Project Officer, Capacity Building & Volunteering Quality (Career Break cover – 13 months)

Job Title:         Capacity Building & Volunteering Quality Project Officer
Reports to:     Programme Manager
Location:        12 Parliament Street, Dublin 2

Comhlámh is the Irish Association of Development Workers and Volunteers. Our mission is to nurture, guide and mobilise development workers and volunteers to work for social justice locally and globally. Comhlámh is committed to being the leading independent voice and source of information on volunteering for development in Ireland, and the coordinator and advocate for good practice in this area. We work to promote and support volunteers and development workers to critically engage in volunteering and action for development, and to create societal and attitudinal change on development issues. 

We are seeking to recruit a Capacity Building & Volunteering Quality Project Officer, who will play a key role in enabling our staff and members to achieve our aims and objectives. The ideal candidate will have a background in international or community development, excellent communication and analytical skills, and experience of developing and monitoring quality standards, as well as knowledge of organisational capacity building and network facilitation. S/he will have worked or volunteered in the Global South, have an excellent understanding of good practice in volunteering and experience of using consultative and participative approaches to build consensus among a range of stakeholders. 

This is currently a 4-day a week role but we are open to considering flexible working arrangements. The role will be subject to ongoing sustained funding.  It is offered on the Project Officer scale which on a 4-day basis ranges from €24,000 to €36,000. The contract will be a fixed-term contract, to conclude 31^st August 2021. The role is based in our offices in Dublin but some remote working will be available and likely required due to the Covid pandemic.

Application Procedure:

Please apply with a covering letter (max one page) outlining how you meet the criteria and a CV to recruitment@comhlamh.org, entering PO – Capacity Building & Volunteering Quality in the subject line. Please also include in the subject line where you saw this job being advertised. Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 31^st July, at 17:00 GMT.  Successful candidates will be contacted by Wednesday 5^th August and interviews will take place on Monday 10^th August.

Description: The Capacity Building & Volunteering Quality Project Officer will monitor and support a network of over 40 volunteer sending agencies (VSAs) in implementing Comhlámh’s Code of Good Practice (CoGP) for Volunteer Sending Agencies. The position will be based in Comhlámh’s Dublin office and will report to the Programme Manager. The Project Officer manages the strategic development of the CoGP through facilitating working groups’ participation and promotes visibility of the Code through the facilitation of a network of supporting organisations. This position involves some evening and weekend work. It also involves working as part of a team and contributing to the work of Comhlámh in the implementation of its strategic and operational plans.

Specifically, the responsibilities will include the following:

1. CoGP development, monitoring and capacity building

• Administering the CoGP member application process, analysing annual CoGP self-assessment reports, and ensuring timely feedback is provided on all self-audits;
• Coordinating the external audit processes linked to the CoGP and convening an external panel of assessors;
• Convening of individual capacity building meetings with Volunteer Sending Agencies (VSAs) and provision of ongoing support and assistance via phone/email;
• Organising and co-ordinating tailored training with Code agencies, based on identified needs/issues linked to the CoGP;
• Convening the Code Steering Committee, which is an expert working group that guides the development and implementation of the CoGP;

2. Network facilitation

Facilitation of signatory and supporter networks, in a way that ensures ownership, participation and growth. This includes:

• Organising and facilitating bi-annual Peer Support meetings (for all Code members);
• Organising and facilitating working groups on topics of common interest to VSAs, such as volunteering and safeguarding, volunteering and orphanages;  
• Initiating and supporting joint initiatives between VSAs on topics of relevance to good practice in international volunteering;
• Facilitating peer support learning between the VSAs;
• Designing and facilitating a process that ensures ownership and active participation of the Supporter network.

3. Communication and research

• Identification and outreach to potential Code organisations;
• Promoting and disseminating the CoGP to VSAs, supporter organisations and volunteers;
• Coordinating the collection of annual statistical data on the activities of Irish VSAs;
• Production and dissemination of regular e-newsletter to the VSAs;
• Contributing to research on new models of international volunteering including online volunteering, reciprocal volunteering and the need to ensure greater diversity in those who volunteer;
• Supporting the Communications Officer to grow public awareness of Comhlámh’s role as the leader in good practice standards for Irish VSAs, including through social media engagement and media work;
• Engaging in national and international discussions on good practice in international volunteering; bringing this learning back into the network of VSAs; and delivering presentations at relevant conferences and information events.

4. Other Duties

• Monitoring and evaluating programme activities;
• Maintaining records on database on a regular basis;
• Ensuring that activities are managed within budget where responsibility has been delegated for specific activities and report on expenditure as required;
• Contributing towards the effective working of the team through consultation, support and shared working;Inputting to planning, funding applications, evaluations and reports;
• Recruiting and mentoring interns and student placements as required;
• Representing the organisation externally as appropriate;
• Carrying out such alternative duties as may be assigned by the Line Manager following consultation, from time to time.

Comhlámh has an Equal Opportunities policy and all employees are expected to develop an understanding of and commitment to equality and social justice.

All staff are required to adhere to: Comhlámh’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct with Children and Comhlámh’s values.

Full job specification can be downloaded here