Engagement officer jobs in Birmingham, west midlands

The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) is a charity that represents the voice of people living with dyslexia. We aim to influence government and other institutions to promote a dyslexia friendly society that enables dyslexic people of all ages to reach their full potential.

This is an exciting role for the BDA, which has been created with the purpose of coordinating our community projects to increase awareness of dyslexia and improving outcomes for children and adults with dyslexia. The role will focus on various projects that we run, including our Local Hubs, a volunteer led project currently operating in Northern Ireland and South Wales as well as other community projects. The postholder will work with existing volunteers to form links with schools and businesses in the local areas and support outreach activities.

They will also support the development of the BDA’s wider offer for education settings and workplaces to increase our reach to support more people with dyslexia. This is a varied hands-on role that would suit someone with experience managing community projects and working with volunteers. We are looking for someone who is passionate about community led projects to improve educational outcomes and life chances for people with dyslexia.

We are happy to discuss flexible working arrangements.

Duties and responsibilities

· Coordinating the delivery of our Local Hubs project to ensure key deliverables are met.

· Recruiting, training and supporting regional volunteers.

· Provide supervision and guidance to volunteers to ensure a positive volunteer experience.

· Building relationships with partners and customers to increase impact.

· Gather information on the delivery of projects to help identify impact, strengths and areas for improvement.

· Coordinating with organisations and stakeholders at a national and local level.

· Reporting on delivery of projects.

· Supporting the development of projects, including through supporting fundraising colleagues to secure funding for continuation and expansion of the project.

· Support the coordination of other projects, as needed.

· Carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required from time to time.

We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at the BDA. We are committed to building a diverse organisation that represents the communities we serve and ensuring inclusion in everything we do.

At Life Charity, our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. They give their time, skills and compassion to support women, families and communities across the UK. We’re looking for a passionate and organised Volunteer Experience and Engagement Officer to help us recruit, engage, support and celebrate our volunteers, ensuring they have a positive and rewarding experience from their first enquiry through to long-term involvement.

Accountable to: HR Advisor, Retail and Volunteer Operations Manager

Location: Home Based with travel to sites around the UK and to the Leamington Spa Office

Contract Information: 21 hours per week across a minimum of 3 days/Permanent

Salary: £15,288 actual (£25,480 FTE)

Benefits:

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (pro-rota for part time contracts)
• Pension Scheme
• Flexible working arrangements
• Birthday leave after 1 years’ service. 
• Paid mileage for travel to locations other than base location.

Internal Relationships: Directors and Heads of departments/HR Team/All staff within Services and Income Generation Teams

External Relationships: Volunteer Centres/Local Communities/Local Councils/Associations that support volunteer management/Training providers

The Volunteer Experience & Engagement Officer plays a key role in ensuring that volunteers have a positive, meaningful, and impactful experience with the charity. This role is responsible for recruiting, supporting, engaging, and retaining volunteers, while fostering a strong sense of community and alignment with the organisation’s mission.

Key Responsibilities

Volunteer Recruitment and Onboarding

• Develop and deliver effective volunteer recruitment strategies
• Manage volunteer applications, interviews, and selection processes
• Coordinate onboarding, inductions, and training sessions
• Ensure all volunteers are safely and appropriately onboarded (including checks where required)

Volunteer Experience and Engagement

• Act as the main point of contact for volunteers, providing ongoing support
• Design and implement initiatives to enhance volunteer satisfaction and engagement
• Organise events, recognition programmes, and feedback sessions
• Build a strong, inclusive, and motivated volunteer community

Retention and Development

• Monitor volunteer engagement and identify opportunities to improve retention
• Provide opportunities for skills development and progression
• Address concerns and resolve issues in a timely and supportive manner

Communication and Coordination

• Maintain regular communication with volunteers through newsletters, updates, and meetings
• Work closely with internal teams to match volunteers to suitable roles
• Ensure clear role descriptions and expectations for all volunteer positions

Monitoring and Reporting

• Track volunteer data, hours, and impact
• Collect feedback and evaluate volunteer programmes
• Produce reports on volunteer engagement and outcomes

Safeguarding and Compliance

• Ensure all volunteering activities comply with organisational policies and safeguarding standards
• Promote a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all volunteers

Key Outcomes

Growth in Volunteer Base

• Increase in the number of active volunteers
• Strong pipeline of new applicants from diverse backgrounds
• Reduced time to recruit and onboard new volunteers

High-Quality Volunteer Experience

• Positive volunteer satisfaction scores (e.g. via surveys/feedback)
• Volunteers report feeling valued, supported, and connected to the mission
• Consistent delivery of a structured and welcoming onboarding experience

Volunteer Retention & Commitment

• Improved volunteer retention rates over time
• Increased average length of volunteer engagement
• Higher levels of repeat participation and commitment

Engagement and Community Building

• Regular and well-attended volunteer events, communications, and initiatives
• Strong sense of community and belonging among volunteers
• Increased participation in engagement activities (meetings, training, events)

Effective Volunteer Deployment

• Volunteers are well-matched to roles aligned with their skills and interests
• Positive feedback from internal teams on volunteer contributions
• Reduced gaps in volunteer coverage across departments

Measurable Impact of Volunteering

• Clear tracking of volunteer hours and contributions
• Demonstrable impact of volunteers on service delivery and beneficiaries
• Ability to evidence volunteer value for reporting and funding purposes

Strong Communication and Relationships

• Consistent, clear, and engaging communication with volunteers
• Positive relationships between volunteers and staff teams
• Timely response to volunteer queries and concerns

Compliance and Safeguarding

• All volunteers appropriately trained and compliant with policies
• Safeguarding standards consistently upheld
• Minimal incidents due to clear processes and proactive management