Job Description

The Ehlers-Danlos Support UK (EDS UK) is a small charity with big ambitions. We support, advise and inform those living with the connective tissue disorders Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) and help them to live full, active and positive lives.

We also work closely with medical and healthcare professionals to increase the understanding of EDS and HSD in medical practice across the UK and to improve knowledge of the conditions through research.

We are a small, friendly team with a mix of working patterns and a small office in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. We recognise that people are our greatest asset and we support paid staff and volunteers with high quality training and development and thoughtful line management. The Ehlers-Danlos Support UK recognises the positive value of diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly where we are under-represented (currently, this includes disabled people, LGBTQ+ and those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups). We are a Disability Confident employer.

The role

Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, we have a well-established programme of peer to peer support running in our community across the UK.

The position of Communities Manager is to provide support to the Senior Communities Manager and our nationwide network of volunteer Area Coordinators. The position is key to delivering on our National Lottery Fund commitments and is jointly responsible for meeting the targets associated with the grant.

The Communities Manager, with support from the Senior Communities Manager, implements, runs and evaluates a programme of support, training, and development for our network of around 70 volunteer Area Coordinators to enable them to provide the high-quality support our community needs. The role is key to enabling our volunteers to use their skills and experience to realise their full potential for the charity. The role works closely with other members of the staff team to ensure there is a legacy of a strong support network that can improve our offer to our growing number of members.

About You·

• You can demonstrate experience of providing support, training and development to a remote team
• You can demonstrate experience of managing volunteers either in the charity or public sector
• You will be confident in developing and managing relationships with people from diverse backgrounds while maintaining professional boundaries – you will have excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to work with a variety of different people
• You can demonstrate experience of effectively using a range of communication tools including social media, to provide support and information and to create and manage a remote community
• You have excellent IT skills and good attention to detail
• It is essential that you can demonstrate excellent planning and organisation skills and the ability to cascade information in an understandable and manageable form
• You can demonstrate experience of working to targets or goals and of tracking progress towards these
• You can demonstrate flexibility, adaptability and willingness to contribute to the wider objectives of the charity
• You will have plenty of passion and enthusiasm. We need our volunteers inspired by your support and passion to help them attain the results we require.  You will also need compassion and understanding as our community suffers from a chronic health condition which is an important consideration when setting expectations of our volunteers
• You will be able to occasionally travel throughout the UK when needed, possibly at times out of office hours to attend events or meetings, including evenings and occasional weekends

Benefits

• 19 - 28 hours per week (to be discussed) over 4 or 5 days Monday to Friday. Flexible home/work base available with regular travel required to office in Borehamwood for team meetings.  Days of work and start and finish times are negotiable.
• Contributory pension scheme

Application Instructions

Please send a CV and a covering letter outlining how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role.

A fully Enhanced DBS check will be undertaken for the successful applicant