CSR Coordinator

Role Purpose & Context

Role Summary

The CSR Coordinator is here to support our small but mighty Sustainability_Corporate_Social team, mostly by making sure our data is accurate and our community programmes run without a hitch. You'll be the one collecting all sorts of information, from energy usage figures to volunteer hours, and helping to pull together reports that show our progress. You'll also be a key player in organising our employee volunteering days and charity partnerships. This role sits right at the heart of our efforts to be a responsible business, providing the foundational support that lets our more senior folks focus on strategy. When you do this job well, our reports are spot on, our events are buzzing, and our team can actually prove the good we're doing. If things go wrong, we're left scrambling for numbers, and our reputation could take a hit. The challenge? Sometimes you'll be chasing data from people who don't quite get why it matters. The reward? You'll see your work directly contribute to real-world positive change, and you'll learn the ropes of a really important field.

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: CSR Specialist
• Direct reports:
• Matrix relationships: Sustainability Assistant, Community Impact Coordinator, ESG Data Assistant,

Key Stakeholders

Internal:

• CSR Specialist (your direct manager)
• HR Team (for employee engagement and volunteering)
• Finance Department (for budget tracking and impact data)
• Facilities Team (for environmental data like waste and energy)
• Marketing & Communications (for sharing our stories)

External:

• Local Charity Partners (for event coordination and support)
• Community Groups (where our programmes are active)
• Sustainability Vendors (sometimes you'll help with basic info requests)

Organisational Impact

Scope: Your work, though often behind the scenes, is crucial. You're making sure we have the right numbers to show our impact, which helps us secure funding for future projects and proves to our customers and investors that we're serious about sustainability. Get it right, and you help build our reputation. Get it wrong, and we look disorganised, which can chip away at trust.

Performance Metrics

Quantitative Metrics

1. Metric: Data Collection Accuracy
2. Desc: How accurately you collect and input data for our various reports, like energy consumption or volunteer hours.
3. Target: 98% accuracy on all data entries
4. Freq: Monthly spot checks and quarterly report reviews
5. Example: You'll be asked to gather last quarter's utility bills for all our UK offices. If you miss one or miskey a number, that's a dip in accuracy. We're aiming for near-perfect on this.
6. Metric: Task Completion Rate
7. Desc: How many of your assigned tasks, especially recurring ones, you complete on time.
8. Target: 95% of tasks completed by deadline
9. Freq: Weekly review with your CSR Specialist
10. Example: If you're meant to send out the monthly volunteer newsletter by the 5th, and you do it every time, that's a win. Missing deadlines means others can't do their jobs.
11. Metric: Event Feedback Scores
12. Desc: The satisfaction level of employees who participate in the volunteering or community events you help organise.
13. Target: Average score of 4 out of 5 from participants
14. Freq: Post-event surveys
15. Example: After the annual 'Green Up Our Park' day, we'll send a quick survey. If people found it well-organised and enjoyable, you've done your bit.

Qualitative Metrics

1. Metric: Proactive Learning & Initiative
2. Desc: How much you actively seek to understand our programmes, ask good questions, and suggest small improvements.
3. Evidence: You're asking 'why' we do things a certain way, suggesting a better template for data collection, or taking notes during meetings without being asked. You're not just waiting to be told what to do next, but thinking a step ahead.
4. Metric: Organisational Skills
5. Desc: How well you manage your own workload, keep track of multiple small tasks, and maintain clear records.
6. Evidence: Your files are easy to find, your calendar is up-to-date, and you can quickly lay your hands on that obscure piece of data someone asked for last month. You're not losing track of things, even when it gets a bit busy.
7. Metric: Team Collaboration & Support
8. Desc: How effectively you work with your immediate team and other departments to get information or coordinate activities.
9. Evidence: People say you're easy to work with. You respond to requests promptly, offer help when you see someone struggling, and you're good at following up without being annoying. You're seen as a helpful and reliable team member.

Primary Traits

• Trait: A Keen Ear and a Quick Pen (Empathetic Listener)
• Manifestation: You're the person who really listens when someone explains a tricky data point, or when a charity partner tells you about their needs. You can then turn that understanding into clear, concise notes or an email that everyone gets. You'll pick up on the nuances, not just the headlines. You're also good at spotting when someone's struggling to explain something and can help them articulate it.
• Benefit: In CSR, you're often the bridge between different groups—employees, charities, even different departments internally. If you can't truly hear what people are saying, or explain it clearly to others, things get lost in translation. We need you to accurately capture information, whether it's for a report or a new programme idea, and that starts with really listening.
• Trait: The Reliable Finisher (Resilient & Detail-Oriented)
• Manifestation: When you're given a task, you see it through, even if it's a bit fiddly or takes longer than expected. You'll double-check your work, catch those small errors in a spreadsheet, and make sure everything is filed correctly. You don't get easily disheartened if a task is repetitive; you just get it done. You're the one who spots the extra zero that would have made a £100 donation look like £1,000.
• Benefit: A lot of this job involves gathering and organising data, and coordinating events. If the data's wrong, our reports are useless. If the event logistics fall apart, our reputation suffers. We need someone who takes pride in getting the details right and won't give up just because a task isn't glamorous. Your accuracy builds trust in our whole department.
• Trait: The Proactive Learner (Curious & Engaged)
• Manifestation: You're not just waiting for instructions; you're asking 'what's next?' or 'how does this fit into the bigger picture?'. You'll read up on ESG trends in your own time, ask your manager about different reporting frameworks, or offer to help with a task that's a bit outside your usual remit just to learn something new. You're genuinely interested in the 'why' behind our work.
• Benefit: The world of sustainability is constantly changing, and we're a small team. We need someone who's eager to soak up knowledge and grow with us. If you're a sponge for information and always looking to improve, you'll not only excel in this role but also set yourself up for a fantastic career in the field. We don't have time to spoon-feed; we need you to grab learning opportunities.

Supporting Traits

• Trait: Organised
• Desc: You keep your digital files tidy, your calendar updated, and your to-do list clear. You know where everything is and can find it quickly when someone asks.
• Trait: Helpful
• Desc: You're the first to offer a hand when a colleague is swamped, or to jump in to solve a small problem for someone else. You genuinely enjoy supporting others.
• Trait: Adaptable
• Desc: Things change quickly sometimes. An urgent request might come in, or an event plan needs a last-minute tweak. You can roll with it and adjust your priorities without getting flustered.

Primary Motivators

1. Motivator: Making a Tangible Difference
2. Daily: You'll get a real buzz from seeing the success of a volunteer day you helped organise, or knowing that the data you collected is contributing to a major sustainability report. You'll feel a sense of purpose in your daily tasks, knowing they feed into something bigger.
3. Motivator: Continuous Learning & Growth
4. Daily: You'll be surrounded by experienced professionals who are happy to share their knowledge. Every task, from data entry to research, will teach you something new about the sustainability landscape, our company, or how to get things done in a corporate setting. You'll be constantly picking up new skills.
5. Motivator: Being Part of a Purpose-Driven Team
6. Daily: You'll be working with people who genuinely care about making the world a better place. The team is collaborative and supportive, and you'll feel like your contributions, no matter how small, are valued and essential to the collective mission.

Potential Demotivators

Honestly, this role isn't for everyone. If you need constant excitement or immediate, massive impact, you might find some parts tough. There's a fair bit of repetitive data entry and administrative work involved, especially when we're pulling together our annual reports. You'll sometimes feel like you're chasing people for information who don't prioritise it, which can be frustrating. The pace can feel slow when you're waiting for approvals or data from other departments.

Common Frustrations

1. Spending hours chasing a single data point from a busy department.
2. The sheer volume of spreadsheets and manual data cleaning required.
3. Having a great event idea scaled back due to budget or time constraints.
4. Feeling like your work is 'just admin' when you know it's so much more.
5. Dealing with internal cynicism about CSR – some people just don't get it.

What Role Doesn't Offer

1. High-level strategic decision-making (not yet, anyway).
2. A huge budget to implement your own grand ideas (you'll be supporting others').
3. A role where every single task is novel and exciting (some are, some aren't).
4. The ability to make big, sweeping changes on your own (it's a team effort).

ADHD Positives

1. The variety of tasks, from data input to event planning, can keep things interesting and prevent boredom.
2. Opportunities to move around for event coordination or internal meetings can help with energy regulation.
3. Clear, structured tasks with defined deadlines can provide helpful external scaffolding.

ADHD Challenges and Accommodations

1. Repetitive data entry might be a challenge; we can explore tools to automate parts of this or break up tasks.
2. Maintaining focus during long data collection periods could be tough; we can use short breaks or 'focus sprints'.
3. We can provide clear, written instructions and checklists for complex processes to help with task initiation and completion.

Dyslexia Positives

1. Strong verbal communication skills can be a real asset in stakeholder interactions and team discussions.
2. The ability to see the 'big picture' of how different data points connect can be very valuable.
3. Hands-on event coordination tasks might be a strength, moving beyond text-heavy work.

Dyslexia Challenges and Accommodations

1. Proofreading reports and data entries might require extra time or support; we can use grammar/spell checkers and peer review.
2. Reading dense regulatory documents can be challenging; we can provide summaries or audio versions where possible.
3. We can use clear, sans-serif fonts in documents, provide templates, and offer text-to-speech software if helpful.

Autism Positives

1. The need for accuracy and attention to detail in data collection and reporting aligns well with a meticulous approach.
2. Structured tasks and clear expectations can provide a sense of predictability and comfort.
3. Opportunities to specialise in specific data areas or reporting frameworks can be rewarding.

Autism Challenges and Accommodations

1. Unexpected changes in priorities or event plans might be unsettling; we'll aim for clear communication about changes.
2. Navigating social dynamics during cross-departmental data requests can be tricky; your manager can help mediate these.
3. We can offer a quiet workspace, clearly defined communication channels, and predictable meeting schedules.

Key Responsibilities

Experience Levels Responsibilities

1. Level: Entry Level (0-2 years)
2. Responsibilities: Collect and organise raw data for our annual sustainability report, often from various departments like Facilities, HR, and Finance. (Yes, it's a lot of spreadsheets and chasing people.)
3. Assist in coordinating employee volunteering events, from booking venues and ordering supplies to managing sign-ups and sending out reminders. (Think logistics, not strategy.)
4. Maintain our internal database of charity partnerships and community programmes, making sure contact details and project updates are always current. (Accuracy is key here.)
5. Conduct basic research on emerging sustainability trends or best practices, helping the team stay informed. (You'll be Googling a lot, but smartly.)
6. Draft initial versions of internal communications, like newsletters or intranet updates, about our CSR activities. (Your manager will review everything, don't worry.)
7. Support the team with general administrative tasks, such as scheduling meetings, preparing presentations, and managing shared inboxes. (The bread and butter of any coordinator role.)
8. Learn and apply our internal data collection processes and reporting guidelines, making sure everything is done by the book. (We'll show you the ropes, but you need to pay attention.)
9. Supervision: You'll have daily check-ins with your CSR Specialist, especially in your first few months. They'll be reviewing almost all of your work, providing direct feedback, and making sure you're on the right track. Think of it as close guidance, not micromanagement—we want you to learn and feel supported.
10. Decision: Honestly, you won't be making big decisions on your own. Any significant choices about programme direction, budget allocation, or external communications will be made by your manager or the wider team. Your job is to execute tasks and flag any issues or questions you have. If you're unsure, just ask—that's what we expect.
11. Success: You'll know you're doing well if your data submissions are consistently accurate and on time, our events run smoothly, and your manager feels confident in giving you more responsibility. We want to see you actively learning, asking thoughtful questions, and becoming a reliable and trusted member of the team. Basically, we want you to be the person we can count on for the details.

Decision-Making Authority

• Type: Task Prioritisation
• Entry: Follow manager's explicit instructions. If two urgent tasks come in, ask your manager which to do first.
• Mid: Prioritise routine tasks independently. For conflicting urgent requests, propose a plan to your manager.
• Senior: Independently prioritise across multiple workstreams. Consult on significant shifts or resource conflicts.
• Type: Data Collection Method
• Entry: Use established templates and contact lists provided by your manager. Escalate if data isn't available or format is wrong.
• Mid: Choose appropriate collection methods for new data types, within existing guidelines. Propose new templates.
• Senior: Design new data collection methodologies and systems. Make recommendations on data governance.
• Type: External Communication
• Entry: Draft initial content for internal review. All external messages (emails to partners, social media posts) must be approved by your manager.
• Mid: Draft and send routine external communications (e.g., event reminders to volunteers) with manager's initial approval.
• Senior: Approve routine external communications. Consult on sensitive messaging or new partnership announcements.
• Type: Budget Allocation (minor)
• Entry: No budget authority. All purchases (e.g., event supplies) require manager's explicit approval and purchase order.
• Mid: Manage small event budgets up to £500, with manager oversight. Submit expense reports for approval.
• Senior: Manage programme budgets up to £5K. Approve minor expenses. Consult on larger procurement decisions.

Competency Requirements

Foundation Skills (Transferable)

These are the bedrock skills you'll need to hit the ground running. They're about how you approach your work, talk to people, and manage your day-to-day tasks. We're looking for someone who's organised, keen to learn, and can communicate clearly.

• Category: Communication & Collaboration
• Skills: Clear Written Communication: Drafting emails, notes, and basic reports that are easy to understand and free of major errors.
• Active Listening: Really hearing what people say, asking clarifying questions, and taking accurate notes.
• Teamwork: Working effectively with colleagues, offering help, and responding to requests in a timely manner.
• Category: Organisation & Planning
• Skills: Task Management: Keeping track of your own to-do list, prioritising tasks with guidance, and meeting deadlines.
• Record Keeping: Maintaining tidy digital files, updating databases, and ensuring information is easily retrievable.
• Event Logistics Support: Helping with the practical arrangements for meetings or small events (e.g., booking rooms, ordering catering).
• Category: Problem Solving & Initiative
• Skills: Basic Problem Identification: Spotting when something isn't right (e.g., missing data, conflicting information) and knowing when to ask for help.
• Following Instructions: Accurately executing tasks based on clear guidelines and procedures.
• Proactive Learning: Actively seeking out information, asking questions, and showing a desire to understand 'how things work'.

Functional Skills (Role-Specific Technical)

These are the more specific skills and tools you'll use day-to-day in a CSR role. Don't worry if you're not an expert in everything; we're looking for a solid foundation and a willingness to learn.

Technical Competencies

• Skill: Data Collection & Entry
• Desc: The ability to accurately gather numerical and qualitative data from various sources (spreadsheets, reports, emails) and input it into designated systems or templates.
• Level: Intermediate
• Skill: Basic Reporting Principles
• Desc: An understanding of why we collect data and how it's used in reports, even if you're not writing the full report yourself. Knowing the difference between an activity and an outcome, for example.
• Level: Basic
• Skill: Stakeholder Awareness
• Desc: Recognising who our key internal and external partners are, and understanding that different groups have different information needs or priorities.
• Level: Basic
• Skill: Event Coordination Basics
• Desc: The practical skills involved in helping to organise small events, like managing guest lists, sending invitations, and arranging logistics.
• Level: Intermediate

Digital Tools

• Tool: Microsoft Excel (PivotTables, VLOOKUP)
• Level: Intermediate
• Usage: You'll use Excel constantly for cleaning, aggregating, and basic analysis of data from various sources. Knowing your way around formulas and basic data manipulation is a must.
• Tool: Benevity / YourCause / Bright Funds (or similar CSR platform)
• Level: Intermediate
• Usage: You'll be entering data, pulling standard reports, and helping to manage employee volunteer events within our chosen CSR platform. We'll train you, but comfort with new software is key.
• Tool: Microsoft SharePoint / MS Teams
• Level: Intermediate
• Usage: These are our go-to tools for document collaboration, file sharing, and team communication. You'll be using them daily to work with colleagues and manage project files.
• Tool: Microsoft PowerPoint
• Level: Basic
• Usage: You'll occasionally help prepare slides for presentations, ensuring they look tidy and contain the right information. No need to be a design guru, but basic formatting helps.

Industry Knowledge

• Area: Basic ESG Concepts
• Desc: An understanding of what Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) means in a business context, and why companies care about it. You don't need to be an expert, but you should know the basics.
• Area: Community Investment Principles
• Desc: A general idea of why companies engage with local communities and support charities, and the different ways they might do this (e.g., volunteering, grants, in-kind donations).

Regulatory Compliance Regulations

• Reg: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• Usage: You'll need to understand the basics of handling personal data responsibly, especially when managing volunteer lists or charity contact details. We'll show you our internal policies.
• Reg: Modern Slavery Act (UK)
• Usage: An awareness of what this act is about and why it matters for our supply chain. You might help collect basic supplier information related to this.

Essential Prerequisites

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) or equivalent.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Strong organisational skills and a keen eye for detail.
• A genuine interest in sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a team and follow instructions.
• A proactive attitude and willingness to learn new tools and processes.

Career Pathway Context

These aren't just tick-box items; they're the foundational skills that will allow you to actually contribute from day one and build a solid base for your career in CSR. Without these, you'll struggle to keep up with the daily demands of the role and won't be able to effectively support the team. Think of them as your entry ticket.

Qualifications & Credentials

Emerging Foundation Skills

• Skill: Effective Prompt Engineering for Admin Tasks
• Why: Honestly, competitors are already using tools like ChatGPT or Claude to draft emails, summarise documents, and even organise data faster. If you can learn to 'talk' to these AIs effectively, you'll be able to get through your routine tasks much quicker, freeing you up for more interesting work.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Clear Instructions', 'description': 'Learning to give AI clear, specific instructions to get the output you want, rather than vague requests.'}, {'concept_name': 'Context Provision', 'description': 'Understanding how to provide enough background information to the AI so it can generate relevant and accurate responses.'}, {'concept_name': 'Iterative Prompting', 'description': "Knowing how to refine your prompts based on the AI's initial output to get closer to your desired result."}, {'concept_name': 'Output Validation', 'description': "Always checking the AI's output for accuracy and 'hallucinations' (when it just makes stuff up). Your brain is still essential here!"}]
• Prepare: This week: Sign up for a free version of ChatGPT or Claude and just start playing around with it for simple tasks like summarising articles or drafting short emails.
• This month: Try using AI to help you organise some of your own notes or create a basic outline for a presentation.
• Month 2: Experiment with using AI to help you extract specific data points from a simple document, then manually verify its accuracy.
• Month 3: Share one successful example of how AI saved you time with your manager and team.
• QuickWin: Start using AI to draft your internal meeting summaries or to brainstorm ideas for volunteer event themes today. It's low-risk and immediately helpful.

Advancing Technical Skills

• Skill: Basic Data Visualisation & Storytelling
• Why: Just collecting data isn't enough; you need to be able to present it in a way that makes sense to people who aren't data geeks. This means moving beyond raw numbers to simple charts and graphs that tell a clear story. Our stakeholders expect to see trends and insights, not just tables.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Choosing the Right Chart', 'description': 'Understanding when to use a bar chart, pie chart, or line graph to best represent your data.'}, {'concept_name': 'Clarity & Simplicity', 'description': 'Focusing on making visualisations easy to understand at a glance, avoiding clutter.'}, {'concept_name': 'Highlighting Key Insights', 'description': 'Using visuals to draw attention to the most important trends or findings in your data.'}, {'concept_name': 'Basic Dashboard Navigation', 'description': 'Becoming more confident in navigating and customising pre-built dashboards in tools like Power BI or Tableau.'}]
• Prepare: This week: Spend some time exploring our existing Power BI or Tableau dashboards, clicking around and seeing how they work.
• This month: Take an online tutorial on basic data visualisation principles, focusing on Excel charts.
• Month 2: Try creating a simple chart in Excel to illustrate a trend in some of the data you've collected.
• Month 3: Present a small data insight using a simple chart to your manager during a 1-on-1.
• QuickWin: When you're asked to provide numbers, try adding a simple bar chart in Excel to make the data easier to digest. It shows initiative and makes your work more impactful.

Education Requirements

• Level: Minimum
• Req: GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above.
• Alts: We're open to candidates who can demonstrate equivalent practical experience in an administrative or coordination role, even if they don't have formal qualifications. Show us you can do the job!
• Level: Preferred
• Req: A-Levels (or equivalent) or a relevant vocational qualification (e.g., Business Administration, Environmental Studies, Social Sciences).
• Alts: A relevant diploma or a foundation degree would be a bonus, but it's not a deal-breaker if you've got the right attitude and transferable skills.

Experience Requirements

You'll need 0-2 years of experience in an administrative, coordination, or support role. This could be in an office, a charity, or even a busy retail environment where you were responsible for organisation and customer service. We're looking for someone who's comfortable with office software, can manage multiple tasks, and has a proven track record of being reliable and organised. Experience with data entry or event support, even if informal, would be a real plus.

Preferred Certifications

• Cert: Basic Project Management Course
• Prod: Various online providers (e.g., Coursera, Udemy)
• Usage: Shows you understand how to break down tasks and manage timelines, which is helpful for event coordination and data collection projects.
• Cert: Introduction to Sustainability/ESG
• Prod: Various online courses or local colleges
• Usage: Demonstrates a foundational understanding of the field and a genuine interest in CSR, which is crucial for this role.

Recommended Activities

• Attending internal company webinars or workshops on sustainability topics.
• Subscribing to industry newsletters (e.g., GreenBiz, Ethical Corporation) to stay updated on trends.
• Taking online courses on Excel proficiency or data visualisation basics.
• Volunteering for a local charity to gain more hands-on experience with community programmes.
• Shadowing colleagues in other departments to understand how their work connects to CSR.

Career Progression Pathways

Entry Paths to This Role

• Path: Administrative Assistant / Office Coordinator
• Time: 1-2 years
• Path: Recent Graduate (relevant degree)
• Time: 0-1 year (post-graduation)
• Path: Charity / NGO Volunteer or Project Assistant
• Time: 1-3 years

Career Progression From This Role

• Pathway: CSR Specialist / Analyst
• Time: 2-3 years in the Coordinator role

Long Term Vision Potential Roles

• Title: Senior CSR Specialist / Program Manager
• Time: 5-8 years
• Title: Lead CSR Strategist / Principal
• Time: 8-12 years
• Title: Head of Community Impact / CSR Manager
• Time: 12-16 years

How Zavmo Delivers This Role's Development

DISCOVER Phase: Skills Gap Analysis

Zavmo maps your current competencies against all requirements in this job description through conversational assessment. We evaluate your foundation skills (communication, strategic thinking), functional skills (CRM expertise, negotiation), and readiness for career progression.

Output: Personalised skills gap heat map showing strengths and priorities, estimated time to competency, neurodiversity accommodations.

DISCUSS Phase: Personalised Learning Pathway

Based on your DISCOVER results, Zavmo creates a personalised learning plan prioritised by impact: foundation skills first, then functional skills. We adapt to your learning style, pace, and neurodiversity needs (ADHD, dyslexia, autism).

Output: Week-by-week schedule, each module linked to specific job responsibilities, checkpoints and milestones.

DELIVER Phase: Conversational Learning

Learn through conversation, not boring modules. Zavmo uses 10 conversation types (Socratic dialogue, role-play, coaching, case studies) to build competence. Practice difficult QBR presentations, negotiate tough renewals, and handle churn conversations in a safe AI environment before facing real clients.

Example: "For 'Stakeholder Mapping', Zavmo will guide you through analysing a complex enterprise account, identifying key decision-makers, and building an engagement strategy."

DEMONSTRATE Phase: Competency Assessment

Zavmo automatically builds your evidence portfolio as you learn. Every conversation, practice scenario, and application example is captured and mapped to NOS performance criteria. When ready, your portfolio supports OFQUAL qualification claims and demonstrates competence to employers.

Output: Competency matrix, evidence portfolio (downloadable), qualification readiness, career progression score.