In a pan-European volunteer movement of 38,000+ members, all the people work sat with one person. I built the first HR team from scratch, from zero to 30 volunteers across five specialised sub-teams: volunteer activation, intern support, hiring support, HR technology and HR communications. Each sub-team got its own mandate, role descriptions and named owners, so it could run without waiting for permission. People work stopped being one person's overload and became a function the organisation owns.
About the Project:
I built Volt Europa’s first HR team from scratch, growing it from zero to 30 volunteers across five specialised sub-teams. The team operated independently while supporting the wider organisation with volunteer activation, intern support, hiring support, HR technology, and HR communications.
My Process:
I designed the structure and responsibilities, recruited volunteers, established ways of working, maintained the team, trained people where needed, and created resources to support consistent delivery. The work combined people leadership, team design, process development, and practical systems building in a decentralised, volunteer-led organisation.
Deliverables:
HR team structure, five sub-team mandates, role descriptions and responsibilities, recruitment and onboarding support for HR volunteers, training and coaching, process guidance, reusable resources, low-cost open-source HR technology support, and communication materials.
Results:
Volt Europa had a functioning, distributed HR capability with clear ownership across five areas. The structure made it possible for specialised volunteers to work independently while giving the wider organisation practical support across the volunteer and member lifecycle, internships, hiring, systems, and communications.
The buyable version of this is smaller and faster: I design the people function your organisation actually needs, staff it with the people you already have, and hand it over running.
What the Client Said:
“Ermal supported staff and volunteers through practical questions, sensitive situations and moments of transition, always with the aim of creating a more stable, fair and human working environment.”
- Francesca Romana D’Antuono, former Co-President @ Volt Europa
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