Identification

• To help the volunteer and others identify their role, create a job title for the volunteer position. Showing appreciation for volunteers' service is an important way to retain their loyalty, and giving them a job title provides recognition. It's OK to be generous with job titles; remember the volunteer is donating his time to the organization. The title of food service supervisor is preferable to head cook, for example.
  
  

Purpose

• One or two sentences describing the purpose of the position helps the volunteer focus on the overall goal. In the food service supervisor example, the purpose might be to oversee the daily preparation of healthy meals for indigent clients. List the major duties of the volunteer position. For example, the food supervisor will create weekly menus, order food and supplies, oversee food safety practices in storage and preparation, and supervise kitchen assistants in preparing lunch daily.
  
  

Considerations

• Volunteers might work in the office or out in the community, or both. If they will work in several locations, try to list an approximate percentage of time they will spend in each. Provide the contact information of the program supervisor and other key staff so the volunteer knows who to contact with questions. Volunteers sometimes work when regular staff members are off duty, and they need contacts in case of emergency situations.