Manager of Volunteer Programs

A Day in the Life: The Manager of Volunteer Programs (MVP) is responsible for all aspects of the Garden’s volunteer program. This includes maintaining and growing a comprehensive Volunteer Program to include recruitment, placement, training, communication, record-keeping, scheduling, evaluation, and recognition. This person works closely with Garden staff to facilitate positive, mission-aligned experiences for prospective and current volunteers. As we continue to grow our volunteer program, the Manager of Volunteer Programs must be an engaging speaker, a creative thinker, capable of building and sustaining relationships, and able to interact with and welcome diverse audiences. Bilingual skills are highly desirable in this role. This full-time (40 hours per week), exempt position reports to the Director of Development. What You’ll Do: Recruit, screen, train, place, and schedule volunteers, including providing a robust orientation process. Meet regularly with staff to assess and adapt our volunteer opportunities to ensure they meet both organizational and volunteer needs. Communicate the policies, procedures, and standards of volunteer service at the Garden, highlighting our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Respond promptly to email, phone, and in-person inquiries from people interested in volunteering and from staff requiring information or volunteer support. Maintain detailed records of all former, current, and prospective volunteers, and provide quantitative reporting, as requested. Manage all volunteer activity, including confirming assignments and schedules with volunteers and relevant staff to ensure all logistics are clearly communicated and calendared. Supervise all Garden volunteers; planning, assigning and directing work; working along with them in any job task, as necessary. Ensure proper background checks are performed according to California law and Garden policies. Regularly evaluate individual volunteer performance by working directly with staff to review, assess, and constructively manage volunteers. The MVP is the mediator for any complaints, concerns, or disputes, and is responsible for promptly addressing performance issues with volunteers who are not meeting job requirements. Creatively identify and develop volunteer opportunities, write job descriptions, and evaluate the volunteer program’s efficacy. Train and coach staff to work with volunteers, and ensure a good fit between volunteers, staff, and specific assignments. Provide yearly training sessions for staff and volunteers, along with monthly educational presentations. Help staff anticipate their department’s ongoing and seasonal need for volunteer support; schedule volunteer support based on program/event objectives; provide “day of” management for volunteers for all major events. Plan annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner, Volunteer Potluck, and Volunteer Native Yard House Tour, and other educational field trips and events for volunteers. Periodically review and update the volunteer handbook. Serve as the point of contact for corporate team volunteer days, and high school and college service organizations. Assist with carrying out the Garden’s Docent Training Program and the Garden Growers Training Program and ensure volunteers are prepared to represent the Garden onsite and in the community. Work with appropriate agencies to allow the Garden to serve as an approved volunteer site for community service; maintain all records necessary to ensure program compliance; orient and schedule the community service program. Organize and facilitate hospitality for volunteers and events which depend heavily on volunteers, including social interaction, as well as food, beverages, and scheduled rest, as needed, and manage the procurement of supplies and presentation of hospitality stations. Communicate with the volunteers via office hours, monthly newsletters, and weekly updates. You Must Be Able To: Communicate …

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