Volunteer manager, volunteer coordinator

Wake-Up Call with the participation of five countries in the Central and East European region between November 2014 and April 2016: The Volunteer Manager Role project26 examined the volunteer coordinator position. The project participants (Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Latvia and Romania) agreed on the need to improve the quality of volunteer management activities.

As a result of the project, a number of tools have been developed that can provide practical assistance to those working in the field:

• the professional profile of the volunteer manager,
• quality standards for volunteer management,
• training topics for volunteer coordinators,
• tools for validating the competencies of volunteer managers.

Details of the project results are available on the Volunteering Hungary – Centre of Social Innovation’s website (www.oka.hu).

The aim of the volunteer manager position is:

The Volunteer Manager is responsible for the overall management of volunteer tasks in the organisation. The Volunteer Manager proposes strategic approaches to volunteers within the organisation, oversees the involvement of volunteers in the organisation, assures the quality of the volunteer management process, guides volunteers, and guides collaboration between volunteers and all external and internal stakeholders of the company (company management, beneficiaries, partners, collaborators, decision makers, donors, and the media), and is responsible for documenting and promoting volunteer collaboration and recognition for the organisation’s goals.

Skills and competences of a volunteer manager:

• is able to manage and coordinate projects,
• has administrative and IT expertise,
• has financial and economic awareness,
• is able to keep information confidential and is responsive to problems,
• is able to keep records and prepare accurate written and oral reports,
• is able to cooperate with different sectors and establish relationships with other organisations,
• can guide others and influence them positively,
• can inspire and motivate others,
• is empathetic and understands the needs of others,
• can handle different types of people,
• has creativity and innovation skills,
• is able to work in a team and support teamwork,
• is able to work independently,
• is able to solve and analyse problems,
• is easy to adapt and is flexible,
• has flexible and non-judgmental attitude towards people and work,
• has organisational skills and ability to handle different tasks,
• has sophisticated oral and written skills, ability to express himself clearly,
• has presentation skills,
• has decision-making ability,
• has negotiating ability.

 

This article based on the following document: This article based on the following document: Practical Guide for the Establishment and Operation of Volunteer Programmes at Institutions : abridged English version