and manage various records and information systems.
- Project Duties: coordinate and administer a variety of projects, campaigns, activities, or initiatives as directed by students and Full-time Officers.
- Analytical Duties: Collect feedback formally and informally to review and update processes to enhance engagement and reduce barriers to participation.
- Key Union Events Duties: when required, assist with the promotion, organisation and administration of key departmental activities and larger Union events such as Freshers, Summer Ball, Student Awards.
- Advice and Guidance Duties: Support student, Union and Officer projects, campaigns, and events, and assist student volunteers with learning & development in their roles where applicable.
- Mentoring Duties: Organise, create, and deliver training for student organisers where applicable.
- Welfare Support: Act as a key signposting body for student support and wellbeing resources available through SUBU, BU, and relevant external organisations.
- Financial Duties: Monitor event and campaign budgets as part of the Student Opportunities Department budget as well as oversee the inventory process for Department assets.
- Strategic Duties: Contribute to and implement operational plans and departmental objectives.
- Reviewing & Evaluation Duties: Assist in reviewing current processes and sector best practice to support the continuous improvement and development of student opportunities.
- Engagement duties: Encourage student engagement, ensuring that the functions of the Union have a strong presence on campus.
- Networking Duties: Collaborate closely with colleagues within the department, Union Officers, other Student Engagement Departments, other SUBU teams, contacts in BU, and external organisations.
- Compliance Duties: maintain accurate risk management and partner organisation records including accident reporting.
General for all staff
- Key Union Events Duties: Proactively assist with the organisation and administration of Union events such as Fresher’s Fair and the Summer Ball.
- Staff must always adopt and endorse the company’s strategy and values as well as all supporting policies, across all aspects of the role.
- Participate in training, meetings or conferences considered relevant to their job with agreed Personal Development plan.
- Carry out your duties with full regard to the rules, policies and procedures and conditions of service contained in the staff handbook.
- Abide by the organisation's policies and procedures.
- Adhere to all health and safety legislation.
- SUBU is committed to promoting, educating, and taking direct action on environmental sustainability. All SUBU employees are expected to integrate environmental sustainability values and action into their role where feasible.
- To undertake any other task that is deemed reasonable within your skill set.
Person Specification
- Effective administration with ability to deliver multiple tasks.
- Responsive to changing demands.
- Excellent communication (verbal and written) skills.
- Self- Motivated
- Leadership skills, ability to deliver training to a diverse group of people.
- Learning and Development Skills
- Empathy and emotional intelligence
SUBU is committed to becoming a more inclusive and diverse organisation that better represents the student communities we serve. This commitment to inclusivity is one of our core organisational values. Being a diverse organisation includes ensuring people from marginalised communities are involved in decision-making processes at all levels within SUBU. We therefore encourage applications from individuals from the following communities: People from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, People with Disabilities, People of marginalised genders, LGBTQIA+ individuals. All submitted applications are anonymised as part of our application process and appointments are made based on skills and competencies.
Applicants must have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom at the time of application. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship or support visa applications for this role. Proof of eligibility to work in the UK will be required during the recruitment process for the successful candidate, in accordance with UK right-to-work legislation.