Volunteer Coordinator
Also advertised as: Volunteer Coordinator, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, Volunteer Manager, Volunteer Services Officer, Volunteering Officer
Recruits, trains and supports volunteers so a charity or organisation can deliver its services.
What the job involves
Volunteer coordinators recruit and induct volunteers, match them to suitable roles and provide ongoing support and recognition. You manage rotas, handle any conflicts and ensure volunteers have the training they need, including safeguarding where relevant. Good coordinators keep volunteers motivated over the long term, which is often the deciding factor in a service's capacity.
Typical responsibilities
- Recruit and induct new volunteers
- Match volunteers to suitable roles
- Organise training and safeguarding briefings
- Manage volunteer rotas and communications
- Recognise and retain long-term volunteers
Common employers
- Charities
- Hospitals and hospices
- Museums and heritage sites
- Community organisations
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£21,000 – £26,000 a year
With experience
£27,000 – £34,000 a year
Typical hours
35 to 37 hours, occasional evenings and weekends
Working environment
Office based with time at volunteering sites
Remote working
hybrid
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Recruitment
- Relationship management
- Scheduling
- Training delivery
- Conflict resolution
Transferable skills you may already have
- HR or recruitment experience
- Event coordination
- People management
Requirements employers ask for
- Recruitment
- Relationship management
- Scheduling
- Training delivery
- Conflict resolution
- Enhanced DBS check where working with vulnerable groups
- Enhanced DBS check
Useful but not essential
- HR or recruitment experience
- Event coordination
- People management
- Volunteer management qualification
- Experience in HR or charity administration
Helpful qualifications
- Volunteer management qualification
- Experience in HR or charity administration
Licences and checks
- Enhanced DBS check
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Human resources
- Related subject: Charity management
Where this career can lead
next
Volunteer Services Manager
next
Head of Volunteering
next
Charity Programme Manager
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Rewarding work supporting people who give their time freely
- Wide variety of people and personalities to work with
- Skills transfer easily into HR or charity management
What people find hard
- Relies on goodwill rather than paid staff, which limits control
- High turnover of volunteers requires constant recruitment
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a volunteer coordinator?
- not_required
- How much does a volunteer coordinator earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £21,000 to £26,000 a year, rising towards £34,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include HR or recruitment experience, Event coordination, People management.
Related careers
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Raises the money a charity needs through donors, events, grants or corporate partners.
Charity Programme Manager
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Community Development Worker
Works with residents to identify local needs and build community-led projects and groups.
Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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