Title: Volunteer Coordinator
Position type: Full time, non-exempt, some weekends and evenings required
Starting wage: $21.00 - $24.00 per hour (commensurate with experience), plus paid time off (PTO) accrual after 90 days of employment
Reports to: Community Programs Manager
Direct reports: Staff, volunteers, AmeriCorps VISTA members and/or interns assigned to the volunteer department
Description of Role
Volunteers are essential to Austin Creative Reuse’s (ACR) ability to fulfill our conservation mission, accounting for up to 50 percent of our total labor hours. The Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for maintaining and growing ACR’s robust volunteer program and creating impactful volunteer experiences that keep our volunteers engaged and coming back. The primary responsibilities of ACR’s Volunteer Coordinator include, but are not limited to:
- Overseeing all aspects of ACR’s volunteer department, including both direct work with volunteers and strategic and administrative tasks related to the department
- Supervising a small team of paid and unpaid individuals assigned to the volunteer department
What You’ll Do
Volunteer Management
- Serve as primary point of contact for the volunteer department for both internal and external stakeholders, providing excellent customer service to all
- Manage all programs within the volunteer department, including but not limited to, core volunteering, community volunteering, group volunteering, event volunteering, corporate team building, and life skills engagement
- Work alongside and engage volunteers in efficient and accurate sorting, processing, packaging, and/or pricing of material donations
- Train new volunteers and volunteers starting new projects or taking on new roles
- Effectively lead groups of volunteers through small and large group volunteer events that may take place in our center or at external locations
- Regularly communicate with volunteers to keep them informed and engaged so they feel welcome, productive, and valued
- Serve as primary contact for volunteer feedback and suggestions, following up and/or implementing changes, as appropriate
- Maintain volunteer portal, ensuring that volunteers are able to accurately and easily sign up for shifts and projects, including in-center shifts and take home projects
- Actively manage and maintain area of the center known as “Volunteer Land”
- Responsible for recruitment of new individual volunteers and groups, including creating outreach materials and campaigns to promote volunteer opportunities
- Responsible for maintenance of volunteer department processes and documentation, including material processing, making adjustments as needed to ensure volunteer tasks are completed accurately and efficiently
- Identify and address areas for continuous improvement within the volunteer department
- Responsible for risk management within the department, including health and safety, abuse prevention and vehicle usage
- Proactively manage any issues that may arise, including interpersonal volunteer issues, escalating to supervisor, when necessary
- Other duties as assigned
Strategy and Organizational Support
- Communicate and collaborate with other ACR departments to identify needs and provide volunteer support, as appropriate
- Keep abreast of changes throughout the organization through regular communication with staff and key volunteers across all other departments
- Collaborate with other departments to devise policies and processes that balance the needs of the organization and individual departments
- Manage special projects as assigned based on current organizational needs and goals, including, but not limited to, special event planning, promotion, and execution
Qualifications
- 2 years experience managing volunteers or equivalent education in a related field
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Self-starter with ability to prioritize and handle multiple, concurrent tasks and to be proactive in seeking out information, when needed
- Basic computer skills, including familiarity with Google suite and Airtable (or similar database tool)
- Demonstrated ability to recognize, train, and develop talent and leadership
- Able to work in a team-oriented environment of diverse staff and volunteers who provide and need varying levels of support
- Ability to maintain composure under pressure and navigate workplace interactions with tact and respect
- Understanding of and commitment to Austin Creative Reuse’s mission and values and ability to effectively communicate these to various stakeholders
- Ability to speak multiple languages a plus
- Basic knowledge of or experience with creative materials and/or techniques a plus
The above is intended to describe the general content of the requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.
Working Conditions: Be able to push/pull merchandise with appropriate equipment between different areas of center; Frequently lift up to 50 lbs; Lift, place, and arrange items on shelves and racks; Bend down and reach above head; Climb and descend stairs/ladders; Stand and move around center during an entire shift (other than normal breaks); Work around secondhand goods that may contain dust and unknown allergens; Work in a semi-climate controlled warehouse environment where temperatures/conditions may vary depending upon season; Work outdoors for special events where temperatures/conditions may vary depending upon season.
Please note ACR is a bring your own device workplace, and employees are not provided with electronic devices for individual use. Candidates must have reliable access to a functioning personal computer and smartphone throughout employment.
To Apply
Submit your resume and a tailored cover letter to careers@austincreativereuse.org . Applications submitted without a cover letter tailored to this position will not be considered. We review applications on a rolling basis, so it is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible.
At Austin Creative Reuse, we believe that diversity makes us stronger and challenges us to think differently every day. Austin Creative Reuse provides equal employment opportunities to all on the basis of qualifications, merit and organizational needs. Learn more about us at AustinCreativeReuse.org.