Regional Development Officer – Volunteers and Clubs Ulster

Drive the expansion and development of the Volunteer Programme to ensure volunteers continue to play a vital role in the delivery of the Special Olympics Programme, ensuring the needs of the Programme are met through the recruitment, training and assignment of motivated and trained volunteers.  Strengthen and support Special Olympics Clubs in the Ulster Region, ensuring that development is in line with the prevailing Special Olympics Ireland Strategy. The role will sometimes involve evening and weekend work.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage, develop and implement a structured and cohesive plan for the region to achieve the objectives regarding Volunteer and Club Programmes in line with the prevailing Special Olympics Ireland Strategy.

• Recruit, train and assign key support volunteers to play an active role in the planning, development and roll out of the key projects associated with the role.

• Liaise and work with staff, committees and volunteers in the planning, implementation and evaluation of Volunteer, Club and Health Programmes.

• Drive the engagement of athletes in leadership roles, support their development and seek opportunities for their active involvement in relevant activities.

• Ensure all data in relation to all stakeholders is accurately maintained and updated.

Volunteer Programme 

• Responsible for the recruitment, training and assignment of volunteers to roles within the regional programme as required.

• Manage and coordinate  a Volunteer Support Centre to support the needs of the regional programme

• Recruit and assign general volunteers to competition events, fundraising events and other regional-run events where volunteers are needed.

• Establish a system for capturing and delivering on the volunteer requirements to meet the needs of the regional programme, to include volunteer needs at club, area and regional levels

• Continually evaluate the volunteer needs of the Region and plan for training, support, recognition and succession and for the strengthening of the volunteer programme.

Club Programme

• Ensure clubs are signed up to and comply with good governance and management practices and provide training opportunities where necessary.

• Provide training opportunities to clubs on good governance and management practices.

• Oversee and manage the registration of athletes and clubs including the affiliation process.

• Monitor, track & assist in the resolution of club matters or needs that arise in order to support clubs and to assist in improving standards.

• Integrate new athletes into existing clubs where possible.

• Establish & support the set-up of new clubs where need is identified and agreed.

• Promote, manage and support the roll out of the Special Olympics Health Programme in Special Olympics Clubs.

Other

• Attend and participate in regional meetings as necessary

• Develop and adhere to budget in conjunction with the Regional Director

• Undertake any other assignments as may reasonably be requested by the Regional Director from time to time. 

   

  DESCRIPTION

 1. QUALIFICATIONS

Desirable

• A degree in sports management or sports development, sport/leisure management, health/ leisure studies that can be proven to relevant to the position.

 2.  EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Minimum of one year’s experience in a coordinating role in a multi-faceted project.
• Demonstrable experience of working with volunteers.
• Demonstrable experience of developing initiatives at club level 

3.  KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• An understanding of principles of volunteer management

 Desirable

• Understanding of learning disabilities and/or the Special Olympics Programme. 

4.  SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Essential

• Excellent people-management and motivational skills
• Excellent leadership qualities
• Ability to develop and mentor volunteers
• Ability to develop & manage a project plan to achieve organisation’s goals
• Ability to prioritize in order to meet deadlines and timescales
• Excellent problem solving and decision making skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills
• The ability to work effectively as a team member and an individual player as required.

 5.  TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

Use of MS office and Internet

 Essential

• Is competent in use of word, excel and e mail and can access documents on a server system and on the web. 

Communication

Essential

• High level of competency in oral and presentation written skills.

 6.  CORE COMPETENCIES 

• Ability to structure actions to deliver Special Olympics Ireland priorities
• Ability to promote swift and effective achievement of tasks and goals
• Encourage innovation and continuous improvement; respond flexibly and positively to change; support development
• Development and management of relationships and partnerships to further organisational success
• Contribute enthusiastically and supportively within and across all sectors of Special Olympics Ireland. 
•  Motivate and inspire others; give clear direction.

 7.  Circumstances

Essential 

Successful candidate must be prepared to:

• Work a five-day week over a seven-day period. 
• Work unsocial hours i.e. evenings and weekends as required depending on the needs of the role. 
• A Current Full Clean Driving Licence, or, in the case of an applicant who declares that they have a disability which debars them from driving, access to a form of transport which will permit the post holder to meet the post requirements in full. 
• Own car or access to a car that enables individual to meet the requirements of the post in full. 
• Be prepared to travel frequently as part of the role. 
• Be prepared to provide Special Olympics Ireland with permission to provide personal information to Access Northern Ireland (if successful candidate is a resident of the Northern Ireland) and/or to the Garda Síochána (if successful candidate is a resident of the Republic of Ireland) for the purpose of conducting a background security check.

Note: This job description is not to be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive.  It is intended as an outline indication of the areas of activity and will be amended in the light of the changing environment within Special Olympics Ireland. Information will be obtained from candidate’s application form and from questions asked at interview.  Only those applicants who state clearly on their application form that they have the required level of qualifications, experience and circumstances will be shortlisted to the next stage of the recruitment process.

 Applicants should email the completed application form, a short cover letter and their CV to:

 Jessica Cummins at [email protected]