Description

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Director of Community Engagement, the Volunteer Services Manager leads a best-in-class volunteer program to optimize ARF’s exceptional volunteers and programs. The Volunteer Services Manager develops, improves, and implements strategies to recruit, onboard, train, evaluate, recognize, and retain a thriving volunteer community where diverse and engaged volunteers find fulfilling roles empowering ARF’s work on behalf of the human-animal bond.

Principal Duties:

Leadership

• Lead by action and example to advance a culture of positivity, professionalism, trust, transparency, empathy, and excellence at ARF.
• Aligns volunteer program with the organization’s core values, goals, strategic commitments, and DEIB initiatives.
• Advocates for and meaningfully contributes to diverse, equitable, and inclusive practices.

Departmental Support, Collaboration, & Placement

• Consult and coordinate with key staff to identify each department's volunteer positions, procedures, prerequisites, and onboarding protocol.
• Trains organizational staff on best practices in volunteer management, including effective teamwork, communication, retention, and recognition strategies.
• Works with department supervisors to develop and implement volunteer onboarding and scheduling best practices.
• Assigns volunteers to align volunteer and organizational goals effectively.

Program Management

• With input and/or feedback from the Director of Community Engagement, develops and implements volunteer training curriculum, consistently streamlining and modernizing content and delivery systems to ensure training meets volunteers’ and ARF’s needs.
• Continuously evaluates all aspects of the volunteer program, recommending improvements to senior leadership as appropriate.
• Conducts and/or oversees volunteer informational sessions, including introduction to the organization, coordination of specialized training, facilitation of ongoing volunteer opportunities as needed, etc.
• Researches and shares best practices to stay abreast of evolution in volunteer management.
• Works closely with the Talent team to align volunteer programs with policies.
• With input and/or feedback from the Director of Community Engagement, develops and implements ongoing enrichment, engagement, and recognition activities for volunteers, e.g., educational events, forums, events, department-level appreciation, etc.
• Cultivates volunteer leadership and pathways for volunteer growth and continuing education.
• Fosters an environment where volunteers feel valued, supported, and recognized for their contributions.
• Hires, trains, supervises, evaluates, commends, coaches, counsels, and/or corrects direct and/or indirect reports.
• Communicates clearly and supports an atmosphere of trust, transparency, and support to staff and volunteers.
• Investigate and resolve problems that may arise between volunteers, staff, and/or the public in a timely manner.
• Facilitates resolution between volunteers and their peers or supervisors, coaching volunteers, taking coaching, corrective, or disciplinary actions as needed.

Administration & Reporting.

• Maintains and reports statistics, data, and outcomes information consistent with strategic plan.
• Prepares monthly statistical reports, including tracking of volunteer hours and additional reports as needed, managing and analyzing volunteer data.
• Prepares and monitors adherence to departmental budget by tracking budgeted expenses, revenue, and departmental impact data, reporting metrics to illustrate effectiveness.

Risk Management

• Participates in the development of ARF’s safety protocols regarding Volunteer Services. Attends all designated safety training and follows established procedures governing workplace safety.
• Trains department staff and volunteers on proper safety protocols and procedures and alerts them to hazards or potential hazards in the workplace.
• Complies with all Federal, State, and local safety regulations, laws, organizational policies, procedures, and guidelines, including the legalities of volunteers as a staffing resource instead of those with employment status.

Additional Responsibilities

• Participates in annual budgeting and other planning processes as required.
• Fulfills commitments to corporate and individual sponsors in a manner that will inspire sponsor satisfaction and renewal.
• Supports events, fundraising, television requests, and other media spots as requested; provides shelter tours for guests.
• At all times, treats people and animals with respect, contributes to effective teamwork, promotes staff cooperation, and fosters public relations beneficial to ARF.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Physical/Environmental Requirements:

• Work environment includes constant exposure to animals and animal allergens.
• Ability to lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 25 pounds for short distances.
• Sit for long periods of time while using a computer.
• Able to push/pull/lift 25 pounds and do physical work relative to setting up and breaking down event sites, loading/unloading trucks, moving tables & chairs, etc.).
• Kneel, bend, stoop, squat, reach above and below shoulder level, grasp and turn objects, stand, and/or walk frequently and repetitively throughout each shift, before, during, and after events.
• Sits through meetings of an hour or longer.
• Communicate in conference calls.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience required. Degree in related field highly preferred.

Experience, Abilities, and Qualities Required:

• Demonstrated appreciation for the human-animal bond.
• Proven organizational and planning skills with a demonstrated ability to lead and manage projects and people.
• Knowledge of the legal boundaries of volunteer and employee roles to guide appropriate and compliant volunteer staffing.
• Skilled in developing and working with a culturally diverse staff, volunteers, and community.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to identify and address issues and opportunities.
• Excellent motivator with experience in coaching, mentoring, and holding individuals and work units accountable for their results.
• Ability to communicate comfortably and effectively with volunteers, one-on-one, in small groups, and to large audiences.
• Experience supervising personnel delivering services related to the well-being of dogs and cats preferred.
• Pre-employment background check screening required.

Hours:

Exempt position requires a minimum of 40 hours per week. Daily reporting hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department. Weekend and evening work may be required.

Salary : $75,000 - $85,000