Director of Volunteer Recruitment & Engagement

Job Description

Job Description

iMentor is seeking a proven leader and volunteer recruitment expert to serve as the Director of Volunteer Recruitment and Engagement (DVRE) of the Chicago region. The DVRE will lead a talented team of mentor engagement professionals in forming and deepening corporate and community partnerships throughout Chicago and curating a dedicated mentor community. Reporting to the Chicago Executive Director of Programs, the Director of Volunteer Recruitment and Engagement will develop, support, and oversee all strategies that will mobilize and engage a pool of high-quality, well-prepared mentors to drive postsecondary success outcomes for our mentees. The DVRE will be responsible for sourcing and developing leads for potential partners, assisting in securing corporate sponsorships, managing relationships with corporate and community-based partners, and for meeting ambitious mentor recruitment, satisfaction, and retention targets.

The ideal candidate will have extensive multi-sector experience (public, private, non-profit and/or philanthropic) with direct experience in volunteer recruitment and management and business development within a high-growth, high-impact organization. They will have a proven ability to think entrepreneurially and engage and persuade senior executives in order to meet ambitious growth and impact targets. The Director of Volunteer Recruitment and Engagement will be results driven with significant relationship management experience, excellent executive presence, and client building skills, with focus on details and follow-through.

The Director of Volunteer Recruitment and Engagement has 2 direct reports: Managers of Volunteer Recruitment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute iMentor Chicago’s volunteer recruitment strategy with the goal of recruiting 550-725 new mentors annually that are representative of the gender, racial/ethnic, and professional diversity of our mentee community, ensuring a high-quality execution of the iMentor program
• Monitor weekly and monthly recruitment funnel data in Salesforce (leads, applications, screenings, matches) against goal, and produce regular progress reports for the Executive Director of Programs and Chicago Leadership Team.
• Pull and package Salesforce recruitment data into goal-vs.-actual reports and progress updates for funders and the Chicago Advisory Board, supporting fundraising asks and board engagement
• Manage a significant portion of iMentor Chicago’s portfolio of corporate partners
• Establish, build, and maintain relationships with the private, public, and community-based organizations and civic groups that will support iMentor’s Chicago’s recruitment efforts
• Identify and steward relationships with key external stakeholders in collaboration with the Executive Director of Programs
• Support relationship management with the Chicago Advisory Board Members, including facilitation of the Partnerships Sub-Committee
• Co-develop and execute on mentor community strategies in collaboration with the Chicago Program and National Development teams to activate current mentors in service of fundraising, recruitment, and personal/professional growth
• Manage, inspire, and encourage a team in the implementation of new strategies and initiatives critical to meeting recruitment goals and building a strong mentor experience
• Identify and pursue potential recruitment opportunities, which include attending speaking engagements and networking events
• Oversee info sessions and orientation for new mentors and deliver trainings as needed. Ensure that team members are delivering high quality, engaging, and accurate trainings to applicants, preparing mentors to be effective college success advocates for their mentees
• Coordinate with national safety screening team to ensure volunteers are moving from recruitment, to screening, to program (ready-to-be-matched)
• Manage Mentor Engagement vertical’s budget to ensure fiscal health and efficiency
• Perform other job-related duties or special projects as required by the Chicago Executive Director of Program
• Some travel required, mostly during summer/early fall recruitment high season: 15-20% within Chicago; transportation not provided. After hours, weekends, and in-person as needed. Note: iMentor is operating in-person a minimum of 2-days a week.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7+ years of work experience in a high-growth organization including at least 3 years of staff management experience and expertise in the following areas: partnership development and management, business development, volunteer recruitment and engagement, community organizing, and fundraising
• Proven success meeting ambitious performance targets
• Prior experience working with corporations or other forms of external partners
• Strong networker who has the natural ability to connect people with causes and engage them to take action
• Entrepreneurial, resourceful, and persistent with strong critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze data, recognize trends, and drive strategic recommendations
• Strong public speaking, writing and interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate a variety of people; intuitive, empathic communicator who can build rapport, trust, and credibility
• Willingness and ability to adjust to changing conditions or priorities
• Excellent tech skills; Experience with database management; Salesforce experience strongly preferred
• Able to travel throughout Chicago and to staff events and trainings on some weeknights and weekends
• Places high-value on customer service and impressive follow-through
• Demonstrated alignment with iMentor's mission, values, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Views differences between individuals (race, gender, age, cultural heritage, physical ability, education, beliefs, and lifestyle) as an asset and demonstrates an appreciation of the diversity across the iMentor community. 
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
• Our organization works in partnership with district public schools across the country. In doing so we must meet all compliance requirements of those districts including background checks.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary $80,000 - $85,000 commensurate with experience
• Up to 100% employer funded comprehensive medical and dental coverage 
• 18 days paid annual vacation (increasing annually to 21, 23, 25), 13 paid holidays + your birthday + one floating holiday, iMentor closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day, plus 6-7 sick days annually
• 401K match up to 4%
• Flexible Home/Office/School working arrangement
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Dependent care and health care flexible spending plans 
• 1 hour of wellness time off per week for wellness activities of your choosing
• Flexible personnel wellness budget for reimbursements or marketplace purchases
• Every staff member is eligible for organization-sponsored professional development annually
• 9 weeks of paid parental leave

About iMentor

At iMentor, we believe in the transformative power of mentorship as a force for good. We partner with schools in communities in which a majority of students will be first-generation college students. iMentor matches every 11th and 12th grade student in our high schools with a committed mentor – offering each mentee, regardless of background or GPA, a champion for their success.

Mentors can provide students with a level of personalized support that cannot be achieved through traditional school counseling alone. Of the most recent graduating high school class, 81% of students learned about a new post-secondary pathway through iMentor and 93% were accepted into college and intend to enroll. Since 1999, iMentor has served more than 42,000 students and is poised to scale our model to make mentoring accessible across the country.

Our Commitment to Community, Educational Access, and Opportunity

Central to our mission is a dedication to creating an environment where all stakeholders, including students, mentors, and staff, feel valued and supported. We are committed to the ongoing effort and investment required to ensure that all students have access to the resources and support needed to succeed. Recognizing that historical and systemic challenges continue to impact educational outcomes, we focus on addressing economic and structural barriers that affect the communities we serve.

How to Apply

Visit to submit a resume and detailed cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for this position. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

iMentor is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.