The role of a Volunteer Coordinator is one of the most rewarding positions within the charitable and community sector. At its core, the job involves recruiting, training, and supporting volunteers to ensure that organisations can achieve their mission and serve their communities effectively. A Volunteer Coordinator is the crucial link between volunteers and management, ensuring smooth operations, high engagement, and meaningful experiences for everyone involved. Typically, the salary for a Volunteer Coordinator in the UK ranges between £24,000 and £32,000 per year depending on location, organisation size, and level of experience. More senior roles may command higher salaries, particularly within large national charities.
As a UK-based career coach with over 25 years of experience, I know just how essential it is to create a compelling Volunteer Coordinator CV. Your CV is your personal marketing document – it must be polished, persuasive, and perfectly aligned to what recruiters and hiring managers are seeking. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to create an interview-winning CV, including advice for graduates, middle management, and senior professionals. By the end, you’ll have the confidence to present yourself as the ideal candidate for this vital role.
Why the Volunteer Coordinator role matters
The position is far more than just scheduling shifts. As a Volunteer Coordinator, you’re responsible for motivating individuals, building relationships, and ensuring compliance with policies. You will often be asked to:
Recruit, interview, and onboard new volunteers.
Design and deliver training sessions.
Manage rotas, schedules, and volunteer availability.
Resolve conflicts and provide support.
Monitor performance and gather feedback.
Report on volunteer impact to senior management.
Because the role blends human resources, project management, and community engagement, your Volunteer Coordinator CV example needs to show evidence of leadership, empathy, and organisation. Employers want to see that you can both inspire people and deliver results.
How to structure your Volunteer Coordinator CV
Your cv template should follow a clear and professional structure that recruiters expect. Here’s a suggested format:
Contact details – Full name, phone, professional email, LinkedIn link, and location.
Professional profile – A short paragraph introducing you, your expertise in volunteer management, and your career goals.
Key skills – A bullet-point list highlighting skills such as volunteer recruitment, stakeholder engagement, safeguarding knowledge, training delivery, and data reporting.
Professional experience – Start with your most recent role and work backwards. For each role, include achievements and measurable results.
Education and training – Relevant qualifications, safeguarding courses, HR or charity management training.
Additional information – Volunteering experience, languages, or technical skills like CRM systems.
This cv template example ensures your information is clear, accessible, and attractive to employers.
How to write a winning professional profile
Your profile should be no more than 4–5 lines and highlight your passion for volunteering, leadership skills, and experience in programme coordination. Here’s an example:
“Dedicated Volunteer Coordinator with over five years’ experience supporting community projects and charity initiatives. Skilled at volunteer recruitment, training, and engagement, with proven success in increasing volunteer retention by 30%. Passionate about creating positive volunteer experiences and delivering measurable impact.”
This type of introduction immediately positions you as results-focused and aligned to the values of the sector.
Key skills to highlight
Recruiters want to see that you have both soft skills and technical abilities. Include:
Volunteer recruitment & retention
Training programme design
Event planning & coordination
Safeguarding & compliance
Stakeholder management
Database/CRM management
Strong communication & empathy
Leadership & conflict resolution
Advice for graduates
If you’re just starting out, don’t panic – you have more relevant experience than you think. Use volunteering, university projects, and part-time roles to show transferable skills such as leadership, communication, and organisation. For example, if you organised student society events, this demonstrates coordination and recruitment. Make sure your cv example highlights your enthusiasm, willingness to learn, and genuine passion for community engagement. Employers value authenticity and drive, particularly for graduate roles.
Advice for middle managers
If you have 3–7 years of experience, your CV should emphasise achievements. Employers will be looking for evidence of retention rates, volunteer satisfaction, and programme growth. Use numbers wherever possible: “Increased volunteer base by 40% within 12 months” or “Reduced turnover by introducing a new recognition programme.” This level of detail makes your CV powerful and credible. Tailor each application by aligning with the specific charity or organisation’s values.
Advice for senior professionals
For those at a more senior level, perhaps managing multiple teams or regional volunteer programmes, your CV should demonstrate leadership, strategy, and impact. Focus on:
Strategic planning and programme development.
Building partnerships with local authorities or corporates.
Leading multi-site or national volunteer programmes.
Delivering cost savings and operational efficiency.
Contributing to organisational growth and policy development.
Senior recruiters are keen to see evidence of vision and the ability to influence at board level. Position yourself as a trusted leader in volunteer management.
Do’s and Don’ts for a Volunteer Coordinator CV
Do’s
Do tailor your CV to each job description.
Do use strong action verbs such as “delivered,” “increased,” “facilitated,” and “achieved.”
Do quantify results with numbers and percentages.
Do keep your CV to two pages maximum.
Do include relevant keywords such as “Volunteer Coordinator,” “training,” “safeguarding,” and “community engagement.”
Don’ts
Don’t use a generic CV that looks like a list of tasks.
Don’t include irrelevant personal details such as age or marital status.
Don’t use over-complicated designs that may not pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
Don’t forget to proofread – even a single typo can cost you an interview.
Don’t undersell volunteer work you’ve done yourself – it can be just as valuable as paid experience.
General CV tips to stand out
Keep formatting clean and professional with clear headings and bullet points.
Mirror the language used in the job description – this helps you get noticed by both recruiters and automated systems.
Use a professional font such as Calibri or Arial, 10–11pt size.
Avoid clichés like “hard-working” – instead, show examples of achievements.
Always include a LinkedIn profile that is consistent with your CV.
Final thoughts – your next step
Creating an impactful Volunteer Coordinator CV requires strategy, structure, and storytelling. You must present yourself as someone who can both lead and inspire volunteers while meeting the practical needs of the organisation. Whether you’re a graduate breaking into the charity sector, a mid-level professional looking to step up, or a senior leader wanting to influence national strategy, your CV is the key to unlocking exciting career opportunities.
If you want to ensure your CV truly stands out, I invite you to work with me directly. With over 25 years of career coaching experience, I’ve helped thousands of clients create interview-winning CVs and LinkedIn profiles that open doors to opportunities.
Book an appointment today to have your CV and LinkedIn profile professionally improved: Book an appointment
