We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic Project Manager to launch and lead a Move Mates project in Leeds. This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of a project combining social action with physical activity to tackle loneliness, social isolation and mental ill-health, with stacks of other benefits to participants and the local community.
You will be responsible for building an inclusive, friendly and engaged community of volunteers, as well as raising the profile and reputation of Move Mates in your project area.
Our ideal candidate will be someone who is absolutely passionate about volunteering, with experience in leading successful projects in the charity sector and engaging volunteers. We are looking for someone with a can-do attitude who will turn plans into action.
Key to this role will be your ability to make connections in your community. The Project Manager will build strong relationships with relevant local organisations and social prescribing teams who will make referrals to Move Mates. We expect you to ensure you stay up to date with community events, organisations, activities and services which you can signpost people to.
You will actively recruit volunteers to join your project as Move Mates through local outreach, as well as recruiting Volunteer Administrators and ambassadors to assist you in promoting Move Mates in your area.
You will create pairings between volunteers and beneficiaries, as well as conducting regular monitoring and evaluation with all project participants.
Good administrative skills are vital to this role; you will ensure volunteer applications are processed efficiently, including completing DBS checks with potential volunteers; you’ll register new beneficiaries either by phone or in person, and you’ll be the main point of contact for enquiries in your area.
The successful candidate will have a high standard of written English with excellent written and verbal communication skills. In this role you will communicate regularly with a wide range of people from different backgrounds; we are looking for someone with empathy and compassion who can also maintain boundaries with their time and prioritise their workload.
This is a busy and varied role, it will suit a proactive multi-tasker who can switch between different tasks, who is keen to learn and will take a proactive approach to understand new systems and can keep an overview of the bigger picture whilst staying focused on those small details too.
This is a part-time post; we are open to job share applications.
Responsibilities
Launching and promoting Move Mates in your defined project area.
Setting up referral partnerships with relevant organisations.
Recruiting volunteers to join Move Mates and processing volunteer applications.
Creating and monitoring Move Mate pairings.
Regular evaluation and reporting on your project, including writing case studies.
Engaging project participants through social activities.
Coordinating tasks for Volunteer Administrators, ensuring all tasks are completed accurately and within a set timeframe.
Responding to enquiries received by phone, email and post.
Processing referrals, sending letters, welcome packs and information to beneficiaries.
Ensuring information in our database is updated accurately.
You will occasionally be asked to provide remote, temporary cover to colleagues in other project areas in the event of annual leave and/or sickness.
Working with colleagues to give input to external communications including newsletters and marketing resources.
The Basics
Hours: 22.5 hours per week.
Term: 12 month fixed-term contract with opportunity to become permanent.
Salary: £26,000 – 28,000 per annum, pro rata, dependent on experience.
Based: This is a community-based role. You will work flexibly from home and from various locations within the project area. You may occasionally be required to attend training or meetings at our headquarters in York.
Person Specification
Essential
Minimum age 18.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
A minimum of two years experience working in the charity/voluntary sector in Leeds.
Understanding of social prescribing principles.
Proven track record in leading and managing successful projects.
Passionate about volunteering, physical activity, health and wellbeing.
Fully computer literate with competency in using Google Drive.
Experience in coordinating and/or managing volunteers.
Desirable
Experience of working within a social prescribing environment.
Experience of working with people facing mental ill health.
Experience of working with people in a fall prevention environment.