Volunteer Coordinator

Better Days is looking for a Volunteer Coordinator.

Better Days Greece was founded in Greece in  2016 in response to the influx of refugees arriving in Lesvos, Greece. It is the Greek implementing partner of Together for Better Days, a Swiss NGO. Together we have supported many projects in Greece, Lebanon, Serbia, and Syria. We want to see a world where refugees and asylum seekers are guaranteed access to their rights and are treated with dignity and humanity. A world where no child under any circumstances is forced to endure the physical and psychological trauma currently faced by millions of children across the world. Some of our most successful projects to date include: The Olive Grove/Better Days for Moria, Elpida Refugee Centre, TAPUAT Child & Family Hub, EcoHub, Socrates Sports & Development, MIRE (Mapping, Identification & Registration Exercise for UASC), Central Triage Pharmacy,  Themida Greece and of course our flagship Gekko Kids. Better Days’ primary missions are based in Athens and on Lesvos.

Better Days Greece has worked within the refugee community and as part of the grassroots and formal sector to support those seeking a safer future, with a specific focus on holistic support for unaccompanied and separated children and youth.  Since inception, we have successfully implemented several interventions in Moria camp on Lesvos and designed and managed globally awarded and recognised humanitarian programs in Athens, Lesvos, and Thessaloniki. Our flagship project Gekko Kids (2017-2022), was an alternative educational centre for UASC (unaccompanied and separated children) implemented in Lesvos. Gekko is focused on providing high-quality, individualised education and support and was recently shortlisted by the 5th Global Entreps Awards Committee as one of the 100 Best Practices in the world on Sustainability (UN SDGs),  Innovation and/ or Good Governance in education programming.

At Gekko, we strive to create a curriculum that expands outside the traditional academic structures and allows our students to explore different facets of education that inspire creativity and personal development. Our non-traditional and innovative teaching methods, the experience of our staff, and the individualised approach characterising our work have allowed our students to improve their educational and employment prospects, obtain accreditation and assume agency in their lives. The provision of a dignified, safe and child-friendly space is foundational for the effective implementation of our programs.

Job Description:

Over the years BetterDays has welcomed thousands of volunteers from around the world to contribute to its projects in Greece. .The volunteer coordinator should be a person who aligns with Better Days’ approach to volunteering and should be exploring opportunities with the aim of establishing mutually beneficial relationships with our volunteers. This is a position that requires exceptional communication and people’s skill, experience in coordination and excellent organisational and time-management skills. The right candidate will focus on a) executing BD’s volunteer recruitment procedure and b) exploring learning opportunities for volunteer recruitment with other institutions in Greece and abroad. Volunteer recruitment begins with an application and concludes with the volunteer exit interview, which allows Better Days to gather valuable feedback about its volunteer recruitment program at Gekko Kids.

This is a field-based position, and the right candidate must be experienced and confident to effectively recruit, train and oversee Better Days and partners’ volunteers. At Gekko, the Volunteer Coordinator will be expected to support with induction, office administration, scheduling and the coordination of volunteer activities.

They will be responsible for keeping BD’s volunteer recruitment database updated, managing volunteer needs and expectations and keeping a smooth volunteer stream. At the Gekko Kids program, the Volunteer Coordinator will work closely with other team lead members to assess and identify the needs and competence required for human resources.

Main functions include:

Design & Development

• Development of the volunteer recruitment procedure, core documentation and templates necessary to implement it effectively (Volunteer Handbook, Volunteer Application Form, Volunteer Offer, Volunteer Register, Satisfaction Survey, Exit Interview)
• Identification of effective resources  to recruit volunteers ie. volunteer recruitment platforms
• Management of group volunteer visits from universities, school visits, internship students with the aim of enhancing learning opportunities for involved parties

Execution and Coordination

• Work closely with the team to identify volunteer opportunities at Gekko
• Deploy volunteer calls and manage outreach through relevant networks or platforms
• Screening of volunteer applications and selection of volunteers
• Signing of Volunteer Offers or MoUs when concerned groups
• Orientation and training of new volunteers, ensuring the purpose of the organisation and its actions are clearly communicated
• Monitor compliance of volunteers with Better Days policies
• Teacher pairing
• Volunteer support as required prior and during the visit
• Maintain a network of volunteer alumni
• Welcome and support the manifestation of ideas into projects and workshops
• Maintain accurate records and keep databases up to date
• Report to management during planned intervals

Upon request:

• Support other team members with activities and event coordination in Gekko Kids
• Support with office administrative

Necessary Competence: (candidates who do not meet the below criteria will not be considered)

• Excellent level of English
• Other languages are considered an asset, ie Greek, Farsi, Arabic, French etc.
• A degree in human resources or business administration is preferred.
• Experienced in project management and developing procedures and policies.
• Advanced IT skills (G Suite- Sheets, Docs & Drive, Canva, Slack)
• 3+ yrs professional experience in a relevant field: volunteer coordination, school administration, program coordination etc.

Additional requirements

• Previous volunteer / humanitarian experience
• Key characteristics: positive, patient, a people’s person, compassionate, self-driven, creative, and confident

Post Conditions:

• The role is based in Athens, Greece
• Status: Full-time position, evening shifts or a shift-schedule may be required
• Starting date: immediate
• Duration: 3-month probationary period / with 6-month long extension(s)

Further information:

Better Days is a small and dynamic organisation looking to hire people who are passionate about humanitarian work, understand its risks and complexities, and are interested in investing in their role long-term. We are a quality-driven organisation determined to provide grassroots, holistic and effective solutions to support the integration and de-victimization of displaced communities in Europe, focusing on refugee education and empowerment of youth. Our colleagues come from all over the world, and our official business language is English. The ideal candidate will be inducted for two weeks and trained during the probation period. At the end of a third month’s contract, the candidate is expected to participate in Better Days’ Employee Survey and Self-Assessment which is part of their employee evaluation.

How to apply:
To apply, all applicants should please send their CV and a cover motivation letter in English to [email protected], with the title “Volunteer Coordinator application”.  Candidates who attach their CVs in any other language will not be considered.

Due to excessive workload, only successful candidates who meet the minimum criteria will be contacted. Note that BD has a thorough 3-step interview process and our average processing time is 30-days depending on our workload. The position will be closed as soon as it is filled.

Closing date: 19/06/2023 or until the position is filled.