£25, 300
One year fixed term contract
Full time 
Closing date Friday 29th October 2021

General

Volition Community is a registered charity, based at the Cathedrals of Manchester and Salford, that seeks to prepare the long-term unemployed for a return to paid employment, including through structured volunteering around beekeeping, gardening, cooking and visitor welcome. The programme supports each individual on it according to their needs, including key life skills. Recently funding has been made available to assist with the inclusion of offenders released from prison.

For the programme to succeed and develop for the future, external collaboration is vital, both to secure public and private funding and to build and support partnerships with employers across Greater Manchester who can offer real-life experience, including guaranteed trial interviews and sample employment periods. The Partnership and Sustainability Coordinator will ensure that these external engagements are maintained and grown. The Volition Team takes pride in its ability to operate flexibly and supportively towards Volition volunteers and fellow members, on a programme that continues to evolve in its reflective practices and procedures.

Reports to: Director of Volition Community

Cathedral contacts: The Volition Team at Manchester & Salford Cathedrals

Salary: £25,300 p.a., plus 10% employer’s pension contribution

Hours of work: 35 hours per week, including some evening and weekend work

Principal role: To maintain and establish referrals to Volition from across the Jobcentre Plus network in Greater Manchester;

to work with Jobcentre Plus staff across the Greater Manchester prison network to secure direct referrals onto the Volition programme;

to liaise with existing employer partners who are receptive to offering work trials and other opportunities that assist the move of long-term unemployed into work, and to grow the employer network;   

to assist the Director of Volition to secure the financial sustainability of the programme by means of funding bids and other initiatives.

Location: Working across Greater Manchester with both Salford and Manchester Cathedrals

1. To recruit long-term unemployed volunteers of all ages (over 18 years of age) via Jobcentre Plus and HM Prison Service to Volition Community at Salford and Manchester Cathedrals.
2. To nurture and further secure employer partners who are able to offer sample interviews and work opportunities to Volition volunteers.
3. To work with the Volunteer Manager of Volition to manage the Volition Community volunteers, including their day-to-day activities.
4. To work with the Director of Volition Community on grant applications and other initiatives that contribute to the financial sustainability of the programme.
5. To prepare regular and informative statistical and qualitative reports on all aspects of partnership and volunteer activity.
6. To encourage and implement a community team spirit and modes of operation amongst external partners that build towards the medium and long-term future of the programme.  
7. To undertake such other tasks as are appropriate to the role as required by the Director of Volition Community and the Volunteer Manager of Volition Community.

Personal qualities

• Strong interpersonal skills, leadership and empathy for others, combined with clear but flexible target-setting and implementation.
• A commitment to the role and contribution of volunteers, irrespective of their backgrounds or life experiences.
• A willingness to work within the ethos of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England
• Strong personal motivation, coupled with the ability to work on own initiative.
• Ability to work closely with Cathedral staff and officers, including prompt identification and sharing of problems for individual volunteers or for the programme as a whole.
• A cheerful and upbeat disposition

Details

• The post holder works from offices that are part of Manchester & Salford Cathedrals
• Working hours – Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with some weekend or late finish working
• 25 days holiday, in addition to statutory provision  
• The post will be for an initial period of one-year, fixed term, subject to review and consideration for a permanent post
• DBS clearance will be required
• Any job offer will be subject to confirmation after satisfactory references.

Recruitment Process

• If you’re interested in the role and believe you have the required skills and experience, please send your CV with a covering letter that demonstrates the fit between your experience and the requirements of the post, to Anthony O’Connor, Director of Volition Community, Manchester Cathedral, Victoria Street, Manchester M3 1SX, or by email to anthony@volitioncommunity.org  
• Applications must be received no later than 5.00 p.m. on Friday 29^th October 2021
•  All candidates will be contacted by Friday 5^th November 2021
• Interviews with take place on Thursday 11^th or Friday 12^th November 2021 at Manchester Cathedral.
•  Candidates selected for interview should expect to give a 10-minute presentation on how they would develop and deliver this role
• Start date – to be discussed with the successful candidate, including allowance for notice periods in current post.

Download the Partnership and Sustainability Coordinator. doc