Volunteer Management Series SPECIAL OLYMPICS VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT SERIES

Volunteer Management Series SPECIAL OLYMPICS VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT SERIES DESIGNING VOLUNTEER JOBS 11/5/2020© A-1

Volunteer Management Series Learning Objectives: Volunteer Job Design • Concur with the significance of good volunteer job design • Analyze the trends in volunteering and their impact on design or re-design of volunteer jobs • Design new volunteer job opportunities within your Program • Name the necessary components of written job descriptions 11/5/2020© A-2

Volunteer Management Series Key Concepts of Designing Jobs for Volunteers 1. Good volunteer job design is pivotal to the ultimate success of a volunteer program. 2. Understanding trends in volunteering should impact the job design and re-design in your Program. 3. Expanding the ways volunteers are utilized within your Program will enable it to more effectively reach the mission of Special Olympics. 4. Job descriptions should include all essential information. 11/5/2020© A-3

Volunteer Management Series Key Concept #1 Good volunteer job design is pivotal to the ultimate success of a volunteer program. 11/5/2020© A-4

Volunteer Management Series Activity - Job Design • What problems or benefits did you experience when working without a clear, written job description? 11/5/2020© A-5

Volunteer Management Series Benefits of Written Job Descriptions • Clear understanding of what is expected • Marketing tool for recruitment • Guide for screening • Basis for supervision and evaluation • Contract between volunteer and Program • Volunteer jobs understood by co-workers 11/5/2020© A-6

Volunteer Management Series Key Concept #2 Understanding trends in volunteering should impact the job design and re-design in your Program. 11/5/2020© A-7

Volunteer Management Series Trends in Volunteering • Short term volunteering • Desire for freedom, ability to act quickly • Volunteers want challenging, interesting assignments • Volunteers come from a broader cross-section of society • Volunteers expect to be treated professionally • People are more interested in helping causes than organizations 11/5/2020© A-8

Trends in Volunteering Volunteer Management Series (continued) • Volunteers need flexibility in hours • Family and group volunteering is popular • Volunteers are often looking for job experience, training, re-entry to employment • Many people with professional skills are interested in volunteering 11/5/2020© A-9

Volunteer Management Series Responses to Volunteer Trends • Design episodic short term jobs • Offer job sharing • Provide group volunteer opportunities • Targeted recruitment (youth, professionals, retired, ethnic groups, etc. ) • Offer flexible hours and locations • Organize a substitute system of volunteers 11/5/2020© A-10

Volunteer Management Series Responses to Volunteer Trends (continued) • Reimburse volunteer expenses • Break down committee work into time-limited task force work • More efficient use of volunteer time • Broaden ways volunteers are utilized • Develop positions for evenings and weekends • Develop jobs that can be done off site 11/5/2020© A-11

Volunteer Management Series Key Concept #3 Expanding the ways volunteers are utilized within your Program will enable it to more effectively reach the mission of Special Olympics. 11/5/2020© A-12

Volunteer Management Series Activity to Design New Volunteer Jobs • Brainstorm programs and services you wish your Program could accomplish but cannot, due to limited resources. • Discuss these ideas and begin to develop some new and innovative potential volunteer jobs from the above “dream list. ” • Refine the jobs and develop potential job descriptions. 11/5/2020© A-13

Volunteer Management Series Key Concept #4 Job descriptions should include all essential information. 11/5/2020© A-14

Elements in an Ideal Volunteer Job Description Volunteer Management Series • • • 11/5/2020© Job Title Supervisor Goal or purpose of job Major responsibilities Time commitment Qualifications (Required, Desired) Work location Benefits to volunteer Date of job design or re-design A-15