Member of the Board of Directors (Young Persons’ Perspective)

Volunteer Ireland Board of Directors Vacancy (Young Persons’ Perspective) 

Status and length of role: Unpaid voluntary role, 3-year term with opportunity for re-election for second 3-year term.

What this role is about

We are looking for an 18 to 25 year old living in Ireland, to share their views and help lead Volunteer Ireland as a member of our voluntary Board of Directors. Engaging young people in volunteering is critically important, and therefore we want to ensure that a young person’s perspective is part of our strategic discussions at the Board level. 

This is not a token role – we are looking for a passionate and engaged young person who we can learn from and be inspired by, and who will have an equal voice at the Board table. In addition to bringing a young person’s perspective, this Board member will also play an active role in the organisation’s governance and strategic direction more broadly. 

Benefits of the role

This is a chance to share your views and help ensure that other young people have access to meaningful volunteering. The role will also provide opportunities for personal and professional development, experience of governance and how an organisation is run in a national organisation, and exposure to various functions such as advocacy and communications.

How much experience do you need? 

We recognise that young people bring fresh ideas, creativity, and insight. You don’t need to have prior Board experience – we’ll support you to grow into the role by providing induction, training and mentoring. 

This opportunity might suit you if you are interested in leadership, social impact, volunteering, strategy, or learning how organisations make decisions.

 We welcome people who enjoy collaboration, sharing ideas, listening to others, and contributing thoughtfully. 

Above all, we are looking for someone who is curious, committed, and open to learning.

Role description General responsibilities: 

• Help decide the future direction and main priorities of Volunteer Ireland. 

• Support the organisation’s goals, values, and mission, and help make sure they are followed. 

• Always act in the best interests of Volunteer Ireland, especially when it comes to money, property, legal responsibilities, and how the organisation is run. 

• Take part in important Board decisions, such as approving plans, budgets, new projects, and policy changes. 

• Help make sure Volunteer Ireland follows all relevant laws and regulations. 

• Support the responsible use of the organisation’s money, staff, and other resources. 

• Help create policies and strategies that support the organisation’s goals. 

• Take part in identifying and managing risks that could affect the organisation.

• Help make sure the organisation is open, honest, and accountable to the people it works with. 

• Declare any conflicts of interest or situations where personal interests could affect decision-making. 

• Do not accept gifts or benefits because of your role as a Board member. 

• Always act honestly, ethically, and with integrity. 

• Be a positive ambassador for Volunteer Ireland. 

• Help protect and promote the organisation’s reputation.

Additional duties specific to the Young Person role: 

• Share the views and experiences of young people to help guide decisions about volunteering. 

• Help make sure a young person’s voice and ideas are heard by the Volunteer Ireland Board. 

• Support and advise Volunteer Ireland’s staff who work with young people, by acting as a mentor and someone they can bounce ideas off. 

• Encourage Volunteer Ireland to keep improving how it connects and works with young people.

Person specification 

The successful candidate will be a motivated young person with a strong record of volunteering, community involvement, and active citizenship. No prior Board experience is required. 

Essential Experience, Skills and Personal Qualities 

We are looking for someone who: 

• Is between 18 and 25 years old when joining the Board. 

• Has lots of experience volunteering and is passionate about helping others. 

• Has a history of getting involved in their community and being an active citizen. 

• Can think about the big picture and plan for the future. 

• Is curious, asks questions, and feels comfortable challenging ideas in a respectful way. 

• Understands that it’s important to support group decisions, even if they didn’t personally agree at first. 

• Has good communication and listening skills. 

• Gets along well with different people. 

• Stays calm and level-headed under pressure. 

• Can handle different situations in meetings and help guide discussions so that the best outcome for the organisation is reached. 

• Is committed to the organisation’s vision and values.

Desirable Experience, Skills and Personal Qualities: 

We would also like it if the person had: 

• Experience leading volunteers. 

• An understanding of how community and volunteer groups work. 

• Experience working as part of a committee or panel, for example in a youth group, in school, NYCI’s young persons’ committee, SpunOut’s Action Panel, the Young Ireland Advisory Council, or other decision-making or advisory groups. 

• Experience helping an organisation make changes and grow.

Time requirement

TOTAL HOURS PER YEAR: 36.25-43.25 (=5-6 working days)

Application process 

To apply, please send your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your suitability and motivation for applying, addressed to our Chairperson Ian Dinan: chair@volunteer.ie 

Please state “Member of the Board of Directors (Young Persons’ Perspective)” in the subject line of your email. 

The deadline for applications is 25th September 2026. Informal meetings with short-listed candidates will occur the week commencing 5th October. We value diversity and aspire to reflect this in our staff, volunteers and Board. We welcome applications from people from all sections of the community, irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or belief.

 Description of Volunteer Ireland 

Volunteer Ireland (VI) is the national volunteer development organisation and a support body for all 29 local Volunteer Centres in Ireland. Volunteer Ireland’s vision is an Ireland where volunteering thrives. 

Our mission is to promote, support and advocate for excellent, accessible and inclusive volunteering. 

Volunteer Ireland has identified five strategic priorities for the duration of the current strategic plan (2023-2027). These are to: 

• Advocate for volunteering 

• Support the Volunteer Centres

• Develop meaningful volunteering 

• Raise the profile of volunteering 

• Grow and sustain an excellent organisation, consistent with our values. Volunteer Ireland complies with the Charity Regulator’s Governance Code.

For more information about Volunteer Ireland, including staffing and governance, please see https://www.volunteer.ie