Temporary Volunteer Services Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

This position is estimated to last 3 months, from Oct 15, 2026 to January 15, 2027.

OUR IMPACT

For over 50 years, Samaritan House has been leading the fight against poverty in San Mateo County. We’re the only organization that delivers the full breadth of essential services and personalized support to the working poor. By ensuring our clients are fed, clothed, healthy, and housed, we help them create their own stability and remain an active, successful part of our community. After all, an enduring community is only possible when every person has the resources they need to live.

OUR CULTURE

We’re passionate about providing our employees with a supportive work environment and experiences that help them grow. We offer excellent opportunities for individuals with proven strong, creative, results-driven leadership skills and stellar work ethics. We welcome candidates who love working with people of diverse backgrounds and want to make a difference by fostering community care for our neighbors in need.

YOUR IMPACT

Volunteerism is at the heart of Samaritan House. Volunteers provide a motivated, valuable and exemplary workforce at Samaritan House. Our goal is to be the local volunteer organization of choice. This position requires a flexible candidate with strong data management skills as well as the ability to work with external and internal constituents successfully. Incumbent must enjoy working with people as well as managing large amounts of data or administrative work

Under the direct supervision of the Director of Volunteer Engagement, Children’s and Seasonal Services, or in their absence the Volunteer and Engagement Manager, the Temporary Volunteer Services Assistant is responsible for assisting and supporting Samaritan House’s volunteer program experience, assisting with developing, coordinating, and maintaining an effective volunteer program. While the department is down one team member for an estimated 6 months, this position will assist in providing guidance and programming direction to the agency’s volunteer program while building on existing efforts and plans. This includes assisting with forecasting, planning, outreach, recruitment, placement, orientation, training, reporting, analysis, evaluation and support for all volunteers in support programmatic and administrative functions across the organization. Volunteering is a key entry point for fund development at Samaritan House, and the staff within the Volunteer Department will play a key role in ensuring the coordination of volunteering and development efforts.

Additionally, this position may be assigned offsite duties to support programs or other departmental initiatives. During the Holiday Season, while the Holiday Program is active, support will be required as directed by the Director of Volunteer Engagement, Children’s and Seasonal Services. As a result, this role requires a high level of scheduling flexibility, including occasional early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays. The ability to travel between sites within San Mateo County is also necessary for this position.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Please note our preferred and in some cases required qualifications for this position:

EDUCATION:

· Associate’s Degree in social work, psychology, or human services or related field preferred. Related experience may substitute for educational requirements.

EXPERIENCE:

· Minimum of two years working in in direct human services, preferably with volunteer or program coordination duties.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Familiarity with the structure of a nonprofit agency.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written including public speaking; Ability to utilize a variety of tools and techniques for communicating with group audiences i.e. print and electronic media, websites and newer electronic technologies for volunteer outreach efforts
• Excellent computer proficiency: experienced with all programs in Microsoft Office Suite and Windows-based operating systems.
• Must be comfortable working from locations outside the office, as some responsibilities will need to be completed off-site or remotely, including accessing files, completing tasks, and collaborating effectively with team members.
• Strong administrative, adaptive, multi-tasking and organizational skills. Strong attention to detail and ability to produce excellent and timely quality work is required. Ability to successfully manage time, prioritize work, and alter priorities in a fast paced and ever-changing work environment.
• Clear understanding of professional boundaries with high-risk clients and other agency constituents under all circumstances as well as the ability to ensure and maintain confidentiality in all aspects of work
• Excellent interpersonal and emotional intelligence skills required. Must be able to regularly interact effectively, compassionately and empathically with all constituents of diverse back- grounds and in various states of tension. Must be able to maintain positive relationships with constituents.
• Ability to maintain professionalism and deliver excellent service under all circumstances. Must be able to engage, maintain and build relationships with new and current constituents.
• Must have understanding and ability to comply with any agency regulations, policies and procedures demonstrated through compliance efforts and activities.
• Excellent record keeping skills. Ability to maintain all work and associated files current. Strong and timely data entry skills.
• Ability to conduct all business within agency values, professionalism, high level of ethics and high integrity; ability to exercise appropriate judgment and timely decision making under various conditions is required.
• Excellent Initiative and ability to work independently and within a team.
• Ability to proactively identify challenges and have a resourceful and solutions-based approach to challenges. Must be able to manage and de-escalate problem situations successfully.
• Candidate must be able to regularly travel between the Agency’s various sites as needed; valid driver’s license, proof of insurance, good driving record and a registered vehicle.
• Flexible schedule required to work early mornings, days, evenings, weekends or holidays as assigned.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND BACKGROUND CHECK

References will be conducted by Samaritan House prior to employment. Staff will undergo formal criminal record background checks. You must have the physical, visual and auditory ability to perform the essential functions of the job, ensure a safe/secure work environment and respond to any emergencies with or without reasonable accommodations. Work involves occasional travel. Regular and repeated use of motor coordination and hand motions for computer data entry and writing. Extended periods of sitting. Must be able to focus on single or multiple subject matters for extended periods of time. Candidate should have the physical ability to occasionally lift and/or move items (approximately 15 lbs.). Occasional sitting, walking, carrying, reaching, speaking, listening for extended periods of time. Work environment can be high stress and fast paced due to crisis intervention.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB

1. Follow through with volunteer recruitment strategies to attract individuals from diverse backgrounds.

2. Assist and support with screening, interviewing, and matching volunteers with appropriate roles based on skills and interests.

3. Follow through and maintain onboarding, training, and orientation processes for new volunteers.

4. Provide guidance, support, and provide feedback regarding volunteers throughout their service.

5. Foster a positive, inclusive, and meaningful volunteer experience. Assisting in identifying new volunteer positions, and assist with tailoring current volunteer job descriptions to specific programs.

6. Assist with tracking volunteer hours and maintain accurate records using volunteer management software.

7. Recognize and celebrate volunteer contributions through events, awards, and regular communication.

8. Guide, support, and provide manager with evaluation of volunteers throughout their service.

9. Foster a positive, inclusive, and meaningful volunteer experience.

10. Track volunteer hours and maintain accurate records using volunteer management software.

11. Assist and support in-kind donation systems in accordance with Agency Policies and Practices. Coordinate in-kind donations and plan the distribution of items to programs as assigned within Agency Procedures.

12. Assist with representing the organization at community events, fairs, and presentations to promote volunteerism.

13. Assist with building partnerships with local schools, faith-based organizations, businesses, and other community groups. Help to facilitate single day volunteer activities as well as longer term collaborations for these groups.

14. Assist marketing staff to promote volunteer opportunities via newsletters, social media, and the website.

15. Maintain detailed records and generate reports on volunteer engagement, impact, and retention.

16. Assist with grant reporting and fundraising efforts related to volunteerism.

17. Assist with special events, fundraising campaigns, and programmatic needs as required.

18. Recognize and celebrate volunteer contributions through any Volunteer Recognition Events and proactive communication.

19. Positively and professionally, represent Samaritan House in external meetings; coalitions, trainings. at volunteer recruiting events, community and civic meetings.

20. Assist as needed, conduct tours of Samaritan House facilities for volunteers, guests, and special groups.

21. Assist in managing family engagement and community service programs that will integrate students in Samaritan House programs and help them better understand social services.

22. Assist with team management of Samaritan House Volunteer Programs and Services including but not limited to the Annual Holiday Program, Kids Closet Program and Wee Care Program, including the management of volunteers within those services/programs.

23. Identify and develop innovative ways to utilize groups and corporations at Samaritan House sites. Work with program managers and executive staff to assess the volunteer needs of each program or dept.

24. Assist volunteer team and Wee Care Volunteer Lead to build up the Wee Care elementary and middle school donation program, creating a meaningful connection between children and Samaritan House’s mission.

25. Assist Volunteer team in the management of the Kids Closets youth programs, including, the “Books, Bikes, Costumes and Backpacks program as well as any other services provided by this department. This role will serve as primary point of contact for Kids Closet and associate work.

26. Perform tasks to support the Holiday Program as assigned by the supervisor this position. Will support the department’s efforts within the Annual Holiday Program. This may cause some redirection of day-to-day work normally done throughout the year

27. Help implement program policies, procedures, and best practices.

28. Assist with tracking program metrics and outcomes for continuous improvement.

29. Assist with report generation for funders, grants, or internal reviews as requested.

30. Help ensure a safe, welcoming, and confidential service environment.

31. Participate in program audits, monitoring visits, and improvement initiatives.

32. Sustained professional boundaries with all agency constituents.

33. Perform job with excellent and reliable attendance.

34. Maintain confidentiality and perform all work with high integrity, ethics and within Agency values.

35. Communicate effectively and timely in all aspects of the job.

36. Assess personal safety in each interaction and undertake due diligence in maintaining personal safety.

37. Conduct all business and work within federal, state, county, municipal, industry and agency regulations, policies and procedures.

38. Represent the organization in a professional and courteous manner at all times internally and externally. Remain a resource to entire Agency.

39. Report and complete any necessary incident reports within 24 hours.

40. Attend trainings and meetings as assigned including, but not limited to, department meetings/training, all staff meetings/training, and others as required.

41. Other duties as assigned.

For over 50 years, Samaritan House has been leading the fight against poverty in San Mateo County. We’re the only organization that delivers the full breadth of essential services and personalized support to the working poor. By ensuring our clients are fed, clothed, healthy, and housed, we help them create their own stability and remain an active, successful part of our community. After all, an enduring community is only possible when every person has the resources they need to live.

Company Description

For over 50 years, Samaritan House has been leading the fight against poverty in San Mateo County. We’re the only organization that delivers the full breadth of essential services and personalized support to the working poor. By ensuring our clients are fed, clothed, healthy, and housed, we help them create their own stability and remain an active, successful part of our community. After all, an enduring community is only possible when every person has the resources they need to live.