Volunteer Manager at FareShare South West

Our volunteers are the backbone to our operations. Right now, there are around 280 people who donate their time to FareShare South West - working together to pack vital food in the warehouses or spending the morning out on the vans, delivering to charities, food banks and schools across the region. As Volunteer Recruitment Manager, you’ll work closely with this dedicated and energetic team to manage the recruitment, retention, and development of incredible volunteers, helping support operations across our Bristol sites and getting food to where it's needed most.

​About FareShare South West

At FareShare South West, we fight food poverty by tackling food waste. As part of the national FareShare network, we source quality surplus food – from food retailers, manufacturers and suppliers, and engage volunteers to redistribute to local charities and community groups that provide meals to vulnerable people (e.g. individuals who are homeless, unemployed, socially isolated, recovering from addictions).

Key responsibilities

General Recruitment

Actively engage and promote the volunteer programme across Bristol and the South West (third sector community, social media, support services and partner organisations).

Work with the wider FSSW team to enhance volunteer recruitment and support and develop corporate volunteering shifts.

Utilise and develop new and existing processes to manage proactive recruitment and new volunteer enquiries to successful on-boarding (using a multitude of software platforms).

Develop targeted outreach programmes to increase our diversity, social impact, and community engagement.

Workforce planning

Work with the Warehouse Manager to monitor and analyse levels of volunteering against the need for optimum workforce levels for shifts/days, evenings, specific roles, and seasonal demands.

Reporting to the Warehouse Manager, Regional Manager and FSUK the volunteer activity and specific programme KPIs.

Identifying daily/weekly fluctuation in the volunteer rota and action accordingly.

With the Warehouse Manager, identify tasks/roles/needs that would inform future recruitment activity and develop and run a recruitment plan.

Retention/Support

Develop and maintain a positive and supportive volunteer programme and experience.

Take a lead on volunteer wellbeing throughout the shift and provide different levels of support to the volunteer workforce.

Work with the Warehouse Manager to identify and provide additional training to volunteers needing more support.

Analyse and monitor volunteer retention, noting positive reasons for moving on and developing strategies for poor retention.

Assisting the Warehouse Manager in volunteer 1-2-1s including discipline and development.

Administration, policies, procedures, and risk management

Supporting the Warehouse Team with the development and maintenance of volunteer-related policies, procedures, and risk assessments.

Supported by the wider FareShare South West team to ensure health and well-being of existing volunteers are supported by robust inclusion/exclusion criteria for new volunteers.

Maintenance of volunteer information and confidentiality, ensuring compliance with GDPR regulations and national policies.

Warehouse Support

Working in conjunction with the warehouse team to support the smooth running of food intake, storage, and distribution. As well as the volunteers’ health, safety, and welfare during their shift in the warehouse.

General

Line manage volunteer coordinator.

Spearhead organisational corporate volunteering drive including coordination and induction.

Ad-hoc warehouse support as per operational needs.

Respond to/answer any enquiries/communications via telephone, email, in person or via inhouse IT/systems.

Be willing to receive and engage positively with any visitors to the warehouse.

Support FareShare South West events.

Carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required in support of the main purpose of the role, including liaising with the wider FareShare South West team.

Uphold high quality customer care and standards of conduct when dealing with all stakeholders and the general public.

Person Specification

Experience - Essential

Experience of recruitment, either volunteers and/or employees

Experience of implementing policies and procedures.

Knowledge, experience, or awareness of volunteering.

Administration experience, including database and record keeping.

Experience - Desirable

Experience of supporting the pastoral care and professional development of others.

Managing and supporting volunteers and/or teams.

Experience of safe recruitment practices.

A working knowledge of the voluntary sector and/or experience of carrying out voluntary work.

Experience of working in a busy warehouse environment.

Experience of working in a food environment.

Knowledge of safeguarding vulnerable adults.

Skills & Abilities – Essential

Ability to establish and develop positive relationships with volunteers as well as a range of external partnerships.

Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with volunteers and the ability to promote the charity to a wide range of audiences.

Excellent organisational and time management skills to prioritise work, handle conflicting demands and meet tight deadlines.

Working knowledge of software packages and databases.

Ability to identify and provide support to volunteers where appropriate.

Full UK driving licence.

Skills & Abilities – Desirable

Ability to inspire and motivate volunteers across the organisation.

Ability to analyse workforce requirements and targets.

An understanding of what drives volunteers.

Personal Qualities – Essential

Excellent attention to detail.

Integrity and sensitivity to vulnerability issues and different support needs.

Enthusiasm, imagination, innovation, energy, and drive with the ability to inspire confidence both internally and externally.

High personal integrity and commitment to the charitable aims of the organisation.

Application Instructions

There is no fixed deadline for applications. We'll review applications as we receive them so may fill the role as soon as we find the right candidate.