1Designing Positions for Volunteers

Training Busy Staff Training Busy Staff to Succeed with Volunteers:to Succeed with Volunteers:

The 55-Minute Training SeriesThe 55-Minute Training Series

Copyright © 2007Betty Stallings

Energize, Inc.

Designing Positions for Volunteers

© 2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 2

Learning Objectives ►Describe the significance of good

volunteer position design.►Analyze the trends in volunteering and

their impact on design or re-design of volunteer positions.

►Design new volunteer position opportunities within your organization.

►Name the necessary components of written position descriptions.


4 Key Concepts 1. Good volunteer position design is pivotal to the

ultimate success of a volunteer program.2. Understanding trends in volunteering should

impact position design and re-design in your organization.

3. Expanding the ways volunteers are utilized within your organization will enable it to more effectively reach its mission.

4. Position descriptions should be clearly written and include all essential information.


Key Concept 1

Good volunteer position design is pivotal to the ultimate success of a volunteer program.


Warm-up Activity What problems or benefits did you experience

when working without a clear, written position description?

Other than the obvious value of giving a person a clear description of what is expected of him or her, what are some other benefits to having written position descriptions?


Benefits of Written Position Descriptions►Clear understanding of what is expected.►Marketing tool for recruitment.►Guide for screening.►Basis for supervision and evaluation.►Contract between volunteer and agency.►Volunteer positions understood by co-

workers.


Key Concept 2

► Understanding trends in volunteering should impact position design and re-design in your organization.


Trends in Volunteering ►Trend

►Impact

►Potential Responses


Sample Trends in Volunteering► Short-term volunteering options.► 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.► Volunteers need flexibility in hours.


Trends in Volunteering ► Family and group volunteering are popular.► People more interested in working for causes

than for organizations.► Volunteers are often looking for job

experience, training, re-entry to employment.►Many people with professional skills available

to nonprofit organizations.►Multitude of motivations for volunteering.►More “voluntolds” (e.g., requirement for high

school graduation).


Responses to Volunteer Trends► Design episodic, short-term positions.►Offer position sharing.► Provide group volunteer opportunities.► Target recruitment to professionals, youth,

retired people, ethnic groups, etc.►Offer flexible hours and locations.►Organize a substitute system of volunteers.► Reimburse volunteer expenses.


Responses to Volunteer Trends► Break down committee work into time-limited

task forces. ►More efficient use of volunteer time.► Broaden the ways volunteers are utilized.► Develop positions for evenings and

weekends.► Develop positions that can be performed off-

site.► Create opportunities for students.


Key Concept 3

► Expanding the ways volunteers are utilized within an organization will enable it to more effectively reach its mission.


Activity: Designing New Volunteer Positions ►List all the duties of your current position.

►Put an asterisk next to tasks which: You feel unqualified to perform. You would rather not be doing.

►List the things you would like to do but do not have the time to perform now (your “Dream List”).


Activity (continued) ►Brainstorm programs or services you

wish your organization could accomplish but cannot, due to limited resources.

►Study the flip charts and begin to develop some new, interesting, creative potential volunteer positions from the released tasks and the “Dream List.”

►Assign a task force to refine these positions and develop new opportunities.


Key Concept 4

►Position descriptions should be clearly written and include all essential information.


Elements in an Ideal Volunteer Position Description

►Position Title►Supervisor►Goal or purpose of position►Major responsibilities►Time commitment►Qualifications (required, desired)►Work location►Benefits to volunteer►Date of position design or re-design


Activity►Design a new volunteer position

description using the form in the handouts or your own organization’s format.


Summary

►Sound position design is the foundation of a solid volunteer program, but it should also retain the fluidity necessary to continually undergo change.

Documents

1Designing Positions for Volunteers