Manager of Volunteer Programs

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Full Time Santa Barbara, CA, US

Salary Range: $70,304.00 To $75,000.00 Annually

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…