You are here : Volunteer Project Management Role with the Voluntary Service Community Placement Scheme
Voluntary Service Community Placement Scheme
Role Outline for Project Manager (a volunteer role)
Important dates:
Projected start of the role: end January 2010
Closing date for interest: Friday 8th January 2010
Interviews conducted: Friday 15th January 2010.
Applications of interest should be submitted by Friday, 8th January 2010 in the form of a letter and a two-page CV relevant to this role.
Applications should be addressed to: Voluntary Service Community Placement Scheme c/o The Wheel, Irish Social Finance Centre, 10 grattan Crescent, Inchicore, Dublin 8 Or by email to: eva@wheel.ie
Background
The organisations and initiatives listed at the end of the Appendix to this document have come together to set up a Voluntary Service Community Placement scheme. This has received a positive response from the leading relevant Departments within Government and a plan for the roll out of a pilot is currently being developed.
As the lion’s share of the work will have to be carried out in varying degrees by the partners, it has been agreed to implement this project in the spirit of its intended purpose, i.e. harnessing voluntary activity for the benefit of a project as well as for the individual volunteer.Therefore it is planned that the pilot initiative will be designed, developed and implemented by a volunteer ‘secretariat’ working under the direction of an advisory group made up of the voluntary sector and statutory sector stakeholders.
The first volunteer to be recruited will take on a project management function and work with the advisory group to develop and implement the project implementation plan.
Overall Project Objectives
The objectives of the overall scheme are twofold:
- To provide people with specialist skills who are unemployed with an opportunity to practice and develop their skills, acquire new ones and maintain confidence during this unprecedented period of unemployment in Ireland.
- To provide community and voluntary groups working on the ground in communities across Ireland with additional specialist resources and the ability to maximise the opportunity.
- The project outline can be read in detail in the “Voluntary Service Community Placement Scheme” document, enclosed as an attachment in Appendix A.
Responsibilities of the Project Manager
- The Project Manager will at all times work under the direction of the Advisory Group and their main responsibilities are:
- To develop an implementation plan for a pilot programme.
- To identify additional skills and experiences required within the secretariat to complete the implementation plan and to work with the advisory group to involve people with those skills in this project:
- Project management skills in relation to either regional or national programmes (in any sector).
- Experience in coordinating work with multiple stakeholders in a consensus-oriented decision-making culture.
- Track record in developing and rolling out a national marketing and communications campaign.
Recruitment and training experience
- Ensure that relevant templates are drafted for roles within voluntary organisations that are to be targeted.
- Draft appropriate applications forms for both volunteer applicants as well as potential voluntary organisation participants.
- Assist in the design of an appropriate communications strategy and marketing materials for the pilot and subsequently for the main implementation of the project.
- Liaise with relevant contacts in targeted social welfare officers regarding rolling out of the pilot.
- Coordinate the running of the workshops and any relevant training required under the programme.
- Develop an appropriate tracking system for volunteers and participant organisations so that information can be collected over the placement period as well as post-placement.
- On the basis of the learnings from the pilot, recommend amendments to any of the programme elements, as necessary to get ready for a national roll-out.
- The project Manager will need to develop and maintain positive professional relationships with colleagues, community and voluntary organisations and a range of statutory agencies in pursuit of the interests of this project. She/he will need to work in such a way as to encourage the best from, and support the efforts of, others.
Time Requirement:
As per the scope of the actual volunteer placements, the Project Manager role will require the equivalent of a three day week over a six month period. This will ensure the full design and roll out of the pilot as well as the adaptation for a possible full national roll out.
Responsibility and authority:
The Project Manager will be accountable to the Advisory Group. The main contact person for support and supervision will be Deirdre Garvey, Chief Executive Officer with The Wheel. It is envisaged that the secretariat will comprise of between two and five people, depending on the skills and experience available to the project and the Project Manager will be the lead contact person from within the Secretariat.
Remuneration:
This role is unpaid, as all the roles in the secretariat are, although all legitimate expenses incurred by the role-holder will be reimbursed. In addition, a small stipend equivalent to €10 per day to contribute to travel-to-work as well as lunchtime expenses will be paid. This role and all members of the secretariat will be the founding ‘graduates’ of this new National Voluntary Service Community Placement Scheme and will be recognised as such.
Workplace:
A desk, computer, phone etc will be made available in The Wheel office in Inchicore, Dublin 8. There is flexibility about whether s/he wishes to work from home for some of the week or not and that can be discussed.
Experience Required
As per the scope of the actual volunteer placements, the Project Manager role will require the equivalent of a three day week over a six month period. This will ensure the full design and roll out of the pilot as well as the adaptation for a possible full national roll out.
Responsibility and authority:
The Project Manager will be accountable to the Advisory Group. The main contact person for support and supervision will be Deirdre Garvey, Chief Executive Officer with The Wheel. It is envisaged that the secretariat will comprise of between two and five people, depending on the skills and experience available to the project and the Project Manager will be the lead contact person from within the Secretariat.
Remuneration:
This role is unpaid, as all the roles in the secretariat are, although all legitimate expenses incurred by the role-holder will be reimbursed. In addition, a small stipend equivalent to €10 per day to contribute to travel-to-work as well as lunchtime expenses will be paid. This role and all members of the secretariat will be the founding ‘graduates’ of this new National Voluntary Service Community Placement Scheme and will be recognised as such.
Workplace:
A desk, computer, phone etc will be made available in The Wheel office in Inchicore, Dublin 8. There is flexibility about whether s/he wishes to work from home for some of the week or not and that can be discussed.
Experience Required
- At least seven years experience (paid or voluntary) in a project management role.
- Track record in development and implementation of projects from pre-start-up phase through to completion.
- Experience in coordinating work with multiple stakeholders in a consensus-oriented decision-making culture.
- People management experience (for paid or unpaid staff).
- Track record at writing and production of information and advice vehicles, e.g. newsletters, web content, other communications materials.
- Track record in working with a marketing and communications campaign.
Skills and Aptitudes Required
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Excellent organisational skills.
- Demonstrable ability to work to deadlines in planning, actioning and writing.
- Demonstrable ability to relate to people from diverse backgrounds and provide leadership in team and project work settings.
- Ability to use standard computer software for word processing spreadsheets and databases.
- Excellent meeting-management and people skills.
- Commitment to and understanding of working within a voluntary organisation in an inclusive manner.
- High motivation, positive disposition and flexible attitude.
For more information see the attached PDF.
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