Charity & Non Profit Job Description Templates
Templates for common charity and non-profit roles, including retail shop managers, fundraisers and volunteer coordinators. Use these job-description templates as a starting point: pick the template that best matches the role’s primary function (fundraising, retail, service delivery or volunteer management), then tailor duties, hours and any safeguarding or DBS requirements to your organisation.
Find the closest role, then make it yours.
Start with the job title that best matches your vacancy and edit the responsibilities, requirements, salary, working pattern and benefits before publishing.
What should a charity job description include?
Start with the role’s purpose and the social impact expected, then list core duties, reporting lines and typical hours. Also state location, funding or contract term, any safeguarding or DBS checks, required experience with volunteers or fundraising, and the benefits or flexible working on offer.
4 charity & non profit job description examples
Select the role closest to your vacancy. Each template gives you an editable starting point plus role-specific responsibilities, skills, salary considerations and hiring guidance.
Hiring for charity & non profit roles
Charity and non-profit roles vary widely by focus and seniority. Retail roles (charity shop manager) combine commercial and people-management responsibilities and often require strong retail and stock-management experience. Fundraising roles range from entry-level supporter engagement to senior development managers responsible for major donors and strategy. Volunteer-facing roles focus on recruitment, safeguarding and coordination rather than direct service delivery. Senior posts may include budget ownership, regulatory reporting and trustee liaison; front-line roles are more operational and community-facing. Many roles are part-time, fixed-term or reliant on project funding, which affects duties and candidate expectations.
Operations & Retail
Shops and service delivery posts combine day-to-day operations, stock or service management and frontline public contact; look for retail, customer-service and basic financial controls experience.
Fundraising & Volunteer Management
Fundraising roles need proven relationship-building and compliance knowledge; volunteer roles require recruitment, safeguarding and rota management skills and a focus on retention and development.
How to write a better charity & non profit job advert
The template gives you the structure. These details are what make the finished advert more useful to the right candidates.
Lead with impact
Explain the difference the role will make for beneficiaries or the cause to attract values-aligned candidates.
Be precise about hours and flexibility
State FTE, typical weekly hours, shift patterns and whether job-sharing or part-time applicants are welcome.
List essential checks and clearances
Specify if a DBS, eligibility to work in the UK or driving licence is required, and whether these are essential or desirable.
Describe volunteer interactions
If the role supervises or recruits volunteers, note expected headcount, rota complexity and DBS/safeguarding requirements.
Include measurable responsibilities
Use specific, measurable duties (eg weekly donation-processing targets, number of fundraising events managed) rather than vague tasks.
Highlight non-monetary benefits
Mention pension scheme, flexible working, training, travel reimbursement, charity discounts and wellbeing support.
Charity & Non Profit salary considerations
Salaries in the charity sector depend on funding, role scope and location rather than a single national scale. Consider these factors when setting or advertising pay and when comparing candidates.
- Funding source and stability (core-funded vs grant/project-funded) and how that affects contract length.
- Role scope and seniority: front-line coordinators versus senior fundraising or retail managers with P&L responsibility.
- Local labour market and cost of living which influence competitive pay in your area.
- Hours and working pattern: part-time, sessional or unsocial hours often need pro-rata or enhanced rates.
- Total reward package including pension, holiday entitlement, training and non-cash benefits.
Charity & Non Profit job description FAQs
Do charity roles always need a DBS check?
Not always. DBS checks are required where roles involve regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults. State clearly in the description whether a DBS (and which level) is required or will be sought conditional on appointment.
How should I advertise a volunteer role differently from a paid vacancy?
Emphasise mission, impact and training opportunities; explain time commitment, expenses and any support provided, and advertise on volunteer-matching sites and local community channels.
Can we ask for previous volunteering experience?
Yes, asking for relevant experience is reasonable, but balance essential and desirable criteria to avoid excluding good candidates who have transferable skills from paid roles or lived experience.
Should trustees be paid?
Trustee remuneration varies by charity size and governance policy. Many trustees are unpaid volunteers; if you offer a fee, make this clear and ensure it complies with your governing document and charity commission guidance.
How do we show flexibility in part-time or sessional roles?
State core hours, any variable shift requirements and whether job-sharing, compressed hours or occasional weekend work are options to attract a wider candidate pool.
Need help writing or advertising your charity vacancy?
We can draft your job advert, tailor templates to your charity and post vacancies to multiple boards to maximise reach. Provide the role details and funding term and we’ll prepare a strong, compliant advert for you.
