VSO - Job vacancy

VSO is an international development charity that works through volunteers. We are currently looking for a Volunteer Manager to work in one of our projects in Mongolia RIGHT NOW!

Our vision is a world without poverty in which people work together to fulfil their potential. We bring people together to share skills, creativity and learning to build a fairer world. We need your skills to do this.

This particular vacancy is an urgent request from our overseas partner, though we do expect maybe 20-30 more requests fopr short and long term volunteers to manage voluteer project throughout Africa and Asia.

If you're a VOLUNTEER MANAGER use your expertise and offer projects overseas the opportunity to manage their national volunteers and improve the services they provide to local communities.

Purpose of the role

Mongolian Youth Foundation (MYF) organises a volunteer programme, where over 280 qualified teachers have volunteers in rural schools since 2001. You'll work to help MYF consolidate its current programme and begin to expand the numbers of schools its supports and ensure MYF meets the demand of teachers.

Job summary

Build the capacity of staff to manage the volunteer programmes, including projects contacts and individual volunteers.

Work with the marketing staff to promote the volunteer programme and the organisation of MYF generally.

Build relationships with schools, colleges and educational institutes to recruit qualified teachers.

Work with the foreign relations officer to improve and strengthen overseas relationships and strengthen the volunteer sending programme.

Work with staff and contribute to fundraising initiatives and plans.

Work with staff to develop the business and implement initiatives to develop the organisation in general.

Professional requirements

You'll need at least 2 years practical experience managing volunteer and volunteer programmes. Fundraising and organisational development skills are also desirable. You'll be a strong communicator with considerable experience in facilitating and training. Experience of youth work is also desirable.

Personal requirements

You'll need to flexible and adaptable, ready to adjust to a different way of working and pace of life. You'll need to be a strong communicator, and patient as English will not be the first language of virtually all your colleagues. You'll need to a team player and diplomatic, you'll need to get on with your colleagues and adhere to local customs and traditional methods of business working. Above all you'll need a sense of adventure and bags of motivation - along with a big sweater for the winter nights!

Duration: 12 months

And the rest...

Mongolia is the seventeenth largest country in the world, covering an area of land approximately three times the size of France. Sandwiched between Russia and China, Mongolia is a land of natural contrasts. To the north a continuation of East Siberian alpine meadows, rolling hills and wild forests, to the east vast, flat, treeless plains, rocky, snow-clad mountains in the West and arid and semi-arid Central Asian landscapes of the Gobi desert in the south. You'll be placed in an apartment with a separate kitchen, bathroom and a bedroom. Traditional Mongolian food is strictly meat and flour based, with meat being substituted by dairy products in the summer. Mongolian dishes are usually fairly bland, with no spices or herbs used, other than salt - but great for keeping warm in the winter time! Mongolian tea (suutei tsai), meaning salty tea with milk, is very popular, as is the Mongolian vodka!

VSO covers all the costs for you. Our financial package for volunteers includes a locally equivalent salary, return flights, accommodation, medical and travel insurance cover, national insurance contributions, pension contributions, visas and work permits grants and guaranteed holidays. We also provide you with a series of grants, before, during an after your placement.

You must be living in an EU country to apply for these positions.

Go to http://www.vso.org.uk/volunteering/stepthree and apply and mark on your application where you saw the position.

Good luck

Gemma Hoskins