Volunteers play a vital role in advancing SoFIGG’s mission and strengthening the growing FIGG community. Whether you contribute your time to a special interest group (SIG), help support our events, assist with membership services, or bring specialist skills to a specific project, your involvement makes a meaningful difference. If you are passionate about ethical, scientifically rigorous FIGG practice and would like to support the development of this interdisciplinary field, we invite you to explore our current volunteer opportunities or get in touch to discuss how your skills could contribute to the Society’s work.
Special Interest Group (SIG) Co-ordinator
Role overview
We are seeking volunteer Special Interest Group (SIG) Co-ordinators to lead and support topic-focussed communities within SoFIGG. Each SIG is centred on a specific area of interest within genetic genealogy or forensic investigative genetic genealogy (for example, endogamy, a particular population group, methodology, or regional focus).
The SIG Co-ordinator is responsible for maintaining an online discussion space, encouraging constructive engagement, and helping to curate relevant resources and learning opportunities for members with shared interests.
This role would suit someone with subject-matter interest or experience in a specific area of genetic genealogy, good organisational and communication skills, and a collaborative approach to community building.
Key responsibilities
- Maintain and moderate an online discussion space dedicated to the SIG’s topic, ensuring discussions remain respectful, relevant, and productive.
- Encourage participation and knowledge-sharing among SIG members, including posing discussion prompts or sharing relevant updates.
- Identify and liaise with potential internal speakers for SIG-hosted talks, webinars, or discussion sessions.
- Assist in curating and maintaining a collection of relevant resources (e.g. articles, tools, recordings, reading lists) for SIG members.
- Support the development of SIG-related activities where appropriate.
- Act as a point of contact for members interested in the SIG and help welcome new participants.
- Provide occasional updates to the board or relevant committee on SIG activity and engagement.
- Ensure that SIG activities align with SoFIGG’s values, code of conduct, and educational objectives.
Qualifications and skills
- Interest or experience in the SIG’s specific topic area (professional or advanced hobbyist level).
- Good written communication skills and confidence engaging with others in an online setting.
- Ability to facilitate discussion in a constructive, inclusive, and respectful manner.
- Organised and reliable, with the ability to manage a small community space independently.
- Comfortable using online discussion platforms and basic digital tools (training can be provided).
- Familiarity with (or willingness to learn) Google Workspace, Discord and other SoFIGG collaboration tools.
- (Desirable but not essential) Experience moderating online communities, teaching, presenting, or organising educational activities.
Time commitment
Flexible, typically 1–3 hours per week depending on activity levels. Some additional time may be required when organising talks or events. The role is fully remote and can be carried out according to your own schedule and time zone.
What you will gain
- Complimentary affiliate membership (or discounted professional-tier membership if eligible), including free or discounted access to SoFIGG events.
- Opportunities to deepen expertise in a specialised area of genetic genealogy.
- Experience in community facilitation, knowledge curation, and educational support within a professional society.
- Networking opportunities with peers who share similar research or professional interests.
- The satisfaction of contributing to an organisation that promotes ethical and responsible practice in forensic investigative genetic genealogy.
Reporting line
The SIG Co-ordinator reports to the relevant board member and works collaboratively with other SIG Co-ordinators and volunteers as needed.
How to apply
Interested applicants should contact contact@sofigg.org with a short introduction, an outline of their proposed SIG topic or area of interest, a summary of relevant experience, CV, and details of availability.
Finance Assistant
Role overview
We are seeking a volunteer Finance Assistant to support SoFIGG’s Treasurer with routine financial administration and record-keeping. This role involves assisting with payments related to events, memberships, and other organisational activities, as well as helping to maintain accurate financial records.
The position would suit someone with a methodical approach, attention to detail, and an interest in gaining or applying experience in charity or non-profit financial administration.
Key responsibilities
- Assist with processing payments and reimbursements for events, memberships, and approved expenses.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records in coordination with the Treasurer.
- Help reconcile transactions and ensure appropriate documentation is stored and organised.
- Support communication with members or event participants regarding payment queries or receipts.
- Assist in preparing simple financial summaries or reports for internal use (e.g. event income and expenditure).
- Help ensure SoFIGG’s financial procedures and policies are followed consistently.
- Liaise with other volunteers or committee members as required to ensure smooth financial processes.
Qualifications and skills
- Good numeracy and attention to detail.
- Experience using Stripe (or willingness to learn)
- Basic understanding of bookkeeping or financial record-keeping (training can be provided).
- Comfortable using spreadsheets (e.g. Excel or Google Sheets) and online payment systems.
- Organised, reliable, and able to handle confidential information responsibly.
- Familiarity with (or willingness to learn) Google Workspace
- (Desirable but not essential) Familiarity with accounting software or experience supporting a charity or small organisation.
Time commitment
Flexible, typically 2–4 hours per week, with occasional additional time around events or membership renewals. Work is remote and can be carried out according to your own schedule, with periodic check-ins with the Treasurer.
What you will gain
- Complimentary affiliate membership (or discounted professional-tier membership if eligible) which includes free or discounted access to SoFIGG events
- Experience supporting the financial operations of a professional not-for-profit organisation.
- Insights into financial management within a specialist professional society.
- Opportunities to develop or strengthen administrative and financial skills.
- The satisfaction of contributing to an organisation that promotes ethical and responsible practice in the field of forensic investigative genetic genealogy.
Reporting line
The Finance Assistant reports directly to the Treasurer of SoFIGG and works closely with other members of the board of trustees or membership administration team as needed.
How to apply
Interested applicants should contact contact@sofigg.org with a short introduction, summary of relevant experience, CV, and details of availability.
IT Assistant
Role overview
We are seeking a volunteer IT Assistant to support the technical upkeep and development of the SoFIGG website and related online systems. The role primarily involves maintaining and improving our WordPress website, ensuring functionality, security, and user-friendly content management.
This position is ideal for someone who is comfortable working independently, has an eye for detail, and is interested in supporting the mission of an organisation at the intersection of genetics, genealogy, and forensic science.
Key responsibilities
- Assist with routine maintenance of the SoFIGG WordPress website (updates, back-ups, plug-in management).
- Provide support for routine Nextcloud maintenance (updates, backups, account management)
- Support troubleshooting of website issues (functionality, performance, or display).
- Help implement design or content updates as requested by the marketing or leadership team.
- Ensure website security best practices are followed and advise on improvements.
- Assist with integration of third-party tools (e.g., forms, event registration, membership features, or analytics).
- Provide occasional technical support to SoFIGG staff or volunteers regarding website-related tools or systems.
Qualifications
- Experience with WordPress (content editing, themes, plug-ins, or site administration).
- Experience working with the Nextcloud backend environment.
- Familiarity with general website maintenance concepts.
- Comfortable learning new online tools or platforms as needed.
- Reliable, organised, and able to work collaboratively in a remote environment.
- Familiarity with Google Workspace (or willingness to learn).
- Experience with SSH and command-line server management is a plus.
Time commitment
Flexible, typically 2–5 hours per week depending on current projects and needs. Work is remote and can be completed according to your own schedule.
What you will gain
- Complimentary affiliate membership (or discounted professional-tier membership if eligible) which includes free or discounted access to SoFIGG events
- Experience supporting a professional not-for-profit organisation in a growing field.
- Opportunities to build technical and communication skills in a real-world setting.
- The satisfaction of contributing to an organisation that promotes the ethical and effective use of genetic genealogy in forensic contexts.
How to apply
Interested applicants can contact contact@sofigg.org with a short introduction, summary of relevant experience, CV, and details of availability.
Copywriter
Role overview
We are seeking a volunteer Copywriter with a strong interest in forensic investigative genetic genealogy, forensic genetics, genealogy, or closely related fields.
The volunteer will support SoFIGG by producing clear, accurate, and engaging written content for educational, communication, and outreach purposes. This role is well suited to someone passionate about complex scientific topics who enjoys transforming specialist knowledge into accessible, high-quality text.
Key responsibilities
- Produce well-researched, high-quality written content related to FIGG and associated subjects (e.g., educational articles, blog posts, informational materials).
- Work with the Marketing Director and the communications team to plan topics and develop content.
- Adapt content for various formats (newsletter, informational materials, social media, as required).
- Maintain accuracy, proper referencing, and adherence to ethical and communication standards.
- (Optional) Support the creation of content for newsletters or other outreach initiatives.
Qualifications and skills
- Excellent writing and editing skills in English.
- Ability to communicate scientific or technical information in an accessible and engaging way.
- Interest in forensic science, genetics, genealogy, FIGG, or related disciplines.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to work independently with attention to detail
- (Desirable) Experience in scientific/technical copywriting, blogging, publishing, or non-profit communications.
- (Desirable) Familiarity with basic online content management or communication tools.
Time commitment
Flexible hours, typically around 3–5 hours per week depending on current projects.
The role is fully remote, with regular communication with the Marketing Director and the SoFIGG communications team.
What you will gain
- Complimentary affiliate membership (or discounted professional membership, if eligible), including access to selected SoFIGG events.
- Experience in content creation within a rapidly evolving area of forensic science and genetic genealogy.
- Opportunities to develop writing, editing, and communication skills.
Reporting line
The Newsletter Manager reports directly to the Marketing Director and works collaboratively with other members of the communications and leadership teams.
How to apply
Interested applicants can contact contact@sofigg.org with a short introduction, examples of relevant experience or writing samples, CV, and details of availability.
