Volunteer Programme Development Lead - Volunteer in Manchester

Supporting inclusive practice and positive volunteer experiences. We rely on volunteers to deliver our programmes. As our activities grow, we want to make volunteering more welcoming, supportive and rewarding. This opportunity lets you shape an inclusive volunteer programme that enhances support, boosts volunteer experience and expands our impact.

What difference will you make? Our mission is to overcome poverty by empowering people and nurturing sustainable communities. We do this by providing personalised support to people experiencing multiple deprivations, including employability skills, health and fitness activities, social inclusion and active citizenship. Volunteers are central to delivering this work and extending our reach into the communities we serve.

Strengthening our foundations. As our programmes continue to grow, volunteering has become an increasingly important part of how we reach people, respond to need and create opportunities that improve community wellbeing. This role will help ensure volunteering is supported by clear, consistent and inclusive foundations so it continues to contribute effectively to our mission. By strengthening how volunteering is organised, your contribution will increase our organisational capacity and resilience. Clearer ways of working will make it easier for staff and volunteers to work together effectively, reducing pressure across the organisation. This means less time spent navigating uncertainty or gaps and more time focused on delivering meaningful, high-quality support through our programmes.

Supporting inclusion and participation. Your work will help us become a more inclusive and accessible organisation. Improving how volunteering is structured and supported will help remove barriers to participation and create opportunities for a wider range of people to get involved. This means our volunteer community can better reflect the communities we serve, strengthening trust, connection and relevance, and ensuring our work is shaped by diverse voices, experiences and perspectives.

Enabling sustainable growth. A robust volunteer programme will allow us to respond more flexibly to the changing needs of our communities. With stronger foundations in place, we can adapt as our activities grow or change, while ensuring volunteers are supported to contribute safely and confidently. That increased organisational resilience supports sustainable growth and ensures that community impact is not constrained by capacity gaps behind the scenes.

Increasing impact. Ultimately, your contribution will help us deliver higher-quality community support and reach more people. Volunteers who feel valued, supported and clear about their role are more likely to stay involved and make a lasting difference. By strengthening how volunteering underpins our work, you will play a meaningful part in tackling the root causes of poverty and exclusion, helping more people participate fully in community life and reach their potential.

What are we looking for? We’re looking for someone with relevant professional experience who enjoys working at a strategic level and turning insight into clear, practical outputs. This role suits someone who is comfortable working independently on a defined project and motivated by strengthening how volunteering works in a growing organisation. You don’t need prior knowledge of our organisation, but you should be confident reviewing existing approaches, identifying improvements and designing solutions that are realistic for a small charity to use and sustain.

• We’re particularly interested in volunteers with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Volunteer management, people management or organisational operations
• Developing strategies, policies, frameworks or practical guidance
• Reviewing systems or processes and recommending improvements
• Contributing to organisational change or improvement projects
• Supporting inclusive practice and positive volunteer experiences
• Delivering outcomes through project or programme work

The qualities we’re looking for include:

• A structured and practical approach to problem‑solving
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively
• An inclusive mindset and commitment to positive volunteer experiences
• Confidence engaging with staff and volunteers to gather insight and shape solutions

Our ideal volunteer is thoughtful and organised, with the ability to balance strategic thinking with practical delivery. You’ll be comfortable making recommendations, documenting your work clearly, and helping others understand and adopt improved ways of working.

What will you be doing? You will lead a time‑bound project to design the foundations of a clear, effective and inclusive volunteer programme. This strategic role is about strengthening how volunteering works across our activities and improving the experience for people who give their time and skills to support our community work.

Below is an overview of the key responsibilities and outcomes you will lead:

• Review And Map Our Current Volunteer Experience:

• Reviewing how volunteers find opportunities, apply, are onboarded, supported and recognised
• Identifying strengths, gaps and drop‑off points in the current approach
• Highlighting priority risks or areas where a clearer structure would have the greatest impact
• Using what you learn to inform the new volunteer framework

• Shape standards and direction:

• Help shape a simple volunteer approach and practical guidance that reflect our mission and values
• Define clear, proportionate standards for recruitment, onboarding, support and recognition
• Ensure the programme feels inclusive, purposeful and centred on volunteer wellbeing

• Build the volunteer programme framework:

• Sets out the main stages of the volunteer journey
• Clarifies who supports volunteers at key points
• Works well for different types of volunteering roles

• Create practical tools and resources:

• Role description templates
• Recruitment and screening tools
• Onboarding checklists and induction outlines
• Volunteer check‑in or supervision templates
• Guidance on peer support or buddy arrangements
• Simple approaches to volunteer recognition and appreciation

• Recommend tracking and implementation:

• Suggest what information can be collected to understand volunteer engagement and experience
• Recommend a simple, proportionate approach to reviewing this information
• Create a clear implementation plan with priorities and next steps
• Help ensure the framework and tools are easy to use and sustainable after the project ends

Throughout the project, you will work with staff and current volunteers to shape outputs that are practical, useful and grounded in real volunteer experiences.