Volunteer Coordinator

Help Build and Support an Exceptional Volunteer Community

Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do at Norwich Samaritans.

Every day our volunteers provide emotional support to people who need someone to listen. They also help deliver our fundraising activities, retail operations, outreach work and branch leadership. As we continue to grow and develop, we are looking for a passionate and proactive Volunteer Coordinator to help us attract, recruit, support and retain the volunteers who make our work possible.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in shaping the volunteer experience and helping Norwich Samaritans achieve its ambition of building a diverse, engaged and sustainable volunteer community.

Role Overview

As Volunteer Coordinator, you will lead the coordination of volunteer recruitment, onboarding, engagement and retention activities across the branch.

Working closely with the Directors for Recruitment, Selection and Training, the Branch Director, Operations Manager and volunteer teams, you will help ensure that every volunteer receives a positive and well-supported experience from their first enquiry through to long-term involvement with the branch.

You will coordinate recruitment campaigns and events, manage volunteer onboarding processes, support volunteer training and development, maintain volunteer records and systems, and help develop initiatives that strengthen volunteer engagement and retention.

The role will also play a key part in monitoring volunteer data and supporting the delivery of the branch’s volunteer strategy and organisational objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate volunteer recruitment activities, campaigns and events.
• Manage volunteer enquiries and act as a welcoming first point of contact for prospective volunteers.
• Organise volunteer information sessions, interviews and selection events.
• Coordinate onboarding processes, references, DBS checks and volunteer documentation.
• Maintain volunteer records, databases and recruitment systems.
• Support volunteer training programmes and progression pathways.
• Coordinate volunteer engagement, recognition and retention initiatives.
• Support Care Bubble administration and volunteer support processes.
• Produce volunteer recruitment, retention and training reports and statistics.
• Identify opportunities to improve volunteer systems, processes and experiences.
• Work collaboratively with volunteer leaders and teams to support delivery of the branch’s strategic objectives.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Is passionate about volunteering and community engagement.
• Has excellent organisational and administrative skills.
• Enjoys building relationships and supporting people.
• Has strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Can coordinate multiple priorities and projects effectively.
• Is proactive, self-motivated and solution focused.
• Has experience of working with databases and IT systems.
• Can handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately.

Experience in volunteer management, recruitment, community engagement, training coordination, HR administration or the charity sector would be advantageous, although we welcome applications from candidates with transferable skills and relevant experience.

Benefits

• Opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the local community.
• Flexible and supportive working environment.
• Ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Opportunity to work alongside a dedicated team of staff and volunteers.
• The chance to shape and improve the volunteer experience across Norwich Samaritans.

If you are passionate about supporting volunteers and want to play a key role in helping Norwich Samaritans grow and thrive, we would love to hear from you.

If you are excited by this opportunity but do not meet every requirement, we would still encourage you to apply. We recognise that skills and experience can be gained in a variety of settings and are committed to recruiting on potential as well as experience.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Anna McNeil at vacancies@norwichsams.org.uk.

Norwich Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to making our recruitment processes accessible to everyone and are flexible in how we receive information. If you would like to apply in a different format or discuss any adjustments that would support you during the recruitment process, please contact us and we will be happy to help.

How to apply

To apply, download from below the following documents:

Role Description: Job Description and Person Specification.

Volunteer Coordinator Application Form.

Please refer carefully to the Job Description and Person Specification when completing your application.

CVs will not be accepted.

All completed applications should be sent to vacancies@norwichsams.org.uk with the subject line: Volunteer Coordinator – Job Application

We review applications on a rolling basis, and the role may close earlier than advertised if we find our ideal match. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you soon.

Downloads

• Application Form
• Role Description