Volunteer Program Coordinator

Job Description

Volunteer Program Coordinator

Department: Learning & Community Engagement
Reports To: Community Engagement Manager
Location: Gilcrease Museum
Status: Full-Time

Position Overview

Gilcrease Museum seeks a Volunteer Coordinator who is passionate about people, community, and the power of museums to create meaningful connections. This role will lead the restructure of a volunteer program that reflects the museum's commitment to belonging, accessibility, and community-informed practice.

The Volunteer Coordinator will steward a diverse and growing network of volunteers who support visitor experience, public programs, and community outreach. Working collaboratively across departments, this position ensures that volunteers are not only prepared to support museum operations, but are welcomed as valued contributors to a shared mission of connecting people to the art, history, and cultures of the Americas.

What You'll Do

Build a Community-Centered Volunteer Program

• Develop and sustain a volunteer program that reflects Gilcrease's values of inclusion, curiosity, and community engagement
• Shape meaningful volunteer roles that support visitor experience, Learning & Community Engagement programs, outreach initiatives, and special events
• Create clear pathways for volunteers to engage, grow, and contribute over time

Recruit, Welcome, and Support Volunteers

• Lead inclusive recruitment efforts that reflect the diversity of Tulsa and surrounding communities
• Cultivate relationships with schools, universities, and community organizations
• Design and facilitate onboarding experiences that are welcoming, accessible, and grounded in the museum's mission
• Match volunteers with roles that align with their interests, strengths, and lived experiences

Train and Grow Volunteer Capacity

• Develop and lead training that prepares volunteers to engage visitors with care, curiosity, and respect
• Partner with Learning & Community Engagement team to introduce approaches such as mindful looking, inquiry-based learning, and culturally responsive engagement
• Ensure volunteers are equipped to support inclusive and accessible experiences for all visitors

Support Programs, Outreach, and Events

• Coordinate volunteer involvement across museum programs, including workshops, school visits, and community-based initiatives
• Support volunteer staffing for events, ensuring a welcoming and organized visitor experience
• Collaborate with staff to anticipate needs and ensure smooth program delivery

Foster Belonging and Connection

• Create a volunteer culture rooted in respect, collaboration, and shared purpose
• Recognize and celebrate volunteer contributions in meaningful ways
• Support volunteers as ambassadors who help extend the museum's presence into the community

Strengthen Accessibility and Inclusion

• Support volunteer roles that enhance accessibility, including, but not limited to programs designed for Deaf/Hard of Hearing communities and visitors with disabilities
• Ensure volunteers are trained to meet the needs of visitors with access needs, diverse backgrounds, and learning styles
• Collaborate with community partners to deepen inclusive practices

Learn, Reflect, and Improve

• Track volunteer engagement and participation through Bloomerang software
• Gather feedback from volunteers and staff to strengthen the program over time
• Contribute to evaluation and reporting efforts that help the museum grow and adapt

What You Bring

Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in education, nonprofit work, museum studies, or a related field
• Experience coordinating volunteers, programs, or community engagement efforts
• Strong communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills

Preferred

• Experience working in a museum or cultural institution
• Familiarity with accessibility and inclusive engagement practices
• Experience working with or alongside Indigenous communities or culturally specific organizations
• Comfort working in a collaborative, evolving environment

How You Work

• You approach people with warmth, respect, and curiosity
• You are organized and thoughtful, able to manage details while holding a bigger vision
• You value collaboration and enjoy working across teams
• You are adaptable and open to learning in a dynamic, reopening-focused environment

Working Conditions

• Some evening and weekend availability for programs and events
• Occasional off-site work for community-based programs and outreach
• Ability to lift and move light program materials

Why This Role Matters

Volunteers are an essential part of how Gilcrease Museum welcomes and connects with its community. This role helps ensure that every volunteer feels prepared, supported, and valued, and that every visitor encounter is grounded in care, curiosity, and a sense of belonging.

About Us

The University of Tulsa is a student-centered research university that cultivates interconnected learning experiences to explore complex ideas and create new knowledge in a spirit of free inquiry. Guided by our commitment to service and inclusion, we prepare individuals to make meaningful contributions to our campus, our community, and our world.

The University endeavors to create and nurture an informed and inclusive environment in its workplace and educational programs. Affirmative action and equal employment opportunity are integral parts of the University not just because they are legally mandated, but because we recognize that the present and future strength of the university is based primarily on people and their skills, experience, and potential. The University does not discriminate in access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, disability, genetic information, ancestry, or marital status. The University seeks to recruit, select, and promote students, faculty, and all other employees on the basis of individual merit.